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 Nation 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
Katrina SieniucNearly 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
The Globe and MailSome First Nations in northeastern Ontario have re-opened their borders as COVID-19 numbers drop …—Erik White
Erik WhiteFort 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 pluralGary Rinne… the intimate relationship between First Nations peoples and plants …—Tom O'Brien
Tom O'BrienThe provincial museum has one of the world's finest collections of First Nations art …—Caroline Bates
Caroline BatesExamples of First Nation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The story takes viewers through their upbringing in Toronto’s Kensington Market to Pete’s current residence in a remote Northern Manitoba First Nation community.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Deborah McGregor, an Anishinaabe scholar from Whitefish River First Nation, defines and discusses the concept of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), sometimes also known as Indigenous Ecological Knowledge or Indigenous Ecological Wisdom.
—JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Nikki is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, and her great-grandfather was Keish, also known as Skookum Jim, an instrumental figure during the early days of the Klondike Gold Rush, so expect some unbelievable stories throughout the day.
—Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025
Then there’s Tofino’s Tin Wis Resort, which is owned and operated by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on its ancestral property.
—Alexandra Marvar, AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for First Nation
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Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Deborah McGregor, an Anishinaabe scholar from Whitefish River First Nation, defines and discusses the concept of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), sometimes also known as Indigenous Ecological Knowledge or Indigenous Ecological Wisdom.
—JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Nikki is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, and her great-grandfather was Keish, also known as Skookum Jim, an instrumental figure during the early days of the Klondike Gold Rush, so expect some unbelievable stories throughout the day.
—Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025
Then there’s Tofino’s Tin Wis Resort, which is owned and operated by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on its ancestral property.
—Alexandra Marvar, AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for First Nation
Cite this Entry
“First Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/First%20Nation. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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