- Definition
First Nations" refers to the original Indigenous peoples of Canada, excluding Inuit, and is a respectful term that replaced older, offensive words.
The Anishinaabe are a First Nation with many communities around the Great Lakes region.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: First Nations are the original people of this land, like the first family to ever build their home in a place.
Ask your child: Who do you think lived on this land a very, very long time ago?
Common mix-up: Kids may hear the word 'Indian' in old stories, which is now considered outdated and hurtful. The respectful term for these diverse groups is First Nations.
Examples
- The Mi'kmaq are a First Nation from Canada's Atlantic region.
- The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is made up of six different First Nations.
First Nations is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+146 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
