First Nation
noun
plural First Nations
1
: any of a number of Indigenous peoples of the North American continent and especially of Canada
Note: In Canada, the name First Nations 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
2
: any of a number of Indigenous peoples of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands
Note: In Australia and the Torres Strait Islands, hundreds of different groups are referred to as First Nations.
—usually used before another nounFor his exhibition "Kith and Kin," the Aboriginal artist Archie Moore has covered the walls of the Australia Pavillion with a meticulous chalk drawing of a First Nation family tree that calls upon some 65,000 years of the artist's family history.—Jason Schmidt
—usually pluralFirst Nations Australians
compare first people
Cite this Entry
“First Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/First%20Nation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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