First Nations is a term to describe the indigenous people who were the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. First Nations does not include the indigenous people who are Métis or Inuit. The First Nations people are sometimes referred to as Aboriginal people (not to be confused with Australia's Aboriginal peoples). The correct use of "First Nations" is as a general term, as members are more likely to define themselves as specific nations or communities within nations. Symbolically, the term designates the First Nations as "first among equals" as the founding nations of Canada (alongside the French and English, who also had a hand in the founding of modern Canada). The early First Nations commprised six main geographical groups (with many nations in each): Woodland First Nations, Iroquoian First Nations, Plains First Nations, Plateau First Nations, Pacific Coast First Nations and First Nations of the Mackenzie and Yukon River Basins.
The First Nations were the first to encounter European contact, settlement, and trade. The First Nations occupied North America for thousands of years before European explorers arrived. The first explorers were Norse, traveling from Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland, and finally landing in Newfoundland in the 11th century. Europeans returned to North America to establish settlements during the 1500s, attracted by the plentiful fishing. These explorers were more permanent than the first.
Colonial practices and policies of the Europeans aimed to assimilate and control the Indigenous people. These policies include the Indian Act of 1876, a consolidation of previous ordinances that sought to eradicate First Nations culture in favor of assimilation into Euro-Canadian society. Another policy called the pass system controlled the movement of Indigenous people by requiring them to present an authorized travel document to leave and return to their reservations. Other oppressive policies included [reserves[(https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-reserves) and residential schools.
The well-being of Indigenous people has been devastated by these policies and practices in combination with segregation, loss of land, racism, and declining or unequal access to resources and public services. In 1980, hundreds of Indigenous chiefs met in Ottawa and used “First Nations” for the first time in their Declaration of First Nations. The Assembly of First Nations was formed in 1982 as the political voice for First Nations people in Canada.
According to the 2016 census, 977,230 people in Canada identify as being of First Nations Heritage, an increase of 39.3% since 2006. As of 2020, the Canadian government recognizes 619 First Nations, speaking more than 50 languages. First Nations people today may live on or off reservations, may or may not have legal status under the Indian Act, and may or may not be registered members of a nation or band (bands function as municipalities). As aforementioned, the socio-economic status and overall well-being of First Nations (and Indigenous people in general) have been negatively impacted for years and problems persist today. Dispossession of cultural traditions, discrimination, racism, prejudice, and social inequities have led to these poor conditions for First Nations.
The gap between the socio-economic status and conditions between Indigenous people and non-indigenous is significant, although it is improving. The Assembly of First Nations co-authored a report in 2019 that revealed that about 47% of the 254,100 First Nations children in Canada live in poverty. Additionally, First Nations children are almost four times as likely to live in poverty than non-Indigenous children.]]
