“First Nations” is the preferred term for Canada’s indigenous population, as “Indian” and “Native American” are considered offensive or confusing. Inuit and Métis people are not included. Members are entitled to benefits and represented by the Assembly of First Nations. The population is diverse and culturally distinct.
The term “First Nations” has been used since the 1980s to describe Canada’s Aboriginal population; many people prefer to say “First Nation,” using a collective plural to describe Canada’s indigenous residents. Many Canadians use the term in place of “Native Americans,” “indigenous peoples,” or “Indian gangs,” out of respect to the demands of activists in Canada. To be considered a member of this population, a Canadian must be recognized as an Indigenous person by the federal government under the Indian Act of 1876.
When it comes to indigenous peoples in the Americas, the terminology can start to get very confusing. In Canada, “Indian” is considered offensive by many people, and Aboriginal North Americans prefer not to use this term, in part to avoid confusion with the large East Indian population in Canada. “Native American” is also not very popular in Canada, since many Canadians believe it refers specifically to Indigenous residents of the United States, not North Americans in general. Terms like “indigenous” or “aboriginal” have political connotations for some Canadians, so “First Nations” is seen as a happy medium that addresses political and cultural issues.
Two notable native peoples are not included under the umbrella of this term. The Inuit, an indigenous Arctic people, are recognized under a separate piece of legislation, the Constitution Act, 1982. They have their own collective council organization, the Circumpolar Council, and are culturally distinct from First Nations members. The Métis people, the result of intermarriage between French and Scottish settlers and Canadian Aborigines, are also not recognized as members of the group, although they are covered under constitutional law.
Members are entitled to certain benefits from the Canadian government and are represented by the Assembly of First Nations. These individuals are known as “status Indians” or “registered Indians,” reflecting their official status in the eyes of the Canadian government. Aboriginal people who are not members are considered “Indians without status”.
Approximately 600 recognized Indian bands are members of First Nations, making the population quite diverse. A number of language families are included in the group, with some people making an active effort to preserve the languages before they fall out of use. While members often meet to discuss important issues as a collective, they are also culturally distinct, with their own traditions, beliefs and legends.
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