First Nations

First Na·tions
UK/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/Canada, US/ˌfɜɹs(t)ˈneɪʃənz/Australia/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈnæeʃ(ə)nz/

adjective

Of or pertaining to the indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis); Indian.

Meanings

First Nations1

adjectiveFirst Nations (not comparable)

alternative First Nation

  1. Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.
    1. Canadanot comparableOf or pertaining to the indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis); Indian.

      Generally speaking, the works of First Nations artists were made with materials such as wood, leather or cloth.

      2001, Benoit Prieur [et al.], “Portrait”, in Canada 2000–2001 (Ulysses Travel Guides), 3rd edition, Montreal, Que.: Ulysses Travel Guides, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 37, column 2
      2 more examples

      As "savages" become soldiers, and soldiers become social activists, the tribe has rapidly developed a First Nations identity as advocates of both stripes mobilize memories of past resistance in different contexts. Whether the state is green or blue, therefore, Taroko memories will continue to shape the relationship between state and tribe.

      2006 January 4, Scott Simon, “Formosa’s First Nations and the Japanese: From Colonial Rule to Postcolonial Resistance”, in Japan Focus: An Asia Pacific e-Journal, [Ithaca, N.Y.]: Japan Focus, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2008

      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
    2. broadlynot comparableuncommonOf or pertaining to the indigenous peoples of any country or region.
    3. Australiabroadlynot comparableuncommonOf or pertaining to the indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) peoples of Australia; Indigenous Australian.

      Among the 1692 Australian species and subspecies on the BirdLife Australia Working List V3 (excluding vagrant and introduced taxa[…]), 18.7% derive from unrelated entities (e.g. shrike-tit that is neither shrike nor tit). Just 82 reflect First Nations names for birds (1.6%) or places (3.3%).

      2022, Stephen T. Garnett, Golo Maurer, Georgia E. Garrard, “Why Australian Common Bird Names should Respond to Societal Change”, in Emu: Austral Ornithology, volume 122, number 2, [Melbourne, Vic.]: Taylor & Francis for BirdLife Australia, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 150

First Nations2

noun
  1. pluralplural of First Nation

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

First Nations · adjective

From an attributive use of the noun First Nations.

Full word history & related roots →

First Nations · noun

From First Nation + -s (suffix forming regular plural forms of nouns).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish związany z Indianami kanadyjskimi
  • związany z Indianami kanadyjskimiof or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with First Nations

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

First Nations. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nations

MLA

“First Nations.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nations. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “First Nations,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/First%20Nations.

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