First Nation

First Na·tion
UK/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃn/Canada, US/ˌfɜɹs(t)ˈneɪʃən/Australia/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈnæeʃ(ə)n/

noun

A community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis), especially one officially recognized by the federal government.

First used late 1970s
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Meanings

nounFirst Nation (plural First Nations)

plural First Nations

  1. Canadain pluraloftenA community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis), especially one officially recognized by the federal government.First known use late 1970s

    The Campbell River First Nation claims the 40 hectares of prime real estate has been illegally acquired, and it wants the land returned to it, along with damages.

    2008 April 4, “Band sues for waterfront property”, in Edmonton Sun, Edmonton, Alta.: Sun Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC
    2 more examples

    Today we speak as the descendants of our grandfathers who signed treaties with the Commissioners representing Her Majesty Queen Victoria in the late 1800s. […] The various governments of this country have made attempts to abrogate our treaties in one way or another. In spite of this, our treaties stand stronger than ever because we have had to rise as First Nations to defend them.

    1980 December 18, Eugene Steinhauer, President of the Indian Association of Alberta, witness, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence of the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on the Constitution of Canada: Respecting the Document Entitled “Proposed Resolution for a Joint Address to Her Majesty the Queen Respecting the Constitution of Canada” Published by the Government on October 2, 1980 (First Session of the Thirty-second Parliament), number 29, [Ottawa, Ont.]: Queen’s Printer for Canada, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2024, page 101, column 1

    The prolonged sufferings and ghastly deaths of Jesuit missionaries at the hands of hostile First Nations on the borders of the French colonies in Canada in the early seventeenth century rank high in the history of Christian suffering.

    2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, “A Worldwide Faith (1500–1800)”, in A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, London: Allen Lane, Penguin Books, →ISBN, part VI (Western Christianity Dismembered (1300–1800)), page 714
  2. broadlyin pluraloftenuncommonA community or settlement of indigenous peoples of any country or region.
    1. Australiabroadlyin pluraloftenuncommonA community of indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) peoples of Australia; a group of Indigenous Australians.
adjectiveFirst Nation (not comparable)
  1. alternativein pluralnot comparableoftenAlternative form of First Nations

    First Nation leaders in Ontario will support demonstrations and protests, until six band councillors are released from jail.

    2008 April 4, “Ontario Chiefs unite against jailing”, in Kenora Daily Miner and News, Kenora, Ont.: The Klein Group, →ISSN, →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
first peopleindian

Origin

From first (adjective) + nation, coined in the late 1970s in place of the word Indian which had become regarded by some as derogatory (though it is still used: see the usage note).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan Primera Nació
  • Primera Naciócommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Chinese Mandarin 第一民族
  • 第一民族 (Dìyī Mínzú)community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Czech první národ
  • první národcommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Dutch Eerste Natie van Canada
  • Eerste Natie van Canadacommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Finnish alkuperäiskansa, ensimmäinen kansa
  • alkuperäiskansacommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
  • ensimmäinen kansacommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
  • alkuperäiskansacommunity of indigenous peoples of Australia — see also Indigenous Australian
  • alkuperäiskansacommunity or settlement of indigenous peoples of any country or region — see also indigene, native
French Première Nation
  • Première Nationcommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Greek Πρῶτον Έθνος
  • Πρῶτον Έθνος (Próton Éthnos)community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Italian Primo Nazione
  • Primo Nazionecommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Japanese ファースト・ネーション
  • ファースト・ネーション (Fāsuto Nēshon)community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Korean 퍼스트 네이션
  • 퍼스트 네이션 (peoseuteu neisyeon)community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Latin Prīmus Nātiō
  • Prīmus Nātiōcommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Malay Bangsa Pertama
  • Bangsa Pertamacommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Norwegian Bokmål opprinnelig nasjon
  • opprinnelig nasjoncommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Portuguese Primeira Nação
  • Primeira Naçãocommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Romanian Primă Națiune
  • Primă Națiunecommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Spanish Primera Nación, Nación Originaria en Canadá
  • Primera Nacióncommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
  • Nación Originaria en Canadácommunity of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Thai เฟิสต์เนชันส์
  • เฟิสต์เนชันส์community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian
Ukrainian Корінни́й наро́д Кана́ди
  • Корінни́й наро́д Кана́ди (Korinnýj naród Kanády)community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis) — see also Indian

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with First Nation

informationeducationlocationapplicationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnation
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

First Nation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nation

MLA

“First Nation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nation. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “First Nation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nation.

Source: First Nation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.