Terminology
The lexicon of terms relating to Indigenous peoples is complex and long, and is included at the back of this document. Some terms have fallen out of favour, but are used under specific circumstances such as in legal contexts. It is important to familiarize oneself with the meaning and context of terms to ensure that you choose the best term for your situation. One should also be aware that it is very difficult to achieve consensus on preferred terms as individual Indigenous communities have a wide range of preferences. It is essential to recognize that there is not a single “Indigenous People”, but rather a very broad range of Indigenous groups and cultures within Canada (i.e., Indigenous peoples). There are many examples of policy that do not recognize the diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada, including the Indian Act (i.e. Indians) As a best practice… Use the titles that people have identified for themselves Use the name of the specific community, group or tribe (e.g. “Mi’kmaq” or “Cree” or Acadia First Nation, instead of “First Nation people”, When in doubt – Ask!
First Peoples: A broad term that includes all of the Inuit, Métis, and First Nation peoples of Canada. Canada’s First People are descendants of the original inhabitants of what is now called Canada, who lived here before explorers arrived from Europe. Indigenous Peoples: A broad term that has been used to describe ‘original inhabitants’ globally (both in Canada and other countries). The Canadian government has widely adopted the use of this term in the last several years, although other terms such as Aboriginal people or Indian are still in use in policy. The term has become more common place since the signing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a comprehensive statement addressing the individual and collective human rights of Indigenous Peoples. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf
Aboriginal: The term "Aboriginal" is from the Latin "ab origine," or "from the beginning." In the Canadian constitution, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to a person who has First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ancestry. But not all Indigenous peoples agree with this term, in part due to its similarity to the term “aborigine”, an Indigenous inhabitant of Australia. First Nations: is a term that is used for all Indigenous people in Canada except Inuit and Métis. For many, this term is a more respectful description of the people formally
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