First Nation

noun

plural First Nations
: any of a number of peoples especially of Canada who are indigenous to the North American continent

Note: In Canada, the name First Nations refers to one of three major, legally recognized groups of aboriginal peoples, the other two being the Inuit and the Métis.

But then along came Idle No More, an ongoing grassroots movement led by Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit to defend treaty rights and demand respect from Ottawa.Katrina Sieniuc
Nearly 1,000 friends and family members gathered Saturday to celebrate the 100-year life of a revered elder of a southern Alberta First Nation.The Globe and Mail
Some First Nations in northeastern Ontario have re-opened their borders as COVID-19 numbers drop …Erik White
Fort William First Nation and other First Nations in the Lake Superior region are among those that have a direct stake in the outcome.Gary Rinne
often used before another noun in both the singular and the plural
The rare barnacles are sometimes imported from Spain and Portugal, but they're available now from Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, where the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation tribe is allowed to harvest 1,000 pounds a month.Florence Fabricant
The provincial museum has one of the world's finest collections of First Nations art …Caroline Bates

Examples of First Nation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Based in Toronto and Vancouver, Belmore is a member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Anishinaabe) and has exhibited her work at the Venice Biennale and the Whitney Biennial, as well as major museums. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2024 Perhaps the most complex figure in the film is Williams Lake First Nation former Chief Rick Gilbert, an outwardly genial man of dizzying contradictions (who died in 2023). Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2024 The city is also a short drive from Wendake, the center of the Huron-Wendat nation, where visitors can learn about the First Nation’s history and contemporary traditions. Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024 The murals previously installed on the bridge towers in Windsor were painted by Paul White, Teresa Altman, and Daisy White from Walpole Island First Nation, and Naomi Peters from Caldwell First Nation, with the intention of reflecting Indigenous knowledge and tradition. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 5 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for First Nation 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'First Nation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of First Nation was in 1980

Dictionary Entries Near First Nation

Cite this Entry

“First Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/First%20Nation. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

First Nation

noun
: any of the groups of people especially of Canada who are indigenous to the North American continent
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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