first peoples: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Official, Academic, Legal, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “first peoples” mean?
Indigenous or aboriginal inhabitants of a territory, especially in post-colonial contexts, who were present before colonization and have distinct cultural and historical identities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Indigenous or aboriginal inhabitants of a territory, especially in post-colonial contexts, who were present before colonization and have distinct cultural and historical identities.
A collective, respectful term for the diverse Indigenous nations, tribes, and communities who are the original inhabitants of lands, especially in settler-colonial states like Canada, Australia, and the US. It emphasizes their distinct and prior sovereignty, cultures, and rights.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American contexts, 'Native Americans', 'American Indians', or 'Indigenous peoples' are more common general terms. 'First Peoples' is used academically and in certain advocacy contexts but less widely. In Canadian official and public discourse, 'First Peoples' (alongside 'First Nations', 'Inuit', 'Métis') is standard. UK usage mainly refers to indigenous peoples of other countries.
Connotations
Respectful, formal, legally and politically significant. Implies recognition of historical continuity and pre-colonial existence.
Frequency
High frequency in Canadian official, educational, and media contexts; moderate in international academic/UN contexts; low in general British or American everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “first peoples” in a Sentence
The [GOVERNMENT] recognized the rights of the First Peoples.This land is the traditional territory of the First Peoples.The museum features exhibits on the local First Peoples.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first peoples” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government is committed to engaging with and consulting First Peoples on the policy.
adjective
British English
- The First Peoples' perspective was central to the documentary.
American English
- The museum has a strong First Peoples art collection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of corporate social responsibility, resource extraction agreements requiring consultation (e.g., 'The mining company engaged in talks with local First Peoples.')
Academic
Common in anthropology, history, post-colonial studies, law, and political science (e.g., 'The thesis examines treaties between the Crown and First Peoples.')
Everyday
Used in news reports, museum descriptions, and educational materials (e.g., 'We learned about the First Peoples of this region in school.')
Technical
Used in legal documents, land claim agreements, and official government terminology (e.g., 'The Act affirms the inherent rights of First Peoples.')
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first peoples”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first peoples”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first peoples”
- Using 'First People' (singular) for the collective term.
- Using it as a singular countable noun (e.g., 'a First Peoples').
- Confusing it with 'First Nations' (which excludes Inuit and Métis in Canada).
- Using it without capitalization in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'First Peoples' is a broader umbrella term for all Indigenous inhabitants (including First Nations, Inuit, Métis in Canada). 'First Nations' refers specifically to the many Indigenous nations in Canada that are not Inuit or Métis.
Yes, in formal and respectful writing, it is treated as a proper noun and capitalized, similar to other national or ethnic designations (e.g., French, Chinese).
While understood internationally, it is most closely associated with Canada. For other regions, more specific terms like 'Aboriginal Australians', 'Māori', or 'Native Americans' are often preferred. The global umbrella term is 'Indigenous peoples'.
It is widely considered a respectful and appropriate term, especially in formal contexts. However, the most respectful practice is to use the specific name of a nation or community whenever possible (e.g., Haida, Cree, Anishinaabe) rather than a general term.
Indigenous or aboriginal inhabitants of a territory, especially in post-colonial contexts, who were present before colonization and have distinct cultural and historical identities.
First peoples is usually formal, official, academic, legal, journalistic in register.
First peoples: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɜːst ˈpiːp(ə)lz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɜːrst ˈpiːp(ə)lz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From time immemorial (associated concept)”
- “The original caretakers of the land”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FIRST = #1, PEOPLES = distinct nations; Think: 'The FIRST teams to live in the stadium, before the new owners (settlers) arrived.'
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPORAL PRIORITY IS LEGITIMACY (First = original, therefore having fundamental rights). LAND AS INHERITANCE (The land is passed down from the First Peoples).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'First Peoples' most commonly used in official and public discourse?