The largest of the First Nations groups is the Cree, which includes about 120,000 people. There are more than 630 First Nations communities in Canada, representing more than 50 nations and 50 indigenous languages. Mixed-race and Inuit people rank second among the largest population in the First Nations, another city in Alberta, Edmonton, the capital of the province. Related organizations include the Assembly of First Nations and the Manitoba Commission on Treated Relations.
This creates unique challenges in the region in relation to economic development and service delivery, as First Nations economies have historically depended on federal transfers. Geographical isolation has socially and economically segregated Manitoba's First Nations communities from the Manitoba mainstream. The opening of the museum was boycotted by the award-winning electronic band A Tribe Called Red and criticisms from Buffy Sainte-Marie, not to mention that a nearby First Nation declared that its poor living conditions were a “Canadian Museum of Human Rights Violations”. British Columbia has more first nations than any other province, but, nevertheless, almost none of the provinces are covered by historic land-sharing treaties with the government.
However, since the launch of the Stampede in 1912, First Nations have always been a prominent feature of the celebrations, especially through the event's Indian Village, in which the First Nations of Treaty 7, the Nakoda, the Kainai, the Siksika, the Peigan, the Piikani and Tsui Tina, raise teepees on site and show dances, games and other cultural celebrations for one million visitors a year. More than 52,000 people of mixed race, First Nations or Inuit descent live in this rainy city on the west coast, and it's hard to ignore the great impact and presence of indigenous culture in the area. But, in fact, most indigenous peoples live in Canadian cities and, according to the latest census, native populations that live outside reservations, mixed-race people and Inuit are the fastest growing populations in the entire country. More people with First Nations status (25,970 in total) live in Winnipeg than in any other Canadian city.
In June, the leaders of the city of Vancouver, with 600,000 inhabitants, approved a declaration stating that “it was founded in the traditional First Nations territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh and that these territories were never ceded by treaty, war or surrender.”.