| Adams Lake Indian Band | Ahousaht First Nation | Aitchelitz First Nation |
| Chawathil First Nation | Cheam First Nation | Cheslatta Carrier Nation |
| Coldwater Indian Band (C’eletkwmx) | Cook's Ferry Indian Band | Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation |
| Daylu Dena Council | Dease River First Nation | Ditidaht First Nation |
| Doig River First Nation | Dzawada’enuxw First Nation | Ehattesaht First Nation |
| Esdilagh (ɁEsdilagh) First Nation (Alexandria Indian Band) | Esk'etemc First Nation | Esquimalt Nation |
| Fort Nelson First Nation | Gingolx Village Government (Kincolith) | Gitanmaax Band |
| Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs | Gitga'at First Nation | Gitlaxt'aamix Village Government (New Aiyansh) |
| Gitsegukla First Nation | Gitwangak Band | Gitwinksihlkw Village Government |
| Gitxaala Nation | Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwawaenuk Tribe |
| Hagwilget First Nation Government | Haisla Nation | Halalt First Nation |
| Halfway River First Nation | Heiltsuk Nation (Bella Bella Indian Band) | Hesquiaht First Nation |
| High Bar First Nation | Homalco First Nation | Hupacasath First Nation |
| Huu-ay-aht First Nations | Iskut First Nation | K'ómoks First Nation |
| Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nations | Kanaka Bar Indian Band (T'eqt''aqtn'mux) | Katzie First Nation |
| Kispiox Band | Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation | Kitselas Nation |
| Kitsumkalum Band | Klahoose First Nation | Kwadacha Nation |
| Kwakiutl Band Council | Kwantlen First Nation | Kwaw-kwaw-a-pilt First Nation |
| Kwiakah First Nation | Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation | Kwikwetlem First Nation |
| Lake Babine Nation | Lax Kw'alaams Band | Laxgalts'ap Village Government |
| Leq'á:mel First Nation | Lheidli T'enneh First Nation | Lhoosk'uz Dene Nation |
| Lhtako Dene Nation | Lil'wat Nation | Little Shuswap Lake Band |
| Lower Kootenay Indian Band (Yaqan Nukiy) | Lower Nicola Indian Band | Lower Similkameen Indian Band |
| Lyackson First Nation | Lytton First Nation | Malahat Nation |
| Mamalilikulla First Nation | Matsqui First Nation | McLeod Lake Indian Band |
| Metlakatla First Nation | Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation | Musqueam Indian Band |
| N'Quatqua First Nation | Nadleh Whut'en First Nation | Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation |
| Namgis First Nation | Nanoose First Nation | Nazko First Nation |
| Nee Tahi Buhn Band | Neskonlith Indian Band | Nicomen Indian Band |
| Nooaitch Indian Band | Nuchatlaht Tribe | Nuxalk Nation (Bella Coola Band) |
| Okanagan Indian Band | Old Massett Village Council | Oregon Jack Creek Band |
| Osoyoos Indian Band | Pacheedaht First Nation | Pauquachin First Nation |
| Penelakut Tribe | Penticton Indian Band | Peters First Nation |
| Popkum First Nation | Prophet River First Nation | Qayqayt First Nation (New Westminster Indian Band) |
| Qualicum First Nation | Quatsino First Nation | Saik'uz First Nation |
| Samahquam First Nation | Saulteau First Nations | Sc'ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay First Nation) |
| Seabird Island Band | Sekw’el’was (Cayoose Creek Band) | Semiahmoo First Nation |
| Shackan Indian Band | Shishalh Nation | Shuswap First Nation |
| Shxw'ow'hamel First Nation | Shxwhá:y Village | Sik-E-Dakh (Glen Vowell Band) |
| Simpcw First Nation | Siska Indian Band | Skatin Nations |
| Skawahlook First Nation | Skeetchestn Indian Band | Skidegate Band Council |
| Skin Tyee Band | Skowkale First Nation | Skuppah Indian Band |
| Skwah First Nation | Snuneymuxw First Nation | Songhees Nation |
| Soowahlie First Nation | Splatsin First Nation | Spuzzum First Nation |
| Sq'ewlets First Nation | Squamish Nation | Squiala First Nation |
| Stellat'en First Nation | Sts'ailes Nation | Stwecem’c Xget’tem First Nation |
| Stz'uminus First Nation (Chemainus First Nation) | Sumas First Nation | T'it'q'et First Nation |
| T'Sou-ke First Nation | Tahltan Band | Takla Nation |
| Taku River Tlingit First Nation | Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc | Tl'azt'en Nation |
| Tl'esqox First Nation | Tl'etinqox-t'in Government (Anaham Indian Band) | Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation |
| Tla'amin Nation | Tlatlasikwala First Nation | Tlowitsis Nation |
