First Nations

[ furst ney-shuhnz ]

noun

, Chiefly Canadian.

1. the Indigenous peoples of North America generally considered distinct from the Inuit and Métis (often used attributively):

   The Ministry of the Environment has worked with the First Nations, local government, industry, and area residents to create a long-term plan for the region.

   Games, stories, and hands-on exploration of artifacts helped the students connect with local First Nations cultures and histories.

2. First Na·tion [furst, , ney, -sh, uh, n], any specific Indigenous, non-Métis, non-Inuit ethnic or language group, band, or reserve-based community:

   The Little Saskatchewan First Nation is located near St. Martins, Manitoba.

Word History and Origins

Origin of First Nations¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“I would say that the evidence base is not settled at all,” she said, pointing to research from her own office which found that some of the most vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ or First Nations teenagers, “feel more themselves online than they do in the real world”.

From BBC

The findings could bolster First Nations tribes’ legal claims to their traditional lands.

From Science Magazine

Some First Nations leaders have called the book "offensive", saying it contains language errors and contributes to the "erasure, trivialisation, and stereotyping of First Nations peoples and experiences".

From BBC

Among the complaints is that the character is given the ability to read people’s minds and communicate with animals and plants because "that’s the Indigenous way", which Sharon Davis from the national First Nations' education body said reduces "complex and diverse belief systems" to "magic".

From BBC

The girl, who is from Mparntwe or Alice Springs, also uses vocabulary from the Gamilaraay people of NSW and Queensland, which Ms Davis said showed "complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices".

From BBC