What do Canadians call their Indians?
First Nations “First Nation” is a term used to describe Aboriginal peoples of Canada who are ethnically neither Métis nor Inuit. This term came into common usage in the 1970s and '80s and generally replaced the term “Indian,” although unlike “Indian,” the term “First Nation” does not have a legal definition.
Uses of the Term Historically, Indian has been used in Canada to refer to First Nations people, and in some cases, to refer broadly to Indigenous peoples. Today, terms like Indigenous and Aboriginal are considered more politically correct than Indian when referencing Indigenous peoples as a whole.
Indian, or First Nations, is a term that describes all the Indigenous peoples in Canada who are the direct descendants of the original inhabitants of Canada prior to European contact. First Nations peoples are distinct from Inuit and Métis peoples.
Indian status is the legal standing of a person who is registered under the Indian Act . As a registered person, you have certain benefits and rights and are eligible for a range of federal and provincial or territorial programs and services.