| Tobacco Plains Indian Band | Toquaht Nation | Ts'il Kaz Koh (Burns Lake Band) |
| Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation | Ts'uubaa-asatx Nation (Lake Cowichan First Nation) | Tsalalh First Nation |
| Tsartlip First Nation | Tsawout First Nation | Tsawwassen First Nation |
| Tsay Keh Dene Nation | Tseshaht First Nation | Tsetsaut/Skii km Lax Ha Nation |
| Tseycum First Nation | Tŝideldel First Nation (Alexis Creek First Nation) | Tsleil-Waututh Nation |
| Tzeachten First Nation | Uchucklesaht Tribe | Ucluelet First Nation |
| Ulkatcho First Nation | Union Bar First Nation | Upper Nicola Band |
| Upper Similkameen Indian Band | We Wai Kai Nation (Cape Mudge Indian Band) | Wei Wai Kum First Nation (Campbell River Indian Band) |
| West Moberly First Nations | Westbank First Nation | Wet'suwet'en First Nation |
| Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band | Williams Lake First Nation | Witset First Nation |
| Wuikinuxv Nation | Xa'Xtsa Nation (Douglas First Nation) | Xat'sull First Nation (Soda Creek Indian Band) |
| Xaxli'p First Nation | Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government | Xwísten (Bridge River Indian Band) |
| Yakweakwioose First Nation | Yale First Nation | Yekooche First Nation |
| Yunesit'in Government | | |
| Barren Lands First Nation | Berens River First Nation | Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation |
| Black River First Nation | Bloodvein First Nation | Brokenhead Ojibway Nation |
| Buffalo Point First Nation | Bunibonibee Cree Nation | Canupawakpa Dakota Nation |
| Chemawawin Cree Nation | Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation | Dakota Tipi First Nation |
| Dauphin River First Nation | Ebb and Flow First Nation | Fisher River Cree Nation |
| Fox Lake Cree Nation | Gambler First Nation | Garden Hill First Nation |
| God's Lake First Nation | Hollow Water First Nation | Keeseekoowenin First Nation |
| Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation | Lake Manitoba First Nation | Lake St. Martin First Nation |
| Little Grand Rapids First Nation | Little Saskatchewan First Nation | Long Plain First Nation |
| Manto Sipi Cree Nation | Marcel Colomb First Nation | Mathias Colomb Cree Nation |
| Misipawistik Cree Nation | Mosakahiken Cree Nation | Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation |
| Northlands Denesuline First Nation | Norway House Cree Nation | O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation |
| O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation | Opaskwayak Cree Nation | Pauingassi First Nation |
| Peguis First Nation | Pimicikamak Cree Nation | Pinaymootang First Nation |
| Pine Creek First Nation | Poplar River First Nation | Red Sucker Lake First Nation |
| Rolling River First Nation | Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation | Sagkeeng First Nation |
| Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation | Sapotaweyak Cree Nation | Sayisi Dene First Nation |
| Shamattawa First Nation | Sioux Valley Dakota Nation | War Lake First Nation |
| Skownan First Nation | St. Theresa Point First Nation | Swan Lake First Nation |
| Tataskweyak Cree Nation | Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve | Wasagamack First Nation |
| Waywayseecappo First Nation | Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation | York Factory First Nation |
| Aamjiwnaang | Alderville First Nation | Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation |
| Animakee Wa Zhing #37 (formerly Northwest Angle 37) | Animbiigoo Zaagi igan Anishinaabek | Anishnaabeg of Naongashiing (or Big Island First Nation) |
| Aroland First Nation | Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (or Grassy Narrows First Nation) | Atikameksheng Anishnawbek |
| Attawapiskat First Nation | Aundeck-Omni-Kaning First Nation | Batchewana First Nation |
| Bearskin Lake First Nation | Beausoleil First Nation (or G’Chimnissing) | Beaverhouse First Nation |
| Big Grassy River First Nation (or Mishkosiminiziibiing) | Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (or Pic River First Nation) | Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (or Rocky Bay First Nation) |
| Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (formerly Sand Point First Nation) | Brunswick House First Nation | Caldwell First Nation |
