Ontario has the largest Aboriginal population of all the provinces and territories in Canada. In 2001 there were 30,720 Aboriginal youth between the ages of 15-24 living in Ontario, representing 16.3% of the total Aboriginal Identity Population in Ontario (Spotton). As of 2001, the majority of Aboriginals in Ontario have an education level below a bachelor’s degree. 36.9% of Aboriginals in Ontario aged 25 and over had less than a high school graduation certificate (Statistics Canada, 2001). In order to address the lack of Aboriginals who obtain a bachelor’s degree, a closer look at the barriers faced by Aboriginals should be examined.
In 2006, Aboriginal people accounted for 3.8% of the total population of Canada, an increase from 3.3% in 2001.
New data from the 2006 Census show that one million people identify as being Aboriginal peoples in Canada in 2006. (Statistics Canada).
