Indigenous Peoples of Canada, Greenland, Siberia, and the Russian Far East

See also 1.2 Native American History

Term	Contextual note	Time/Region	References
Aboriginal/s	The term “Aboriginal” (with a capital “A”) is most often used to refer to Indigenous peoples in Australia and Canada. In Canada, the term Indigenous (with a capital “I”) is preferred. Indigenous communities in both Australia and Canada often prefer to emphasise other markers of their identities, such as language, land, and/or clan. “First Nations” is sometimes a preferred term. The term “aboriginal” may be used to refer to flora/fauna that lived or existed in a place since the earliest known time. *Reminder: capitalise “Aboriginal” when referring to Indigenous peoples in Australia and Canada*	Canada, Australia	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [1]
Aleut/s	The term “Aleut” has historically conflated the Indigenous inhabitants of the Russian Aleutian Islands (from where they originate), and the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, including Unalaska. The Aleut speakers migrated to Alaska from the Russian side. The Aleutian Archipelago includes nine districts. Ethnic/linguistic identities include the Alutiiq speakers, Central Yupiik speakers of Bristol Bay, and the Unangam Tunuu speakers. It is only acceptable to use the term “Aleut” when referencing the indigenous peoples of the Aleutian islands if their preferred identity is unknown. It is preferable to distinguish between: 1) Unangan (singular)/Unangax̂ (plural), the Indigenous inhabitants of Unalaska who speak an Eastern dialect 2) Unangas/Aliguutas, the Indigenous inhabitants of the Russian Aleutian Islands who speak a Western dialect (Unangam Tunuu)	Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA, Russia, Siberia	PCUSA –  Terminology Crosswalk [2] Alaska Native Language Center – ‘Inuit or Eskimo’ Alaskool –  ‘There is no such thing as an Aleut’ [3] Alaska Native Collections – Unangax̂
Canada native/s Indigenous Canadian/s Aboriginal Canadian/s	The Indigenous peoples within the boundaries of Canada include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. To denote all the Indigenous peoples living in what is Canada, you can say Canadian/First Nations and Inuit (sometimes adding Métis) *Reminder: As in the USA context, capitalise Indigenous in the Canadian context.	Canada	Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues Wikipedia – Indigenous peoples in Canada [4] Squamish History Archives [5] Blackfoot Digital Library [6] Voices of Amiskwaciy [7] University of Manitoba Libraries – Indigenous Peoples Digital Collections [8] University of Calgary – Native Canada Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs – Online Resources [9] Sq’éwlets - Digital [10] Simon Fraser University – Indigenous Collections [11] Musqueam – Place Names Map McGill Library – The Moravian Beginnings of Canadian Inuit Literature RRN Community [12]
Chernozhopy черножопый	Russian term that translates as “black arse”, used to denigrate Indigenous peoples from the Caucus, i.e. Azeri Turks, Chechnyans, Circassians, Georgians, Armenians, Dagestanies, etc.	Russia, Caucasia, Azerbaijan, Siberia	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [13]
Chug/s	Derogatory term referring to Indigenous peoples of Canada	Canada	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [14]
Chuckche/s Chukchee/s Chuckchee/s Chuckchi/s	Speakers of the Chukchi language and Indigenous peoples of the Chukchi Peninsula, shores of the Chukchi Sea, and Bering Sea region of the Arctic Ocean within the Russian Federation. “Chuckchi” appears to be the most widely preferred spelling.	Russia, Russian Far East	PCUSA –  Terminology Crosswalk [15]
Eskimo/s Eskimoe/s Esquimo/s Esquimau/x Esquimawe Esquimew Esquimao/s Esquimal	A colonial term introduced by non-Indigenous people that has historically been used to homogenise the vastly diverse northern Indigenous peoples of America. The two main groups typically labelled as “Eskimo” are the Inuit (Alaska, Canada, Greenland) and Yupik (Alaska, Eastern Siberia). The Iñupiat of northern Alaska self-identify as “Inuit”, not “Eskimo”, and it is also considered a slur in Canada. The term “Eskimo” should only be used when referring to the self-identified Eskimo people of southern Alaska if their specific Iñupiat or Yup’ik identity is unknown.	Alaska, USA, Greenland, Canada	PCUSA –  Terminology Crosswalk [16]
First Nation/s	A term that refers to “American Indian nations” as well as individuals living in the territory that is now Canada	USA, Canada	Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Greenlander/s Greenland native/s Native/s of Greenland	The Indigenous peoples of Greenland are Inuit and speak Greenlandic (Western Greenlandic, Kalaallisut).	Greenland	IWGIA - Indigenous Peoples in Greenland Sapiens – Why Capitalise Indigenous? [17]