| Cat Lake First Nation | Chapleau Cree First Nation | Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation |
| Chippewas of Georgina Island | Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation | Chippewas of Rama First Nation |
| Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (or Deshkan Ziibiing) | Constance Lake First Nation | Couchiching First Nation |
| Curve Lake First Nation | Deer Lake First Nation | Delaware Nation at Moraviantown (formerly Moravian of the Thames) |
| Dokis First Nation | Eabametoong First Nation (or Fort Hope) | Eagle Lake First Nation |
| Flying Post First Nation | Fort Albany First Nation | Fort Severn First Nation (or Wasaho Cree Nation) |
| Fort William First Nation | Garden River First Nation | Ginoogaming First Nation (formerly Long Lake Reserve #77) |
| Gull Bay First Nation (or Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek) | Henvey Inlet First Nation | Hiawatha First Nation (Michisaagiig of Rice Lake) |
| Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation (formerly Shoal Lake #39) | Kasabonika Lake First Nation | Kashechewan Cree First Nation |
| Kee-Way-Win First Nation | Kettle & Stony Point First Nation (formerly Chippewas of Kettle & Stony Point) | Kingfisher Lake First Nation |
| Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (formerly Big Trout Lake First Nation) | Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation (or the Community of Nezaadiikaang) | Lac La Croix First Nation |
| Lac Seul First Nation | Long Lake #58 First Nation | M'Chigeeng First Nation (formerly West Bay) |
| Magnetawan First Nation | Marten Falls First Nation | Matachewan First Nation |
| Mattagami First Nation | McDowell Lake First Nation | Michipicoten First Nation |
| Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation (formerly Osnaburgh First Nation) | Missanabie Cree First Nation | Mississauga First Nation |
| Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation | Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation | Mitaanjigamiing First Nation (formerly Stanjikoming First Nation) |
| Mohawk Council of Akwesasne | Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (see also Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory) | Moose Cree First Nation |
| Moose Deer Point First Nation | Munsee-Delaware Nation | Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation |
| Naicatchewenin First Nation (formerly Northwest Bay First Nation) | Naotkamegwanning First Nation (formerly Whitefish Bay First Nation) | Neskantaga First Nation |
| Netmizaaggamig Nishaabeg (formerly Pic Mobert First Nation) | Nibinamik First Nation (formerly Summer Beaver Band) | Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation (formerly Red Gut First Nation) |
| Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation (formerly Dalles First Nation and Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining Ojibway Nation) | Nipissing First Nation | North Caribou Lake First Nation (formerly Weagamow Lake First Nation or Round Lake First Nation) |
| North Spirit Lake First Nation | Northwest Angle #33 First Nation | Obashkaandagaang First Nation (formerly Washagamis Bay First Nation) |
| Ojibway Nation of Saugeen (formerly Savant Lake First Nation) | Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation | Oneida Nation of the Thames |
| Pays Plat First Nation (or Pawgwasheeng) | Pikangikum First Nation | Poplar Hill First Nation |
| Rainy River First Nations | Red Rock Indian Band | Sachigo Lake First Nation |
| Sagamok Anishnawbek | Sandy Lake First Nation | Saugeen First Nation (or Chippewas of Saugeen) |
| Seine River First Nation | Serpent River First Nation | Shawanaga First Nation |
| Sheguiandah First Nation | Sheshegwaning First Nation | Shoal Lake #40 First Nation |
| Six Nations of the Grand River * | Slate Falls Nation #259 | Taykwa Tagamou Nation (formerly New Post First Nation) |
| Temagami First Nation | Thessalon First Nation | Wabaseemoong Independent Nations |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (or Waabigonii Zaaga’igan Anishinaabeg) | Wahgoshig First Nation (formerly Abitibi) |
| Wahnapitae First Nation | Wahta Mohawks | Walpole Island First Nation |
| Wapekeka First Nation | Wasauksing First Nation | Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (or Rat Portage) |
| Wawakapewin First Nation | Webequie First Nation | Weenusk First Nation |
