First Peoples

[ furst pee-puhlz ]

noun

1. all of the Indigenous peoples of North America, or sometimes of the Americas, collectively (often used attributively):

   Many of the First Peoples of America are struggling to preserve their native languages.

   First Peoples communities must be consulted before undertaking any development in the area.

2. First Peo·ple [furst, , pee, -p, uh, l], any specific Indigenous ethnic or language group of North America or the Americas: in Canada, especially the Inuit or Métis:

   The Métis are a First People of Canada with Aboriginal rights entrenched in the Constitution.

   When the Navajo First People came to the present world, they did not realize that part of the time it would be very cold.

3. Often first peoples. the Indigenous peoples of Australia and New Zealand collectively (often used attributively):

   The museum showcases the art of our first peoples.

   Forming a circle is a familiar First Peoples process for sharing in a group.

4. Often first people. any of the Indigenous ethnic or language groups of Australia or New Zealand:

   In the creation story of the Maori First People of New Zealand, Aoraki is the eldest son of Raki, the Sky Father.

First Peoples

plural noun

1. a collective term for the Native Canadian peoples, the Inuit, and the Métis

Word History and Origins

Origin of First Peoples¹

First recorded in 1970–75