Education Overview

Education Fact Sheet 2016 Census

These statistics, drawn from the 2016 Census, paint a broad stroke of Surrey’s Indigenous population, which includes persons who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuk (Inuit).

Nearly half of Indigenous residents have completed higher education, while another third have obtained a high school diploma. Only a small percentage of people receiving university degrees are Indigenous people, indicating they may need additional support to access university degree programs. The Métis population has the largest percentage of members who have completed higher education. Many Indigenous people have completed an apprenticeship or trades program to attain a college certificate or diploma.

Download PDF

All Our Relations: Honouring the Host Nations

Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee's work takes place on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Katize, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo First Nations. We recognize their connection to this land and acknowledge that we are newcomers to Surrey like everyone else. Our group, the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee does not represent these land-based First Nations and we are careful not to speak on their behalf. Instead, we represent urban Indigenous people that have moved here from all over BC and Canada to make Surrey their home. Our focus is making Surrey a great place for Indigenous people living in the city — regardless of where they come from, their legal status, or their particular culture heritage. As we do this, we endeavour to live in a good way with the land-based First Nations that have called this land their home since time immemorial.