Aboriginal Diversity Research Paper

Aboriginal on Campus: A Note on Terminology
The Aboriginal Resource Centre, in the Office of Intercultural Affairs, recognizes the fluidity of language and that, in the context of this land and community, certain terms are preferred or contested by different Indigenous people and communities.

There are many terms associated with First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Some Aboriginal people identify more closely with their nation or linguistic group designation, e.g. Ojibwe, while others prefer the use of their specific community. It is important to be aware of this diversity and it is a best practice to refer to First Nations, Métis and Inuit people with the term that most closely identifies with their ancestors and how they wish to be identified.
Indigenous is used for a more global acknowledgement and the term has gained prominence as a term to describe Aboriginal people in an international context. Indigenous is considered by some to be the most inclusive term since it identifies people in similar circumstances without respect to national boundaries or local conventions.

It should be noted that while increasing in general acceptance, the term is also contested by some. Individuals from some communities, such as the Métis, have acknowledged that the use of Indigenous does not always acknowledge their identities, or protect their rights as expressed in the Constitutional use of Aboriginal. Additionally, both Aboriginal and Indigenous can be contentious terms, since they reference nationhood in relation to colonization and the subsequent marginalization of these communities.
First Nation
Many people today prefer to be called First Nation or First Nations people instead of Indian, which is the term in the Indian Act that they never adopted or accepted. First Nations people include status, treaty or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered
Locally, Six Nations of the Grand River are our Haudenosaunee neighbours.
Indian
The term Indian collectively describes all the Indigenous people in Canada who are not Inuit or Métis. Indian people are one of the three cultural groups recognized as Aboriginal people under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. There are legal reasons for the continued use of the term Indian. Such terminology is recognized in the Indian Act and is used by the Government of Canada when making reference to this particular group.
Métis
Métis are people of First Nation and European ancestry. They have a unique culture that draws on their diverse ancestral origins, including but not limited to French, English, Scottish, Ojibwe and Cree. Prior to Canada's unification as a nation, Métis were the children of First Nations people and European settlers. While the initial offspring of these First Nation and European unions were individuals who possessed mixed ancestry, the gradual establishment of distinct Métis communities, outside of First Nation and European cultures and settlements, as well as the subsequent intermarriages between Métis, resulted in the genesis of a distinct people. Métis people maintain their own culture, Michif language and traditions and