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Today, Aboriginal peoples include the First Nations, Métis , and Inuit. The collective rights of specific Aboriginal peoples were documented first in early treaties with the English and French.

After 1867, Canada negotiated treaties with First Nations peoples. The British North America Act of 1867 assigned legislative jurisdiction over "Indians and Lands reserved for the Indians" to Parliament. These historical laws and negotiated treaties impacted the collective identity of the Aboriginal peoples.

First Nations: the umbrella name for the diverse Aboriginal peoples who have collective rights recognized and protected in Canada's constitution

The constitution refers to First Nations as Indians, in keeping with the name used at the time when the treaties were originally negotiated.

Indian: the word that Europeans used to describe the First Nations of North America

In fact, these peoples were diverse and had names for themselves. Many First Nations prefer not to use the word Indian to describe themselves.

Patricia Lychak et al., Issues for Canadians: Student Resource (Scarborough: Nelson Education Ltd., 2008). 123. Reproduced by permission.

  Vocabulary

Go to your Issues for Canadians Definitions handout, and record the terms and definitions for the words First Nations and Indian.

Save your updated handout to your Activities folder.

Please note: The term Indian should be used only when referring to the Indian Act or when making direct quotes from historical acts and policies where the First Nations are referred to as Indians. In fact, Indians are people from India. Remember that Columbus (and others) thought they were nearing India when then "found" North America.