1 in 5 Manitobans will be aboriginal by 2036: StatsCan

The indigenous population in Canada is growing and projected to swell to as many as 2.6 million people by 2036, a new report by Statistics Canada says.

The agency projects one in five people in Manitoba and Saskatchewan will be aboriginal by 2036 welcome news toDiane Redsky, executive director of Winnipeg's Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. The organization works to support and rebuildaboriginal families in the city.

"I couldn't be more excited about the news.This is really going to change the landscape in the City of Winnipeg," Redsky said.

We're going to see more indigenous people in leadership roles, more teachers, more in government-Diane Redsky, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre

The indigenous population in Canada is projected to grow between 1.1 per cent and 2.3 per cent annually between 2011 and2036, compared to 0.9 per cent for the general Canadian population, saidStatistics Canada.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan weresingled out as the two provinces with the highest proportion of aboriginal people in the country.

The growth is driven by a higher birth rate among indigenous peopleandan increase in people self-identifying as aboriginal, the agency said.

"We see children as gifts from the Creator," Redsky said.

The growing aboriginal population presents a major opportunity for Manitoba, she said.

"We're going to see more indigenous people in leadership roles, more teachers, more in government," she said."It's really going to have a positive impact."

Winnipeg was singled out as racist in aMaclean's magazine article earlier this year, with aboriginal residents talking about overt prejudice they've faced. Manitoba has alsostruggled to deal with issues such as a highaboriginal child poverty rate and poor conditions on First Nations, among other issues.

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Redsky said the Ma Mawi Wicentrealone supportsapproximately 25,000 individuals in Winnipeg. Inclusion is key to insuring the next generation of indigenous childrenthrive, she said.

"As a community we need to be included in our systems and throughout what happens in Winnipeg," she said."Until that happens we will continue to be marginalized....Our children need to be proud ofwho they are."