Families form united front after discovering sons were switched at birth four decades ago

Two friends born three days apart at a remote Canadian hospital believe they were switched at birth 41 years ago.

David Tait Jr and Leon Swanson were born Norway House Indian Hospital in northern Manitoba in 1975.

Members of their First Nations community had been joking for decades that the two resembled each others' parents, but it wasn't until two other men from a nearby indigenous community were found to have been switched at birth at the same remote hospital in 1975 that the pair tested their suspicions.

Last November, DNA tests confirmed Norman Barkman and Luke Monias from the nearby Garden Hill First Nation community were switched at birth.

DNA tests have confirmed Mr Swanson's mother Charlotte is the biological mother of Mr Tait.

Mr Tait's results are still pending, according to NBC News.

"This definitely should not have happened," Mr Tait said while wiping back tears at a press conference on Friday.

"Just distraught, confused, angry."

"Forty years gone."

While wiping away a heavy stream of tears, Mr Tait continued: "We want answers, we want answers, so bad."

Mr Swanson was unable to say anything, beyond: "I don't know what to say."

The men's families stood by their side at the press conference and said their love for their sons was unwavering.

"We agreed that we're going to be one family. I have an extra son," Mr Tait Sr later told CTV News.

Manitoba aboriginal affairs minister Eric Roberts has called the mix-up "unacceptable".

"I can't describe this matter as anything less than criminal," Mr Robinson said.

"What happened here is lives were stolen. You can't describe it as anything less than that."

Health Canada paid for the DNA testing and are offering the men mental health support.