This joining of nations began even before the arrival of the Europeans to their respective shores. The Nation is a confederation of multiple former tribes: the Ahousaht, Manhousaht, Kelthsmaht, Piniit-thlaht, Qwaacwi-aht, O-inmitisaht, and Otsosaht. The Ahousaht First Nation is the largest Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.

There are over 600 recognized First Nations governments or bands with distinctive cultures, languages, art, and music. National Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes the cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples to the history of Canada.

Although 'Indian' is a term still commonly used in legal documents, the descriptors 'Indian' and Eskimo have somewhat fallen into disuse in Canada and some consider them to be pejorative. The Métis culture of mixed blood originated in the mid-17th century when First Nation and Inuit people married Europeans. The Inuit had more limited interaction with European settlers during that early period. They comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Indigenous peoples, also known in some regions as First peoples, First Nations, Aboriginal peoples or Native peoples, or autochthonous peoples, are ethnic groups who are the original or earliest known inhabitants of an area, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied or colonized the area more recently. Indigenous Canadians, also known as Aboriginal Canadians, are the Indigenous peoples within the boundaries of Canada. In Canada, the term Aboriginal or Indigenous is generally preferred to as “Native.” The word Aboriginal means inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists In the US, the term “Native American” is in common usage to describe Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal peoples of Canada include the First Nations, Metis and Inuit. “Native American” refers to Indigenous peoples of the US and includes groups within the United States who are not American Indian, such as the Inupiat, Aleut and Yupik peoples.

While some Indigenous people are comfortable with the word Indian, others believe it is pejorative by nature because it erases indigenous cultures by homogenizing the ethnic “other” in mistaking Indians from India and Native Americans. The word has often become part of the official names of many tribes, because of the historical process and common terms when the name was developed. Government to refer to Native Americans, but controversy exists over its usage. The word 'Indian' is the legal term used by the U.S. An Indian tribe recognized by the US government usually possesses tribal sovereignty. Modern forms of these entities are often associated with land or territory of an Indian reservation. In the United States, an American Indian tribe, Native American tribe, Alaska Native village, tribal nation, or similar concept is any extant or historical clan, tribe, band, nation, or other group or community of Native Americans in the United States. Native American genomes contain genetic signals from Western Eurasia due in part to their descent from a common Siberian population during the Upper Paleolithic period. In human population genetics, Native American ancestry refers to genetic ancestry that can be traced back to one or more Native American tribes. These are the tribes that descended from the pre-Colombian indigenous peoples of North America. In Canada, the term “Aboriginal” or “Indigenous” is generally preferred to “Native.” Some may feel that “native” has a negative connotation and is outdated. Native Americans are the people who consist one of the more than 500 distinguished tribes that still endure as sovereign states with the United States' present geographical boundaries. In the United States, the term “Native American” is in common usage to describe Aboriginal peoples. The Metis, another distinct ethnicity, developed after European contact and relations primarily between First Nations people and Europeans. There are over 600 recognized First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. Those in the Arctic area are distinct and known as Inuit. In Canada, the First Nations are the predominant Indigenous peoples in Canada south of the arctic circle.

We'd appreciate it not to be copied and/or used for any other purpose.įirst, some important background to various language, describing First Nations, Native American, Indigenous, Aboriginals, Tribe etc.: Tribes and History of the First Nations PeoplesĪ lot of research and work was brought into this website for many years, it's here for our customers to enjoy and to be informed.

Nootka tribe history