First Nations
Topic: Settler Colonialism: Native Peoples of America and Australia · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Displacing Indigenous Peoples"
Meaning
First Nations is the name for the organised native groups that the Canadian government recognises. The Indians Act of 1876 called these groups "bands", and the word "nations" came into use from the 1980s. The change showed respect: these groups were now seen as peoples with their own identity, not just small units under government control.
Example
In 1969 the Canadian government said it would "not recognise aboriginal rights". Native groups organised demonstrations and debates against this. Finally, the Constitution Act of 1982 accepted their existing aboriginal and treaty rights.
Don't confuse with
- Metis: they are people of mixed native and European descent in Canada. They rose in armed revolt between 1869 and 1885, in the Red River Rebellion.