First Nations is a self-descriptive term for the various societies of the
indigenous peoples of the
Americas -- an alternative to
Native Americans, also known by some as American Indians, or
Aboriginal Americans. These people, having encountered
European colonization of the Americas from
1492 to the present day, often cooperate to deal with their common political and cultural concerns in associations such as the
Assembly of First Nations of Canada[?].
In Canada, the term "First Nations" does not include Inuit or Métis peoples; however, they are included in the term "first peoples".