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Unlearning the Misconceptions of Indigenous People

  • Nat
  • Jul 1, 2025
  • 5 min read

Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Unlearning: Chapter 1

For too long, Indigenous people have had to deal with harmful stereotypes that have cost us job opportunities, friendships, and lives. I know personally I’ve had to deal with my fair share of “so does your family pay taxes?” and “what percentage of Métis are you?”. From problematic cartoons depicting indigenous people as uncivilized barbarians to racist laws that are still in effect to this day, it’s unfortunate that these are still widely believed as fact. In our current day and age, it brings us closer to reconciliation by listening to Indigenous people and trying to understand why these misbeliefs are wrong. Now, together, let’s unlearn some misconceptions about Indigenous people!


Who is Indigenous to so-called Canada? 

There are 3 Indigenous groups defined by the Government of Canada. They are First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. First Nations and Inuit have been here long before Turtle Island was separated by borders, and the land we are now on was called Canada (Turtle Island is what some indigenous groups call North and Central America in their creation stories). Métis people are a product of the fur trade who originate from the Red River Settlement and have both European and First Nations ancestry. While Métis people have First Nations ancestry, they are a distinct indigenous group that are separate from First Nations.


Aren’t Indigenous people all extinct?

Currently, a little over 1.8 million Indigenous people are living in Canada. Although Indigenous people have been persistently portrayed as people of the past in period dramas and old-timey western movies, we do exist in the 21st century. While there has been many attempts in the past to erase Indigenous people such as: the horrors of residential schools, the separation of indigenous kids from their families to be placed in non-indigenous homes in the 1960’s (The 60’s Scoop), and police abducting vulnerable Indigenous people in the middle of Canadian winter nights and driving them out to the outskirts of city to leave them to die (Starlight Tours). Despite it all, Indigenous people are nevertheless here and will continue to be here. 


Do all Indigenous people have status?

The Indian Act is a federal law that the Government of Canada uses to determine who obtains Indian status. Inuit and Métis are not referred to in The Indian Act; therefore, they cannot have status. Métis people can receive Métis citizenship through the Métis Nation of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Ontario. Although status is meant for First Nations People, not all First Nations People can receive status due to colonial systems such as blood quantum and historical sexism. For example, before 1985, if a woman with status married a non-status man, she would lose her status and treaty rights; while if a man with status married a non-status woman, he could keep his status, and his non-Indigenous wife would receive status despite not being Indigenous.


Do Indigenous People pay taxes?

Regardless of the many rumours, Métis, Inuit, and all non-status First Nations groups pay the same taxes as non-Indigenous people. Non-status Indigenous people don’t get any secret tax breaks just for being Indigenous. Indigenous people who have status and live and/or work on a reserve do not have to pay income and/or housing taxes. 


Can anyone be Métis as long as they’re mixed?

The National Definition of Métis states “‘Métis’ means a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation Ancestry and who is accepted by the Métis Nation.”. Métis people have their own language, food, and government. Just because someone has mixed Indigenous ancestry doesn’t mean they’re automatically Métis. Traditionally, Métis people descended from the Red River Settlement in Manitoba. After the Battle of Batoche, the Canadian Government offered land and money scrip to Métis families in Manitoba to encourage them to settle in Western Canada (Saskatchewan and Alberta). Scrip had a very complicated and messy system, but nowadays, scrip documents can be used by Métis people applying for citizenship to prove they have Métis ancestry.


Are Inuit only native to Northern Canada and Alaska?

Inuit are native to the Subarctic and Arctic areas of North America and the Easternmost Subjects of Russia. The places Inuit live in today include: Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia.


Do Inuit live in Igloos?

Historically, Inuit did live in Igloos, but around the late 1950’s Inuit began living in modern houses, which they live in today. Inuit do still use Igloos for traditional hunting and camping practices.


What is the “Land Back” Movement?

The Land Back movement is an Indigenous run campaign that has a focus on getting Indigenous political control over what happens to the land. They do not want to evict any non-indigenous people from their homes; they simply just want to self-govern their lands to ensure it's being cared for. Some examples of how the Land Back movement is in action are: Indigenous owned Land Trusts, Indigenous groups requiring permits for non-Indigenous harvesters wanting to use the land, land being used for Indigenous housing, etc.



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Riley Yesno and Xicotencatl Maher Lopez  Sep 10, 2020  9 min read, Nickita Longman, E. R., Alex Wilson  Sep 10, 2020  17 min read, David Gray-Donald  Sep 10, 2020  4 min read, & Xicotencatl Maher Lopez  Sep 11, 2020  9 min read. (2020, September 10). Four case studies of land back in action. Briarpatch Magazine. https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/four-case-studies-land-back-in-action

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