First Nation

n. Canadian

An organized aboriginal group or community, especially any of the bands officially recognized by the Canadian government.

First Nations adj.

Usage Note: First Nation is widely used in Canada as a respectful alternative to Indian, much as Native American is in the United States. However, the two terms are not exact equivalents. First Nation is essentially a political term used as a substitute for band in referring to any of the numerous aboriginal groups formally recognized by the Canadian government under the Indian Act of 1876. Unlike Native American, it is not a comprehensive ethnic term for all indigenous peoples of the Americas or even of Canada. While it is sometimes used loosely in referring to Indian groups other than those identified in the 1876 Act, it specifically does not include non-Indian peoples such as the Inuit or the Métis. · First Nation has no form for an individual who is a member of a qualifying group. Officially, such a person is known as a status Indian or in some cases a treaty Indian.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

First Nation

n (also without capitals)

Canadian another name for band¹⁵

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Under the terms of the Agreement, Pure Gold acknowledges and respects the rights, history and interests that both the Wabauskang First Nation and the Lac Seul First Nation have in the region surrounding Madsen.

Pure Gold Mining Establishes Partnership with Canadian First Nations Wabauskang, Lac Seul

The First Nations Housing Community (FNHC) is designed to support First Nation communities in managing their housing programs, while bridging the gaps between First Nations, government, and industry.

New association to focus on Indigenous housing

When Robert Mountain of the Mamalilikulla First Nation talks about salmon farming, he asserts that Sewid can't be making decisions about the traditional waters of the Broughton Archipelago.

EDITORIAL: Too many Chiefs, not enough leadership in BC: The NDP has created a monster with the aquaculture veto-tenure announcement that will pit First Nation against First Nation, create economic chaos and clog up our courts

Strongman says his First Nation has been involved with solar energy since 2010.

Montana First Nation ready to share expertise in solar energy

Demographic transitions may also be contributing to an increase in age-related dementias in First Nations. The number of First Nations people in Canada is on the rise and expected to increase 1.4 times between 2006 and 2031.

The emergence of dementia as a health concern among first nations populations in Alberta, Canada

In harmonizing these taxes there is concern the government will further restrict First Nations exemptions.

HST a case, at latent colonialism

Mattagami First Nation is scheduled to hold an event to mark the treaty-signing anniversary on July 7.

Events planned for treaty centennial

Peepeekisis First Nation Justice Committee, Balcarres: The Four Winds Project.

National Crime Prevention Strategy

On my First Nation of Wasauksing, we painfully discovered that there is no inherent connection between the Indian Act and the Corporations Act of Ontario.

Slipped over the edge

As lead legal counsel on all business matters for the Fort McKay First Nation, the completion of this deal is a major milestone for both the firm and the First Nation, whose relationship dates back nearly two decades.

Canadian Tribes Fort McKay First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation Acquire 49% of Alberta Tank Farm Development