Which Indigenous peoples have lived in Manitoba for thousands of years?

Indigenous peoples have occupied the region now known as Manitoba for thousands of years. These groups include several First Nations and other Indigenous peoples:1

• Assiniboin: Historically located in the south, they are a First Nation for whom the Assiniboine River and the historic region of Assiniboia were named.12
• Ojibwa: Also known as the Anishinaabe, this First Nation has traditionally inhabited areas of Manitoba, with those living west of Lake Winnipeg specifically referred to as the Saulteaux.13
• Cree: A major First Nation group, the Cree have historically occupied a vast domain in the north and other parts of the province, divided into groups such as the Woodland Cree and the Plains Cree.14
• Chipewyan: This First Nation has traditionally inhabited the northern regions of Manitoba.1
• Inuit: Indigenous people who have lived along the Hudson Bay coast.1

Additionally, the Métis—a people of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry—developed a unique culture in the region during the early 19th century.15