| Whitefish River First Nation | Whitesand First Nation | Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory |
| Wunnumin Lake First Nation | Zhiibaahaasing First Nation (formerly Cockburn Island First Nation) | |
| Algonquins of Barriere Lake (also Mitchikanibikok Inik) | Atikamekw d'Opitciwan | Communauté anicinape de Kitcisakik |
| Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe du Lac Simon | Conseil de la Première Nation Abitibiwinni | Conseil de la Première Nation Innus Essipit |
| Conseil des Abénakis d'Odanak | Conseil des Abénakis de Wôlinak | Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan |
| Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci | Conseil des Innu de Ekuanitshit | Conseil des Innus d’Unamen Shipu |
| Conseil des Innus de Pessamit (formerly Betsiamites) | Cree First Nation of Waswanipi | Cree Nation of Chisasibi |
| Cree Nation of Eastmain | Cree Nation of Mistissini | Cree Nation of Nemaska |
| Cree Nation of Waskaganish | Cree Nation of Wemindji | Gesgapegiag (formerly Micmacs of Gesgapegiag) |
| Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam | Kebaowek First Nation | Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg |
| La Nation Innu Matimekush-Lac John | La Nation Micmac de Gespeg | Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government |
| Long Point First Nation | Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke | Mohawk Council of Kanesatake |
| Montagnais de Pakua Shipi (or Pakuashipi) | Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach | Nation Huronne Wendat |
| Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation | Première nation de Whapmagoostui | Première Nation des Innus de Nutashkuan |
| Première Nation des Pekuakamiulnuatsh | Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk | Timiskaming First Nation |
| Wolf Lake First Nation | | |
| Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation | Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation | Big Bear Band |
| Big Island Lake Cree Nation | Big River First Nation | Birch Narrows Dene Nation |
| Black Lake Denesuline First Nation | Buffalo River Dene Nation | Canoe Lake Cree First Nation |
| Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation | Chacachas First Nation | Chakastaypasin First Nation |
| Clearwater River Dene Nation | Cote First Nation | Cowessess First Nation |
| Cumberland House Cree Nation | Day Star First Nation | English River First Nation |
| Fishing Lake First Nation | Flying Dust First Nation | Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation |
| George Gordon First Nation | Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation | James Smith Cree Nation |
| Kahkewistahaw First Nation | Kawacatoose First Nation | Keeseekoose First Nation |
| Kinistin Saulteaux Nation | Lac La Ronge Indian Band | Little Black Bear First Nation |
| Little Pine First Nation | Lucky Man First Nation | Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation |
| Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation | Mistawasis First Nation | Montreal Lake Cree Nation |
| Moosomin First Nation | Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man First Nation | Muscowpetung First Nation |
| Muskeg Lake Cree Nation | Muskoday First Nation | Muskowekwan First Nation |
| Nekaneet First Nation | Ocean Man First Nation | Ochapowace First Nation |
| Okanese First Nation | One Arrow First Nation | Onion Lake Cree Nation |
| Pasqua First Nation | Peepeekisis Cree Nation | Pelican Lake First Nation |
| Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation | Peter Chapman First Nation | Pheasant Rump Nakota Nation |
| Piapot First Nation | Poundmaker Cree Nation | Red Earth First Nation |
| Red Pheasant First Nation | Saulteaux First Nation | Shoal Lake Cree Nation |
| Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation | Star Blanket Cree Nation | Sturgeon Lake First Nation |
| Sweetgrass First Nation | The Key First Nation | Thunderchild First Nation |
| Wahpeton Dakota Nation | Waterhen Lake First Nation | White Bear First Nations |
| Whitecap Dakota First Nation | Witchekan Lake First Nation | Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation |
| Yellow Quill First Nation | Young Chippewayan First Nation (Stony Knoll Band) | Zagime Anishinabek First Nation |
