Thousands of students suffered physical and sexual abuse. All suffered from loneliness and a longing to be home with their families. The damage inflicted by these schools continues to this day.

Indigenous peoples pay significant amounts of tax every year. First Nations peoples without status, and registered First Nations peoples living off-reserve, Inuit and Métis peoples pay taxes like the rest of the country. Registered First Nations peoples working off-reserve pay income tax, regardless of where they reside (even on-reserve). Only a small group of registered First Nations peoples are sometimes exempted from paying taxes.

Until 1960 Indigenous people could only vote if they gave up their Indian status and treaty rights. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker pushed voting rights legislation through parliament and effective July 1, 1960 Indigenous people could vote without conditions.

Indigenous is a term used to encompass the diverse groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada. It’s comprised of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples – each with a different history, culture and society.

According to Statistics Canada, 8 in 10 Indigenous peoples live in Ontario and it’s home to 21% of all Indigenous peoples in Canada.