Demographic Profile

Aboriginal peoples' birthrate in Canada is higher than for non-aboriginal people, therefore their population in and around Calgary is much younger (median age at 27.1 years versus 35.7 for non-aboriginal population) and is growing more quickly than the mainstream population. Aboriginal youth remain the fastest growing sector of the Canadian population. Over the next ten years the working age population of the Aboriginal community will grow twice as fast as its non-aboriginal counterpart.

In the Aboriginal culture, the community is valued over the individual therefore its people's career and educational choices are driven by what their community needs rather than what will further their individual interests. Many Aboriginal youth do not go on to post secondary education upon leaving high school. A number of them will, but later in life. It is not unusual for Aboriginal people enroll in university or college, for the first time when in their thirties or forties. It is estimated there are about 5,000 Aboriginal students in various post secondary programs in Alberta.