Indigenous peoples

Anti-Indigenous stereotypes

Last updated: May 21, 2025

Harmful content advisory: This page lists harmful and racist stereotypes about Indigenous people.

A stereotype is a negative assumption about someone based on their personal characteristics. Stereotypes are not true. They can cause discrimination.

There are discriminatory stereotypes about Indigenous people. Some stereotypes are well known. A complainant does not need to prove known stereotypes. The Tribunal understands these stereotypes.

This list identifies some well-known stereotypes about Indigenous people. Under each stereotype is a legal case or report that explains it.

Stereotypes about credibility:

  • R v. Williams, [1998] 1 SCR 1128 at para. 58

Suspicious and/or prone to criminality:

  • R v. Williams, [1998] 1 SCR 1128 at para. 58
  • Campbell v. Vancouver Police Board (No. 4), 2019 BCHRT 275at para. 127
  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302at para. 485, 494

Drug and alcohol use:

  • R v. Williams, [1998] 1 SCR 1128 at para. 58
  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302at para. 135
  • Applicant v. Independent Investigations Office of BC (No. 2), 2024 BCHRT 204 at para. 121
  • Simon v. Sallows, 2017 CanLII 150013 (YK HRC) at para. 48
  • Harrison v. Thunder Bay Police Services, 2024 ONCPC 19
  • Indigenous women and girls are particularly vulnerable to this stereotype: Smith v. Mohan (No. 2), 2020 BCHRT 52 at para. 194, citing R. v. Doering, 2019 ONSC 6360 at para. 129

Parenting ability:

  • RR v. VACFSS (No. 6), 2022 BCHRT 116 at paras. 34-38, overturned but not on this point in 2024 BCSC 97

Lazy, non-productive, will not work, and live by donation/welfare:

  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302at para. 135
  • Lindsay v. Toronto District School Board, 2020 HRTO 496 at para. 23

Not intelligent or competent

  • Lindsay v. Toronto District School Board, 2020 HRTO 496 at para. 23
  • Law Society of British Columbia, (2012) “Towards a More Representative Legal Profession: Better practices, better workplaces, better results” at p. 4-5

Receive unfair advantages:

Making illegitimate complaints:

  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302 at paras. 524-533
  • Dr. M.E. Turpel-Lafond (Aki-Kwe), In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care (2020)   at p. 21

Unhealthy due to personal choices:

  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302at para. 135
  • The Applicant v. Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (No. 2), 2024 BCHRT 204 at para 124

Live in poverty:

  • Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302at para. 135

Indigenous women:

  • Indigenous women are sex-trade workers or engaged in illegal sex: Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302 at para. 135; The Applicant v. Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (No. 2), 2024 BCHRT 204 at para. 121
  • Indigenous women and girls are people of low or bad character not deserving of the same respect, humanity, and dignity as others: R. v Zakuti, 2021 BCSC 2253 at paras. 25-29
  • Indigenous women who perform sex work are not entitled to protection, not deserving of respect, are objects “available for the taking”, assume the risk of harm, and are less credible than others: R v Barton, 2019 SCC 33
  • Indigenous women are not “real” rape victims: R v. Kruk, 2024 SCC 7 at para. 35

Urban Indigenous people

  • Indigenous people who live off their traditional territories or reserves are disconnected from their culture and are not “truly Aboriginal”: Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2024 SCC 10 at para. 378; Corbiere v. Canada, [1999] 2 SCR 203 at para. 71
  • Urban Indigenous people are “decultured or disorganized”: Radek v. Henderson Development (Canada) and Securiguard Services (No. 3), 2005 BCHRT 302 at paras. 135, 137

Métis peoples as “less Aboriginal”

  • Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton v G.H., T.V. and Eastern Woodlands Métis of Nova Scotia, 2016 ONSC 6287 at para. 91

Indigenous peoples