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Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Vancouver is located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

VPL is committed to being a place to learn about the history and cultures of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.  This includes learning about the truths of the historic and ongoing impact of colonization and the importance of movement toward Reconciliation  with Indigenous Peoples.

This guide is intended to help you find resources on First Nations, Métis people and Inuit and issues in B.C. and Canada, with a particular focus on Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. In addition to book and online resource suggestions, each section of this guide includes tips on building effective searches in the library catalogue.

Many books, particularly older publications and those published in the United States, use the terms "Indians" and "Eskimos" to refer to First Nations and Inuit. These terms therefore appear in this guide. However, this does not reflect current Canadian usage.

We acknowledge that these resources can be triggering for residential school survivors and intergenerational family members with connections to residential schools. The IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivors Society) Emergency Crisis Line is available 24/7 for those that may need counselling or support: 1-800-721-0066.

For information on Indigenous community organizations and services available in Vancouver and surrounding areas, please see our page on Indigenous Services.

VPL Programs

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Events with an Indigenous focus or including Indigenous speakers.

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Since 1991, the Women's Memorial March Committee has organized a march on February 14th to honour the memory of all women from the Downtown Eastside who have died due to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence. Each year since 2005, the Women's Memorial March Quilt is carried by dozens of people during that march. This quilt was created through the collaboration of family members, friends, and community members over many years. 

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Each year Vancouver Public Library hosts an Indigenous Storyteller in Residence who organizes events at library branches throughout the city. The Indigenous Storyteller in Residence provides a valuable link between the library and Indigenous communities as a way to honour Indigenous culture and traditions, and connect storytellers and listeners. For both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, this promotes intercultural understanding and communication.

Useful Websites

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Canadian Indigenous television network.

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Provincial treaty negotiations, interim agreements, the B.C. Treaty Commission, and publications.

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Regional arm of the National Assembly of First Nations.

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Federal government department concerned with Indigenous peoples in Canada. In August 2017, the Prime Minister announced the dissolution of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the creation of two new departments: Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Until the transformation is complete, please visit the former INAC website.

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Speak with Indigenous staff about courses, available funding for Indigenous students, the application process or other JIBC courses that may be of interest to you.

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The national representational organization protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada.

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Representative body for the Métis Nation in Canada.

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Permanent home for all statements, documents, and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

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Offers various programs in academic upgrading, business, health sciences, social sciences and humanities, or fine arts. Most certificate and diploma programs are transferable to other post-secondary schools in British Columbia.

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Working towards the recognition, implementation, and exercise of inherent Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights.

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Provides links to First Nations resources in many subject areas.

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An interactive map of North and South America that shows the ancestral homelands of various Indigenous groups. Search for a geographic region by name or postal/zip code to learn more about the history of those lands and the people who traditionally lived on them.

Program Spotlight

The VPL Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program was created in 2008 in recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the importance of storytelling as a way to learn about and from Indigenous communities in Vancouver. Through the Storyteller in Residence, we seek to honour Indigenous cultures and to promote intercultural understanding and communication. Storytelling can happen through a variety of mediums and narrative practices, and therefore this residency is open to all Indigenous storytellers who wish to share their knowledge and history.

Knowing where we come from connects us to land and culture, and empowers us to make changes. At Connection to Kith and Kin Online, experts help Indigenous participants search online records for family documents. Searching can be an emotional experience. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has provided a Resolution Health Support Worker to join the participants during their journey.

Northwest History Index

This card index in Special Collection provides access to the Northwest History Collection, a heritage collection covering the early history and exploration of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

The collection includes:

  • magazine and newspaper articles
  • pamphlets
  • books
  • chapters in books
  • many other resources

As of August 1998, no new material has been added to the Northwest History Index. It is continued by the British Columbia Index.