Introduction to Indigenous Canadian Culture

Indigenous Canadian culture represents the rich and diverse traditions, values, and worldviews of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples—Canada’s original inhabitants. Spanning thousands of years and hundreds of distinct nations and languages, Indigenous cultures are deeply connected to the land, community, and spirituality.

Each Indigenous group in Canada has its own unique heritage, shaped by geography, environment, and history. From the Inuit communities of the Arctic, to the Haida of the Pacific Northwest, to the Cree of the Plains and the Mi’kmaq of the Atlantic, Indigenous cultures encompass a wide range of social systems, oral histories, spiritual beliefs, and artistic expressions.