What is Indigenous representation in the Canadian Parliament?

Indigenous representation in the federal Parliament of Canada has grown significantly since the 1960s. Following the April 28, 2025 federal election, the House of Commons has about 12 to 15 Indigenous MPs (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis), the highest number in Canadian history. Indigenous MPs serve across all major federal political parties. The Senate of Canada also has about 15 to 20 Indigenous senators, including representatives from First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.

Notable Indigenous MPs in Canadian history include Len Marchand (the first First Nations person elected to the federal House of Commons, in 1968 as Liberal MP for Kamloops-Cariboo, and the first Indigenous federal Cabinet minister), Peter Stoffer (NDP MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore from 1997 to 2015), Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal/Independent MP for Vancouver Granville from 2015 to 2021, the first Indigenous federal Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada from 2015 to 2019), Romeo Saganash (NDP MP for Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou from 2011 to 2019, who introduced Bill C-262 on UNDRIP implementation), and Marc Miller (current Liberal MP for Ville-Marie-Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Sœurs, Indigenous Services Minister 2021 to 2023).

Indigenous representation in the Senate has been transformed by the 2016 Senate appointment reforms. Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's non-partisan appointment process, more than 15 Indigenous people have been appointed to the Senate, including senators from major First Nations across Canada, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami homeland regions, and the Metis Nation. Senator Murray Sinclair (Independent from Manitoba, formerly chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 2016 to 2021) was particularly prominent. Senator Mary Coyle, Senator Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Métis Independent Senator from Alberta, since 2018), Senator Mary Jane McCallum (Conservative Senator from Manitoba, since 2017), and others represent diverse Indigenous voices.

Indigenous representation in Parliament reflects broader Indigenous engagement with Canadian democracy. The federal vote was extended to status Indians (registered Indians under the Indian Act) without requiring loss of status in 1960 under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. The Inuit have voted federally since 1950. Métis Canadians have always been able to vote (since their non-status under the Indian Act). Indigenous voter turnout has historically been lower than the national average but has been growing through targeted outreach by Elections Canada and Indigenous-led civic engagement. Notable Indigenous-rights initiatives in Parliament include the federal United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act of 2021, the Indigenous Languages Act of 2019, and the federal Indigenous Child Welfare Act (An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families) of 2019.