TERMIUM Plus®

From: Translation Bureau

On social media

Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.

ABORIGINAL [3 records]

Record 1 2024-04-04

English

Subject field(s)
  • Indigenous Peoples (General)
DEF

A person who belongs to one of the three Indigenous Peoples in Canada, namely, First Nations, Inuit or Métis.

OBS

In the Canadian government, to align with international usage, the term "Indigenous person" should be used instead of "Aboriginal person" to refer to a First Nations member, an Inuit or a Métis person.

OBS

The adjectives "Indigenous" and "Aboriginal" should be capitalized when referring to Indigenous identity in the same way adjectives such as "English" or "French" are capitalized.

OBS

The plural form "Indigenous people" is used to refer to a group of people who identify as Indigenous in a context where their specific identities are not at issue.

OBS

Some Indigenous people in Canada may choose to refer to themselves as "a Native person" or "a Native"; however, the use of these terms by non-Indigenous people is seen as derogatory.

OBS

The term "Aboriginal" used as a noun can be offensive and should be avoided.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Peuples Autochtones (Généralités)
DEF

Personne appartenant à l'un des trois peuples autochtones au Canada, soit les Premières Nations, les Inuit ou les Métis.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Pueblos indígenas (Generalidades)
OBS

En Canadá, este término comprende a los indígenas, métis e inuits.

Save record 1

Record 2 2020-02-28

English

Subject field(s)
  • Indigenous Peoples (General)
DEF

Relating to the original peoples of the Americas and their descendants.

OBS

In the Canadian government, to align with international usage, the term "Indigenous" should be used instead of "Aboriginal" to refer to First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

OBS

[The term "Native" is] increasingly seen as outdated (particularly when used as a noun) and is starting to lose currency.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Peuples Autochtones (Généralités)
DEF

Relatif aux premiers habitants des Amériques et à leurs descendants.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Pueblos indígenas (Generalidades)
DEF

Relativo a los pueblos originarios de las Américas y sus descendientes.

OBS

[...] el término "indígena" se relaciona directamente con el sustantivo "Indias" [...] En este sentido, este concepto es etnocéntrico, en tanto se refiere únicamente a los pobladores del continente americano [...]

Save record 2

Record 3 2017-04-07

English

Subject field(s)
  • Anthropology
DEF

Relating to the people ... that have lived in a place or country since the earliest times.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Anthropologie
DEF

[Se dit d'un peuple dont la] présence dans un lieu déterminé est avérée depuis de nombreuses générations.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Antropología
Save record 3

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)

Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: