First Languages Spoken鈥�
Census participants may select all languages first spoken by the student or write responses in the open-ended text box if a language is not listed.鈥�
Indigenous Identity鈥�
First Nation is a term used to identify Indigenous peoples of what we now know as Canada who are neither M茅tis nor Inuit. First Nations people include Status and Non-Status. There are more than 630 First Nation communities in Canada, which represent more than 50 Nations鈥�
Inuit: The name 鈥淚nuit鈥� comes directly from the Inuktitut language and is the preferred term of the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. 鈥�
M茅tis: The M茅tis National Council General Assembly adopted the following 鈥淣ational Definition鈥� in 2002: 鈥淢茅tis鈥� means a person who self-identifies as M茅tis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic M茅tis Nation Ancestry and who is accepted by the M茅tis Nation.鈥�鈥�
Ethnic Origin鈥�
Ethnicity refers to a person鈥檚 ethnic or cultural origins. Ethnic groups have a common identity, heritage, ancestry or historical past, often with easily identifiable cultural, linguistic or religious characteristics.鈥�
Racial Background鈥�
This question is about the participant's racial identity. Racial background is not the same as citizenship or nationality. If the participant has multiple racial identities they may select all that apply. Use the open-ended text box to enter your response if the participant's racial identity is not listed.鈥�
Religious or Spiritual Affiliation鈥�
This question asks about the participant's religious or spiritual beliefs. If none of the categories listed represent the participant's beliefs, use the open-ended text box to enter a response.鈥�
Gender Identity鈥�
Gender identity refers to a person鈥檚 internal sense or feeling of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere on the gender spectrum. A person鈥檚 gender identity may be different from the sex assigned at birth; female, male, or intersex (individuals born with any of several variations in sex characteristics that do not fit with typical conceptions of 鈥渕ale鈥� or 鈥渇emale鈥� bodies). Gender identity is different from a person鈥檚 sexual orientation.鈥�
Sexual Orientation鈥�
Sexual orientation refers to a person鈥檚 sense of sexual or romantic interest and/or attraction to people. It covers the range of human sexuality and is different from gender identity鈥�
Disability or Condition鈥�
Some people identify as having a disability because of a permanent or long-term condition that makes it difficult for them to function in an environment that is not fully inclusive and accessible. A person鈥檚 disability may be diagnosed or not diagnosed. It may be hidden or visible. Some students who have disabilities may have an individual education plan at school to support them (an Individual Education Plan or IEP), but some do not.鈥�
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Defining disability is a complex, evolving matter. Disability is a term that covers a broad range and degree of conditions, some visible and others not (e.g., physical, mental, and learning disabilities, hearing or vision disabilities; epilepsy, environmental sensitivities). A disability may be present from birth, may be caused by an accident, or may develop over time. 鈥�
Status in Canada鈥�
This question asks if the student was born in Canada and then their current status: Canadian citizen, international/Visa student, landed immigrant/permanent resident or a refugee claimant/asylum seeker.鈥�
Well-being鈥�
Well-being refers to student鈥檚 experiences at school including sense of belonging, presence of trusted adults and experiences with bullying. 鈥