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Aboriginal peoples have
occupied the territory now called Canada for thousands of years. Many diverse
and autonomous peoples lived in this territory and had distinct languages, cultures,
religious beliefs and political systems. Each community or culture had its own
name for its people and names for the peoples around them.
When Columbus arrived in
North America, he gave the name "Indian" to the people he encountered.
This misnomer was based on the mistaken notion that he had landed in India.
Today, terms to describe
Aboriginal peoples are continually evolving. Understanding the distinctions
among these words and to whom they apply can be a challenge for writers.
This lexicon of words describes
or relates to Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It was created by the Communications
Branch at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to help departmental staff
with terminology usage. Although it was written with INAC staff in mind, the
guide will also be useful to anyone who wants to write or learn about Aboriginal
peoples in Canada.
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