Does Canada belong primarily to Indigenous Peoples? A question that divides Canadians

Indigenous peoples in Canada have hereditary rights which include self-government, title to land, property rights and treaty rights. While the Canadian government and courts recognize these rights, their specific nature and extent may vary and are the object of ongoing debate. There is also an increased acknowledgement that Canadians are on the historic lands of the First Nations. What do such acknowledgements imply as regards the perceived attachment of indigenous peoples to Canada. To mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Association for Canadian Studies commissioned the firm Leger to ask whether “Canada belongs first and foremost to Indigenous peoples” The answer reflected profound differences on the basis of age (young persons agreed, older disagreed), Immigrant status, students and retirees, ideological preference and views/knowledge of Canadian history. The findings are based on a survey conducted via web panel by the firm Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies between August 29 and 31, 2025 with 1627 Canadians.