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The aboriginal population in Canada has surpassed the one-million mark, growing nearly six times faster than the rest of the country, according to  released today.

In total, 1,172,790 people reported aboriginal identity -- North American Indian (First Nations people), M�tis or Inuit.

Between 1996 and 2006, the aboriginal population increased by 45 per cent, nearly six times faster than the 8 per cent rate of growth for the non-aboriginal population.

"They now make up just under 4 per cent of the population of Canada," Statistics Canada's Anil Arora told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday.

In 1996 there were 799,010 aboriginal people registered by the census and in 2001 there were 976,305.

Of the three aboriginal groups, the fastest population growth occurred among the M�tis in the 2006 census:

• The M�tis population almost doubled between 1996 and 2006, reaching an estimated 389,785 people.
• There was a 29 per cent increase in the First Nations population, which grew to 698,025 people.
• The Inuit population grew 26 per cent to 50,485.

Growth factors

The report says several factors may account for the growth in the Aboriginal population, including:

• Demographic factors, such as high birth rates;
• More individuals identifying themselves as aboriginal;
• A reduction in the number of incompletely enumerated Indian reserves since 1996.

The aboriginal population is also considerably younger, with a median age of 27, compared to 40 among the rest of Canada.

More than half of those who said they were aboriginal (54 per cent) now live in urban areas.

While many enjoy good housing and jobs, Susan Tatoosh, executive director of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, told The Canadian Press that the centre is under extreme funding pressure.

"We have over 1,000 people dropping in on a monthly basis. We keep stats,'' she said.

"We have a constant turnover of staff, mainly because of burnout and leaving for better wages elsewhere.''

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday that he was concerned about how the government defines who is aboriginal.

"We've got First Nation communities that in the next few years potentially will have all their people deregistered because of definitions that government imposes on our people as to who is First Nation and who isn't," he said.

In protest, 22 First Nations, including Canada's largest Mohawk communities, did not comply with the census process.

Statistics Canada released the findings Tuesday in a report entitled, "Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, M�tis and First Nations, 2006 Census."