First Nations

First Nations Definition

First Nations refers to peoples who assert a shared cultural and linguistic heritage and descent from common ancestors who were the original inhabitants of territories that were subsequently absorbed into modern states. This concept encompasses a wide range of groups, including Aboriginal populations across the Americas and Australia, the Inuit and Aleut peoples of the Arctic regions, transhumant pastoralists of Scandinavia, Russia, and the Balkans, various minority populations in the Pacific, Hmong groups in China and Laos, and certain peoples in Africa such as the Pygmies, Nuer, and San.

Conceptual Scope

The term is used both broadly and narrowly. In its broadest sense, it describes a diverse collection of indigenous groups globally. More narrowly, particularly within the context of Canada, it refers specifically to Native American peoples who were formerly known as “bands” and are officially recognised by the government as having the right to self-government.

Historical Emergence in Canada

The specific term ‘First Nations’ originated in Canada during the 1970s. Native American bands adopted this designation as a means of asserting their claim to recognition as one of the foundational nations of Canada alongside the English and French. This assertion was formalised at the First Nations’ Constitutional Congress, which was convened by the National Indian Brotherhood in 1980. Currently, there are over 600 First Nations in Canada, with numbers expected to increase as smaller, more dispersed populations gain governmental recognition in the coming decades.

Controversies and Exclusions

The application of the term raises significant sociological questions regarding criteria for membership, particularly concerning cultural and genealogical ‘purity’. A notable controversy arises from the exclusion of groups such as the Metis, a large population descended from unions between French colonists and Native Americans concentrated in southeastern Canada who have developed a distinct nationalism. This situation underscores the ongoing debate about what standards are necessary to establish legitimate membership within the concept of First Nations.