Primer on Alberta's aboriginal population

Aboriginal people in Alberta, as recognized by the Canadian constitution, are made of three groups - Indians (First Nations), Mtis, and Inuit.

The Government of Canada classifies First Nations people according to whether or not they are registered under the Indian Act. First Nations peoples are referred to as Treaty, Status or Non-status. Each of these classifications has a slightly different definition and set of rights attached to it.

Mtis refers to people of mixed aboriginal and non-aboriginal ancestry while the Inuit are aboriginals who originally lived north of the tree line in Canada.