First Nations

First Nations is the official term employed by the Canadian federal government and the British Crown to designate the indigenous peoples of Canada, not including the Inuit or Métis. Inuit are Arctic peoples, and Métis are descendants of intermarriages between Athabaskans and Europeans. Although controversial, First Nations is considered a more culturally acceptable label than the formerly used “Indian bands.” First Nations legally structured identity in terms of blood status and documentable ancestry. The term First Nations ...