Area of residence' refers to the following geographic areas: on reserve, urban census metropolitan area, urban non-census metropolitan area and rural area. These geographic areas can be used to show where the Aboriginal population is residing.

'On reserve' includes census subdivision (CSD) types legally affiliated with First Nations or Indian bands, i.e., Indian reserve (IRI), Indian settlement (S-É), Indian government district (IGD), terres réservées aux Cris (TC), terres réservées aux Naskapis (TK), Nisga'a village (NVL), Nisga'a land (NL) and Teslin land (TL), as well as additional CSDs of various other types that are northern communities in Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory, which have large concentrations of Registered Indians.

An urban area has a minimum population concentration of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All territory outside urban areas is classified as rural. On-reserve CSDs are excluded from this category.

A census metropolitan area (CMA) is a large urban area and has a population of at least 100,000.

Urban non-census metropolitan areas are smaller urban areas with a population of less than 100,000.

Rural areas include remote and wilderness areas and agricultural lands, as well as small towns, villages and other populated places with a population of less than 1,000. On-reserve CSDs are excluded from this category.

Additional information on the geographic units can be obtained from the 2006 Census Dictionary.

This is a grouping of the total population into non-Aboriginal or Aboriginal population, with Aboriginal persons further divided into Aboriginal groups, based on their responses to three questions on the 2006 Census form. The counts for 2001 and 2006 have been adjusted for incompletely enumerated Indian reserves and settlements as well as other changes from 2001 to 2006, to allow for comparison of the two census years. The counts and rates shown in this table may differ from those based on unadjusted data.

Included in the Aboriginal identity population are those persons who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, North American Indian, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian, as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation.

Users should be aware that the counts for this item are more affected than most by the incomplete enumeration of certain Indian reserves and Indian settlements.

Includes those who identified themselves as Registered Indians and/or band members without identifying themselves as North American Indian, Métis or Inuit in the Aboriginal identity question.