First Nations A to Z

Canada First Nations A to Z

Canada aboriginal peoples are classed as Indians (commonly known as First Nations), Métis, Inuit, and Non-Status or Independents.There are currently 634 First Nation communities in Canada speaking more than 60 languages, divided into six cultural Map of Canadian provincesFirst Nations is the current title used by Canada to describe the various divisions in eight geographical locations.

Societies of the indigenous peoples, called Native Americans or American Indians in the U.S. They have also been known as Indians, Native Canadians, Aboriginal Americans, or Aboriginals, and in fact are officially called Indians in the Indian Act, which defines the status of First Nations, and in the Indian Register, the official record of members of First Nations.

The largest numbers of Aboriginal people live in Ontario and the western provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia). Aboriginal people make up the largest shares of the population of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

The First Nations people of Canada are made up of four main groups, excluding the Inuit in the North and the Métis. The collective term for all three aboriginal groups is First Peoples. Each of these main groups contain many tribes, each of which have adapted to their environments and are all independent of each other and slightly different. The four main groups were subdivided by the following geographic areas:

Canada First Nations Geographical Regions
  • The Pacific coast and mountains
  • The Plains
  • The St. Lawrence valley
  • North-East Woodlands (broad region, encompassing the woods near the Atlantic/maritimes to the tree-line in the Arctic).

The term is also used to designate bands of aboriginal people for whom reserves have been provided under the Canadian Indian Act. A representative body for Canadian First Nations is the Assembly of First Nations. National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is Phil Fontaine from Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.

In 2011, 637,660 First Nations people reported being Registered Indians, representing 74.9% of all First Nations people, 45.5% of the total Aboriginal population and 1.9% of the total Canadian population.

The use of the word "Indian" in day-to-day language is erratic in Canada, with some seeing the term as offensive while some aboriginal people prefer it to alternate terminology such as "aboriginal."

Members of First Nations are known officially as Registered Indians if they are entitled to benefits under the Indian Act; a more common term is Status Indian (from treaty status), with Non-Status Indian designating a member of a First Nation who is not entitled to benefits.

Non-Status Indians are also known as Independends or Traditionalists. All members of First Nations who are entitled to benefits are entered in the Indian Register.



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A primer on who qualifies as a Metis or non-status Indian

The Supreme Court of Canada declared Thursday, April 14, 20016, that Canada’s 600,000 Metis and non-status Indians are indeed “Indians” under the Constitution. The decision has raised questions about who qualifies as Metis or non-status Indian, but the answer might be a little complicated.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation

The Aamjiwnaang First Nation is located on the Sarnia 45 Indian Reserve in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The reserve is south of Sarnia, Ontario on the shores of the St. Clair River, across from Port Huron, Michigan. Aamjiwnaang was originally a Chippewa hunting ground, but the area was turned into a First Nations reserve in 1827, after the British government snatched up an enormous amount of Native land.

Incoming search terms:

  • Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Abénakis de Wôlinak

The Abénakis de Wôlinak were originally one of the Seven Nations of Canada.

Abittibi Indians
Acadia First Nation
Ahousaht First Nation
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation
Akwesasne First Nation
Alderville First Nation
Alexander Cree First Nation
Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation
Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek First Nation
Ardoch Algonquin First Nation
Aroland First Nation
Arviat Inuit Community
Attawapiskat First Nation
Aundek Omni Kaning First Nation
Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways
Beaverhouse First Nation
Brunswick House First Nation
Caldwell First Nation
Canim Lake Band
Carcross/Tagish First Nation
Champagne & Aishihik First Nations
Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation
Constance Lake First Nation
Deer Lake First Nation
Eabametoong First Nation
Eel Ground First Nation
Flying Post First Nation
Gwichya Gwich’in First Nation
Kingfisher Lake First Nation
Kluskus First Nation
Matachewan First Nation
Mattagami First Nation
Nadleh Whut’en First Nation
Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation (Nak’azdli Band)
Red Bluff First Nation
Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Band)
Takla Lake First Nation
Tl’azt’en Nation
Toosey First Nation
Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation
Ulkatcho First Nation
Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Williams Lake First Nation
Xatśūll First Nation (Soda Creek Indian Band)