Statistics Canada says between 2006 and 2011, the number of people identifying themselves as native increased 20 per cent.
That compares with a 5.2 per cent increase for the non-aboriginal community.
But only 17 per cent of native people say there were able to conduct a conversation in an aboriginal language.
In the Rainy River district, almost 24 per cent of people identify themselves as being aboriginal.
The figure drops to 18 per cent in Fort Frances.
Of the 45-hundred identifying as native, less than 13 per cent communicate in Ojibwa.
Some alarming statistics as well about children in foster care in Canada.
The Census found that nearly half of all children under the age of 14 in foster care are aboriginal.
Fewer than half of all native children were living in families with both of their parents.
In the non-aboriginal community, its 76 per cent.
