TORONTO, April 6 (UPI) -- A survey of Canadian Indians indicates almost half live in cities and have little desire to return to their home communities, the Environics Institute said.
Researchers interviewed 2,614 aboriginals in 11 cities by telephone and in person in April through October last year and found only 29 percent of first-generation urban aboriginals moved back to their reservations after moving to a city, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
The study also found the majority don't feel a link to their birthplaces, as 71 percent of respondents answered the question of "Where is home for you?" with their current city of residence and 90 percent of those said they liked living in their city at least somewhat.
As for discrimination, 70 percent of respondents said they had been insulted or teased about their ethnicity, the report said, quoting one Indian as to the nature of prejudice.
"There's that impression of 'noble savage,' there's the exotic romantic view, and generally we're viewed as problematic," the participant said. "You know, blocking bridges, protesting and always looking for a free lunch."
The 2006 census reported there were 1,172,790 Indians in Canada, the report said.
