British Columbia's First Nations
Indigenous Peoples
There are more than 1.6 million Indigenous peoples in Canada, and more than 600 different Indigenous communities. Just over 200 of these communities are in British Columbia. About 80% of Indigenous peoples in B.C. live outside of Indigenous communities, in towns and cities across the province. The people who are Indigenous to Canada belong to 3 groups – First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. First Nations people have lived in B.C. since time immemorial, which means before memory or record. Tens of thousands of First Nations people were here when Europeans arrived and colonized B.C. in the mid-18th century. The Métis people are of mixed European and First Nations ancestry. They are a distinct people and Nation. The Inuit are from the northern regions of Canada. Learn More about Canada's Indigenous Culture welcomebc.ca.