First Nation

noun

plural First Nations

: any of a number of peoples especially of Canada who are indigenous to the North American continent

Note: In Canada, the name First Nations refers to one of three major, legally recognized groups of aboriginal peoples, the other two being the Inuit and the Métis.

But then along came Idle No More, an ongoing grassroots movement led by Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit to defend treaty rights and demand respect from Ottawa.

—Katrina Sieniuc

Nearly 1,000 friends and family members gathered Saturday to celebrate the 100-year life of a revered elder of a southern Alberta First Nation.

—The Globe and Mail

Some First Nations in northeastern Ontario have re-opened their borders as COVID-19 numbers drop …

—Erik White

Fort William First Nation and other First Nations in the Lake Superior region are among those that have a direct stake in the outcome.

—Gary Rinne

—often used before another noun in both the singular and the plural

The rare barnacles are sometimes imported from Spain and Portugal, but they're available now from Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, where the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation tribe is allowed to harvest 1,000 pounds a month.

—Florence Fabricant

The provincial museum has one of the world's finest collections of First Nations art …

—Caroline Bates

Examples of First Nation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Grants The seven outstanding artists are: Pat Kane (Canada, Timiskaming First Nation) received the Dr. Jane Goodall award. —Photovogue, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2024

Based in Toronto and Vancouver, Belmore is a member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe) and has exhibited her work at the Venice Biennale and the Whitney Biennial, as well as major museums. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2024

Perhaps the most complex figure in the film is Williams Lake First Nation former Chief Rick Gilbert, an outwardly genial man of dizzying contradictions (who died in 2023). —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2024

The city is also a short drive from Wendake, the center of the Huron-Wendat nation, where visitors can learn about the First Nation’s history and contemporary traditions. —Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

First Nation

noun

: any of the groups of people especially of Canada who are indigenous to the North American continent