First Nations are indigenous communities in Canada that are neither Métis or Inuit. The term came about in the 1980s as an alternative to the word “Indian”. Unlike the latter two groups, First Nations are entitled to reserves, or land set aside by the Canadian government for First Nation peoples to live on.
The term “First Nations” is not officially recognized by the Canadian government. This is due to the “Indian Act of 1876”, which specifically used the terms “Indian” to describe all Indigenous peoples in Canada. While the term “Indian” has mostly been retired from use, “Aboriginal” has also been used as a synonym for “First Nations” when they are not quite the same. “Aboriginal” refers to all indigenous communities in Canada, including the Métis and Inuit, who are legally distinct from First Nations peoples due to reserve legislation.