Proper Terminology

National Aboriginal Day is fast approaching so I’d like to take this opportunity to clarify a few terms that sometimes get mixed up.

Based on their individual experiences many understand the phrase “Aboriginal People” differently. In Canada there are three distinct Aboriginal peoples, the Inuit, the First Nations, and the Metis, all three groups share the distinction of being the “original”, or “First People” of Canada, but we are no more the same people than all Europeans are the same people.

All three groups may share similar views on some aspects of life however we have very different languages, very different cultures, and very different traditions – we are Aboriginal, but we are not the same people.

We often see the term “First Nations” used in a type of all encompassing manner when discussing Aboriginal people, this is incorrect. “First Nations” is the contemporary term for “Indian”. We are Inuit, the modern term for “Eskimo”which comes from our own Inuit language, it means "the people". We have a different language, we have a different culture, we have different traditions, we live in a different environment, and we have a very different political process. Inuit have comprehensive land claim treaties protected under the Canadian Comnsitution. The first claim was settled in 1975, the last one was completed in 2006.

It may be, I suppose, convenient for different governments, and different levels of governments, to consider that Aboriginal people form a single, homogeneous, group whose issues can be addressed in pan-Aboriginal ways. But that is incorrect. In fact, in the past, this way of thinking created unnecessary problems, issues, and perceptions that we find ourselves having to deal with today because, as I said earlier, “we are not the same people”.

I encourage you to stop in at Aboriginal Day celebrations when you are out and about this week-end, and while at the various events listen to the different languages that are being spoken, the different songs that are being sung, and notice the different kinds of traditional clothing that people are wearing. While Aboriginal people may share some physical characteristics each of our three groups are unique, and each has something unique to offer Canada, and that is because we are not the same people.

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