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

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 intimate relationship between First Nations peoples and plants …

—Tom O'Brien

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

Sabe), the leader of the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation, also contributed to the patch. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026

Anybody for First Nation Creek or Mettawa Creek? —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Over on Vancouver Island, a group of land defenders were fighting to stop the felling of old-growth trees in a grove called Fairy Creek, on the land of the Pacheedaht First Nation. —Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Zelniker visits the Athabasca River in the Fort McKay First Nation of Northern Alberta in Canada, speaking with First Nations environmentalist Jean L’hommecourt. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for First Nation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

First Nation

noun

: any of the groups of people especially of Canada who are indigenous to the North American continent