StatsCan figures don't reflect entire Aboriginal population.

Approximately 7,000 First Nations people have not been included in the latest Statistics Canada numbers for Alberta's Aboriginal population.

When StatsCan conducted the 2006 census, three of Alberta's 44 reserves would not allow the federal agency on First Nations' land to do its job.

"A mistrust in the use of information and the fear of manipulation of the information without consent" are two reasons J.R. Giroux, economic development manager with Treaty 8, offered. "There's a concern about the process of questions developed that will result in biased information being produced."

Little Buffalo First Nation, a member of Treaty 8, did not allow StatsCan to conduct its census. Saddle Lake and T'suu Tina First Nations also said "no" to census takers being allowed on their respective reserves.

"We're respectful of the sovereignty of that First Nations community, that's why we ask permission," said Jane Badets, director of social and Aboriginal division of Statistics Canada.

StatsCan's latest figures indicate 97,280 First Nations people in Alberta with the province being home to an Aboriginal population of 188,365. Neither figure includes the estimated 7,000 First Nations people that weren't counted by census takers.

"Seven thousand is a rough estimate, so you have to use it with caution," said Badets, who noted that considering the number of reserves in the province and the overall Aboriginal population count, the uncounted First Nations population doesn't skew the information that can be extrapolated from the count.

"It really means that at the community level there's no data," said Badets.

StatsCan carries out its census every five years and provides a "snapshot over time of how communities have changed." Figures taken not only include population count but education, income, and labour force representation.

Through the implementation of Aboriginal liaison officers, training courses and information sessions, StatsCan works with Aboriginal communities both during the time of census and between census taking to determine community data needs; what kind of data communities would like to see obtained; and how the data can be used to get the information the community needs for its own planning purposes.

"We've been working outreach more positively for a number of years. We see better participation and more use of the information as well," said Badets.

In 2006, 22 reserves across Canada did not allow StatsCan on their land to conduct the census; in 2001, that figure was 30. Ten years ago, 77 reserves would not allow StatsCan to collect their data.

It's estimated that the 2006 Aboriginal population of 1.2 million as counted by StatsCan does not include 40,000 First Nations people. The Aboriginal population represents 2.5 per cent of Canada's overall population.

Alberta's Aboriginal population ranks third highest in the country at 188,356 behind Ontario and British Columbia. However, the population trend indicates that by 2017, Alberta will overtake B.C. to become the province with the second highest Aboriginal population. Edmonton is home to the second largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada at 52,100, just behind Winnipeg.

BY SHARI NARINE

Sweetgrass Writer