5. COMMUNITIES

5.1 BELONGING

First Nations respondents were asked to rate the strength of their sense of belonging to a variety of groups. By far, the strongest sense of belonging is to one's family - 87 per cent rated their sense of belonging to their family as strong. This is followed by attachment to one's First Nation (69 per cent) and to Canada (56 per cent). The weakest affiliation is to an individual's province, with 46 per cent rating this sense of belonging as strong.

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The Chart further provides a comparison of the study results with those of the general public. Strongest sense of belonging for both First Nations people and for the general public is to family. Canadians in the broader public, however, tend to feel a stronger sense of belonging to Canada and their province, compared to First Nations people. On the other hand, First Nations people feel a stronger attachment to their First Nation than Canadians do to their ethnic group or race.

• Ratings of belonging to family and to one's First Nation are quite consistent across sub-groups. Those with lower levels of education and literacy and who are unemployed rate their sense of belonging to family somewhat lower than other First Nations people. Sense of belonging to one's First Nation is higher among Quebeckers.
  
• Those with lower levels of education and literacy, whose mother tongue is an Aboriginal language, with children attending school on-reserve have a stronger sense of belonging to Canada than other First Nations people. Conversely, those with higher income level and Internet access provided a weaker rating. Across regions, residents of Ontario and Quebec provided weaker ratings of attachment to Canada, while those from Saskatchewan and Manitoba provided strongest ratings.
  
• Proportionately, more individuals with a lower socio-economic status rated their level of attachment to their province strongly, compared with the rating of attachment provided by those with middle to upper SES levels. Youth, those with average literacy skills, parents whose children attend school on-reserve and residents who live in smaller, less affluent communities also have a stronger sense of belonging to their province. Fewer residents of Ontario and Quebec rated their sense of belonging to their province as strongly as those in other regions.

5.2 ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

A series of items were examined relating to preserving First Nations culture and heritage. The vast majority of First Nations people on-reserve (88 per cent) agree that "the federal government should do more to help First Nation communities preserve their culture and heritage." As well, most residents believe that tourism activities in First Nations communities could create positive economic benefits (78 per cent) and improve understanding of Aboriginal cultures and heritage (77 per cent).

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• Support for federal government assistance in preserving First Nation culture and heritage is consistent across various sub-groups.
  
• Those with higher levels of income and education and with access to the Internet are more likely to agree that tourism activities would have economic benefits for First Nations communities. Older residents and those with lower levels of education are more uncertain about the impact.
  
• Younger First Nations people (under 35 years) are more apt to believe that tourism activities would have a positive benefit on understanding of Aboriginal cultures and heritage.

5.3 LEAVING

Seven in ten First Nations individuals on-reserve have not lived outside of their First Nation community in the last two years. One in ten have lived off their reserve once in the last two years and 14 per cent have lived off the reserve and returned to it more than once in the last two years.

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• More likely to have lived off-reserve in the last two years are men and the more affluent, educated and literate portion of First Nation communities. Youth are also more likely to have left their community recently, likely for reasons related to education. Conversely, those who are older, do not have Internet access and are not in the labour force are less likely to have lived outside the community recently. Across regions, residents of Quebec and the Atlantic are least likely to have lived away from their community. Moving is more common among First Nations people living on the Prairies.

Respondents were asked to provide the main reason why young people move away from First Nations communities. The most frequently identified reasons are related to employment and education. Almost two-thirds mentioned reasons having to do with education (to attend public or high school (40 per cent) or to attend college/university (24 per cent)). Six in ten residents talked about employment-related reasons (to pursue employment (41 per cent) or to leave high rates of community unemployment (20 per cent)).

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