Aboriginal is a general term that refers collectively to the First Nations, the mixed race and the Inuit of Canada, and is found in the Canadian constitution. This distinction was legalized in 1982, when the Constitutional Law came into force. The term “Aboriginal” refers to the first inhabitants of Canada and includes First Nations, Inuit and mixed race peoples. This term became popular in Canadian contexts after 1982, when Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution defined the term as such.
Aboriginal is also a common term for indigenous people in Australia. However, when used in Canada, it is generally understood to refer to Aboriginal peoples in a Canadian context. This term is not commonly used in the United States. In Canada, the accepted term for people who are indigenous and who do not identify themselves as Inuit or mixed race is First Nations.
In the past, these people were called “Indians”. Nowadays, Indian is considered an offensive colonial term and should not be used. The terms Aboriginal, Indigenous and Indigenous Peoples are generally accepted terms in Canada and include First Nations, Mestizos, and Inuit. The collective name used in the Constitutional Act of 1982 includes the peoples of India (or of the First Nations), the Inuit and the mixed race, so legally it will always have a place in the terminological table.
Aboriginal peoples gained popularity as the correct collective name for First Nations, Inuit and mixed-race people, and was widely adopted by the government and many national groups. If used interchangeably with First Nations, keep in mind that some First Nations prefer not to be called Aboriginal Peoples. You may notice that the terms American Indian and native Indian are still in common and common use in the United States. In the United States, the term “Native American” is commonly used to describe Aboriginal peoples.
This term began to be widely used during the 1970s, when Aboriginal groups organized transnationally and pressed for a greater presence at the United Nations (UN). This term can also be problematic in certain contexts, as some non-Aboriginal peoples born in a settlement state may argue that they too are “natives”. First Nations people include both Indians with status and those without status, so care must be taken with their use, especially if it relates to programs that are specifically for Indians with status. It's a common misconception that people from Canada's First Nations don't pay federal or provincial taxes.
The term “Indian” should be used only when referring to a First Nations person with status under the Indian Act, and only within its legal context. The first peoples of this land now known as Canada formerly had unique communities with unique names; there was no need for collective nouns or complicated terminology. It depends on which First Nation the student belongs to and whether the First Nation has funding for the student. At the community level, if someone uses the First Nation, as in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, then do so.
The term Indian should be used only when referring to a First Nations person with status under Indian Law, and only within a legal context. First Nation is a term used to identify indigenous peoples in Canada who are not mixed-race or Inuit.
