Discussion of Terms Used

Abstract

fi rst nations. The use of this term for describing the Indigenous peoples of North America has had increased usage in recent years. The peoples who are indigenous to North America were here prior to the arrival of Europeans and hence are “fi rst.” As Yvonne Murry-Ramos wrote, “Each tribe has a sovereign legal status (above that of a state’s in most instances), each tribe has its own customs, language, and world view. In other words, each indigenous tribe is a separate nation” (quoted in Hirschfelder, 30).