The Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study, an in-depth look into the urban Native population in Canada, was released today.

Researchers interviewed 2,614 First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in 11 cities. The study found that 80 percent are proud of their Native ancestry and six in 10 maintain ties to their reserves or home communities.

Most Natives in urban areas feel comfortable living there but almost all of them believe they are viewed negatively by non-Natives, according to the study. Respondents were worried by assumptions about substance abuse, laziness, lack of intelligence and poverty.

Among urban Natives, more than half said they have little confidence in the justice system. Most support a separate justice system for Native people.

According to the 2006 Census, 1.2 million people identified themselves as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. About half of them lived in urban areas.

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Most urban aboriginal peoples opt to stay in city (CBC 4/6)