first-nation
/ˌfɜːst ˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfɜːrst ˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa)
first-nation — noun
1. A distinct Indigenous band or community in Canada that has its own ancestral ter
A distinct Indigenous band or community in Canada that has its own ancestral territory, language, and system of governance — the word does not cover Arctic Inuit communities or the Métis, who are people of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. The same term can describe any Aboriginal group in Australia, such as the Yolngu, who maintain their own land and cultural traditions.
The T'sou-ke First Nation signed a solar-energy agreement with the provincial government in 2022.
countable: 'a/the + First Nation' for a specific community
Yasmin teaches the Heiltsut language at her First Nation's school near Bella Bella.
Reuben's grandfather, a respected elder of the K'ómoks First Nation, passed down many oral histories.
The federal government consulted several First Nations before it approved the pipeline through their territory.
The Yolngu First Nation in Australia runs a bilingual school in English and Yolngu Matha.
- band
a Canadian legal term for a smaller administrative unit within a First Nation; narrower and more bureaucratic
- tribe
used more in US contexts for Native American groups; avoided in official Canadian usage
- community
a neutral term that can refer to a First Nation settlement without the legal or political connotations
文法句型
a/the + First Nation
First Nation + noun
用法筆記
Countable noun — you can refer to 'a First Nation', 'the Cree First Nation', or 'several First Nations'. Frequently capitalised as a proper noun. In the Canadian context, this sense explicitly excludes the Inuit and Métis peoples.
常見錯誤
2. The collective term for all the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors lived in Nort
The collective term for all the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors lived in North America before European settlers arrived, especially in Canada. This broader usage can include the Inuit and Métis peoples as well as First Nations bands, and often appears in discussions about history, culture, rights, and politics.
The Canadian Constitution recognizes three Aboriginal groups: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
First Nations as one of three recognised groups
Mira's course covers First Nations history from before European contact to the present day.
attributive: 'First Nations + noun' modifying history
Many museums now work with First Nations to return sacred objects held in their collections.
Jack's final paper explored formline design in Northwest Coast First Nations art.
First Nations sovereignty is central to debates about land rights in Canada.
- Indigenous peoples
broader global term; used internationally and not limited to Canada or North America
- Aboriginal peoples
used in the Canadian Constitution to refer collectively to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis; more legal in tone
- Native Americans
the common US term; not preferred in Canada
文法句型
First Nations + plural verb
First Nations + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Used as a plural proper noun — 'First Nations are…' not 'First Nations is…'. In attributive position ('First Nations art', 'First Nations leaders') it modifies the following noun. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers to the peoples as a collective category, not to any single band or community.