Knowledge of Language of Aboriginal Identity Population, Canada, Provinces and Territories

This Alberta Official Statistic compares the knowledge of languages among the Aboriginal Identity population in provinces and territories, based on self-assessment of the ability to converse in the language. Based on the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), English is the most common language known by the Aboriginal Identity Population across Canada. In most provinces, nearly 100% of the Aboriginal Identity population can converse in English. The lowest proportion of English-speaking Aboriginal people is in Quebec, where the majority speak French. The highest proportion of Aboriginal people who speak Aboriginal languages was in Nunavut at 88.6%, followed by Quebec (32.4%) and the Northwest Territories (32.1%). In Alberta, more Aboriginal people are able to speak Aboriginal languages (15.1%) than are able to speak French or other (non-Aboriginal) languages. The proportion of Alberta Aboriginal people able to speak Aboriginal languages was sixth highest among provinces and territories.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 19:21 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 19:21 (UTC)
contact_email osi.support@gov.ab.ca
contact_person {"en": "Aboriginal Relations (2008-2011, 2013-2016)", "fr": "Aboriginal Relations (2008-2011, 2013-2016)"}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary ["society"]
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection federated
open_canada_date_published 2013-05-28 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["AOS", "Alberta Official Statistics", "language characteristics"], "fr-t-en": ["AOS", "Statistiques officielles de l'Alberta", "caractéristiques linguistiques"]}
open_canada_subject ["society_and_culture"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr
update_frequency P5Y