Indigenous
—| B2-C2 (intermediate to advanced) |—
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In Canadian English, this word typically means:
(adjective) a general term that refers to any person whose ancestors originally lived in a particular region before colonization (e.g. Mayans, Inkans, members of the Blackfoot Nation, Métis persons, Guaraní, etc.)
SYNONYM:
native (adjective; informal)
Over the last ten years or so (as of 2024), this word has become less commonly used; some Canadian dictionaries even define it as old-fashioned; as such, some Indigenous persons might find it offensive, while others still identify with it (see NOTE below for more information)
EXAMPLES
“National Indigenous Peoples Day is a Canadian holiday on June 21 that celebrates Indigenous culture and commemorates Indigenous contributions to Canadian society, both past and present.”
“The Government of Canada distinguishes three primary Indigenous people groups in the country: First Nations, Inuit and Métis.”
“My friend’s girlfriend’s family is Indigenous. Her father’s side is Haida and her mother’s side is Plains Cree. My friend is Polish, so if he and his girlfriend have kids, then their children will be Haida, Plains Cree and Polish.”
NOTE
It is important to recognize that Indigenous peoples living in Canada are diverse; there are countless distinct cultures, traditions, beliefs, social structures, languages, and skin colours that make up the Indigenous world. Indigenous communities are as diverse as any other community on our planet, just like your community is. As such, many Indigenous persons more closely identify with the word that depicts the specific people group to which they belong (e.g. Musqeuam Nation, Saulteaux, Inuit, etc.), instead of the term, “Indigenous.” If you are unsure what word to use or you do not know what people group a specific person is a member of, it is always best to politely ask that individual. Showing interest in someone’s cultural identity is a form of respect in Canada. Assumptions, on the other hand, often lead to inaccurate and hurtful stereotyping.
To summarize, the word, “Indigenous,” is not a precise word but a general word that describes many peoples. If someone prefers another word than “Indigenous,” such should be honoured with that particular individual.
BE CAREFUL!
It should be understood that Canadian English is not the same as other varieties of English (e.g. American English, British English, etc.). Every variety of English has its own set of vocabulary, as well as its own unique definitions and uses for that vocabulary. Due to this aspect of language, while some words might be standard in one country, that same word might not be standard in another country.
Therefore, it is important to know what words are typically avoided in Canadian English when referencing the Indigenous community; these words are generally treated differently in Canada, when compared to other countries:
indigenous (with a lowercase “i”)
(adjective) In writing, this lowercase word refers to non-human things: animals, nature, etc.; therefore, using this word uncapitalized to refer to a person is considered dehumanizing and, therefore, offensive language
Indian
(adjective/noun; legal jargon) The legal term used by the Government of Canada to refer to a person of First Nations ancestry
(adjective/noun; informal) A term, which is often used as a slur, that refers to an Indigenous person living in the Americas
(adjective/noun) A word that refers to someone from the country of India
NOTE:
Due to profound racism against Indigenous peoples throughout Canada’s history and present, context is often required in order to convey this third definition fully comprehensibly; as a result, many Canadians choose alternatives like “from India” or “Southeast Asian,” (a general term used to refer to someone from the southeast region of Asia, notably India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc.).
Native Canadian
(noun/adjective; obsolete) This term became officially outdated in the 1980s; as such, it is generally meaningless as of today, largely due in part to a renewed understanding of Canadian identity
Native American
(noun/adjective) This term refers to the Indigenous peoples living in the United States of America
Aboriginal
(noun/adjective) While this term is sometimes used in technical contexts to refer to an Indigenous person in general, “aboriginal” is largely understood as a reference to the Indigenous peoples living in Australia
Redskin
(noun/adjective) This term refers to colonial language and, therefore, is understood as a slur against an Indigenous person living in the Americas
Eskimo
(noun/adjective) This term refers to colonial language and, therefore, is understood as a slur against the Inuit people living in Canada, Alaska and Greenland
Autochthon
(noun; scientific) This term refers to any person, plant or thing that originates in a particular region; when used outside of scientific contexts, it is often considered as dehumanizing and, therefore, offensive language
half-breed
(noun) This term refers to colonial language and, therefore, is understood as a slur against a Métis person
mixed-race
(adjective) This term does not generally exist in Canadian vernacular; this is largely due in part to Canadian culture being based on a mosaic identity structure, where race and ethnicity are not interchangeable or necessarily correlative, and every person, regardless of the country they are born in, is understood to be a combination of their ancestors’ varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds
