First Nations is the preferred term to describe Aboriginal
people in Canada. This term first came into common usage in
the 1970s to replace the word "Indian," which many
found to be offensive. No legal definition of First Nations
exists. "First Nations Peoples” refers to
the Indian people in Canada, both Status and non-Status.
Aboriginal peoples:
The descendants of the original inhabitants of North
America. The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups
of Aboriginal people; Indians, Metis
people and Inuit. These are three separate groups of people
with unique heritages, languages, cultural practices and
spiritual beliefs. All indigenous people of Canada,
including Indians (status and non-status), Métis,
and Inuit people (as defined in the Constitution Act of
1982).
Indian:
A term which describes all Aboriginal people in Canada who
are not either Inuit or Métis.
Indian peoples are one of the of the three groups recognized
as Aboriginal in the Constitution Act, 1982. The act defines
Aboriginal people in Canada consists of Indians, Inuit and Métis
people. Indians in Canada are often referred to as: Status
Indians, non-Status Indians and Treaty Indians
Status Indian:
An Indian person who is registered under the Indian Act. The
act sets out the requirements for determining who is a
Status Indian.
Non- Status Indians:
Non-status Indians are persons of Aboriginal descent who do
not qualify for official registration under the Indian Act,
including: Indian women who had to give up status to marry
non-Indian men; Indians who had to give up status to serve
in the army, to vote, to own land or to serve as ministers
of religion; Indians whose ancestors were absent when
registration occurred.
Treaty Indian:
A Status Indian who belongs to a First Nation or Band which
signed a treaty with the Crown.
