TERMINOLOGY In this publication, the terms Indian, Inuit, Metis and Native have the following meanings: Indian (also Status Indian): A Native who is registered, or is entitled to be registered with an Indian band (a band is a particular group of Indian people having similar tribal and or geographic origins) in accordance with Canada's Indian Act. Indians live both on and off reserves. Presently, there are approximately 430,000 Indians - roughly 60% of whom live on reserves - nearly 600 bands and at least 2,200 reserves (some of which are unoccupied) in Canada. Inuit: A Native people indigenous to the Artic and sub-Artic regions of Canada. (The singular form is Inuk). The Inuit population of Canada is estimated to be 39,000. Metis: There are 2 accepted meanings: 1. a Native people who are the descendants of the original Metis community (ie the children of Indian and French parents) of Western Canada, and 2. persons of mixed Native and non-Native (particularly European) descent. The number of Canadians who consider themselves Metis is roughly 160,000. Native (also Aboriginal): All of Canada's first peoples regardless of status. This includes the Indian, the Inuit and the Metis. The total Native population is estimated to be 850,000.