ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the definitions that evolved in defining Aboriginal populations in Sweden, Canada, and Australia, and compares definitions and debates on data needs and integrity, as well as possible side effects of data collection. It presents to an important debate that has consequences and an impact in terms of getting good data for equity programming and its evaluation. The Sami are one of the national minority populations in Sweden. The Swedish Parliament in 1999 decided to recognize national minorities in line with the International Labor Organization Convention 169 and Conventions of the Council of Europe; national minorities being ethnically distinct populations with their own culture within the nation. "Aboriginal peoples" are defined by the Government of Canada as "a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants". The chapter shows that each country has concerns about getting good measures for targeting programs and evaluating the success of initiatives to reduce inequalities experienced by these populations.
