Today, Kingston continues to have a vibrant Indigenous population, with over 10,000 residents (approximately 8% of the population). Our current day population has Indigenous peoples from many different Indigenous cultural backgrounds – Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Mi’kmaq, Métis, Lakota, Huron, Sioux, Inuit, Cree, Stó:lō, and many more. The diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples makes Kingston a centre of rich Indigenous cultural identity, knowledge, language, and tradition.
Within the diversity of Indigenous cultures in Kingston, there is a diversity of life experiences. Some Indigenous peoples have grown up in their First Nation, Métis or Inuit communities, following a traditional lifestyle and way of being. Others have grown up in urban centres and may not be as connected to their roots. There are also Indigenous communities that have a strong connection to religion (e.g. Christian, Catholic, Baptist, etc.) and may not follow traditional cultural practices at all. Regardless of the connection, we are all family and we are all connected to this land.