Hydah/s Haida/s	Indigenous inhabitants of the Haida Gwaii archipelago (main islands: Graham Island, Moresby Island), Canada. “Haida” appears to be the most widely preferred spelling.	Canada	PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [18]
Inuit Inuk Inupiat Inupiaq	The Inuk (singular)/ Inuit (plural) are Indigenous communities living across the Arctic regions. They arrived in Canada in the 10th century, however, after defeating the original Paleo-Eskimo people of Canada’s tundra region. Today, they often identify as “Indigenous”. Historically, the term has been used to homogenise the Iñupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada, the Inuit of Greenland (50,000 of Greenland’s population of 56,000 are Inuit). Each of these groups includes various sub-ethnicities, however. In Canada, the term “Inuit” is officially used by the Canadian government, and the term “Canadian Inuit” can be used, although sub-identities like Inuvialuit might be preferred. In Greenland, the term “Greenlandic Inuit” is acceptable but most of these people would more specifically claim the Kalaallit sub-identity. The preferred term for the “Inuit” in Alaska is Iñupiat (singular)/ Iñupiaq (plural). In Russia, some prefer the sub-identity Yupik (not be confused with “Yup’ik” sub-group of Alaskan Eskimo)	Canada, Greenland, Alaska, USA, Russia, Siberia	Inuit Circumpolar Council [19] Alaska Native Language Center – ‘Inuit or Eskimo’ Kadir O. IWGIA - Indigenous Peoples in Greenland Alaskan Natives A-Z [20] Alaska Digital Archive – Search: Inuit [21] Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [22]
Inuit (language) Yupik (language) Eskimo (language) Inupiaq (language) Eskimo-Aleut (language)	The Indigenous peoples of the Americas and Siberia speak numerous languages. Alaska, for example, is home to at least 20 Native languages belonging to four distinct language families. Indigenous languages include: Tlingit Eyak Athabascan languages: Ahtna Tanaina Deg Hit’an Holikachuk Upper Kushokwim Koyukon Tanana Tanacross Upper Tanana Han Gwich’in Haida Tsimshian Inuktitut ( spoken by the Canadian Inuit, eastern region) Inuit sign language (native to Nunavut) Sugcesten (spoken by the Sugpiaq people of the Alaskan peninsula) Greenlandic or Kalaallisut (Greenlandic Inuit) Danish (the second major language in Greenland) Unangam Tunuu (language of the Unanga)	USA, Siberia, Greenland	Alaska Native Language Center - Alaska Native Language Relationships and Family Trees IWGIA - Indigenous Peoples in Greenland Inuit Circumpolar Council [23]
Kawish Kaouiche	Canadian French pejorative term for Native North Americans	Canada	Wikipedia – List of ethnic slurs [24]
Lapp/s Lapplander/s Lap/s Laplander/s Lapland	A derogatory term that has historically been used by Europeans to refer to the Indigenous Finno-Urgic Sámi (alternatively spelt Sami/Saami) people of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in the region of Lapland (Sami: Sápmi; Finnish Lapi or Lappi; Swedish: Lappland).	Norway, Sweden, Finland, Kola Peninsula, Russia, Siberia, Europe	PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [25] Digital Access to Sámi Heritage Archives project The Saami Culture Archive of University of Oulu [26] The National Archives of Norway – The Sami Archives (Samisk arkiv) [27]
medicine man medicine men	Preferred terms include: Medicine person/healer/spiritual leader’guide.		Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Métis mestizo mestiza mixed ancestry blended ancestry	In the United States, an individual’s officially recognised status as a member of a Native nation depends on whether that person is recognised by that Native nation. Many nations do this based on ancestral lineage fractionation called “blood quantum”. Below a certain blood quantum, some nations do not allow an individual to be their “enrolled” member. Due to this, there is a terminology for people who are not considered fully Native/indigenous. “Métis” – in Canada, descendants of First Nations and Europeans (primarily French). They are considered a distinct collective entity, a people, with their own collective status and rights. “Mestizo/a” - in Latin America, descendants of indigenous peoples and Europeans, or acculturated indigenous peoples. May also refer to indigenous peoples who are urban and educated (e.g. Peru indigenous mestizos)	USA, Canada, Latin America, South America, Peru	Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Micmac/s Mic mac/s	Misspelling of Mi’kmaq. The Miꞌkmaq are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas now known as Canada's Atlantic Provinces and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as the northeastern region of Maine. They call their national territory Miꞌkmaꞌki (or Miꞌgmaꞌgi).	Canada
the natives native/s indigenous	Given its historic usage, “native” is a term loaded with racist connotations. It is a homogenising term that has been applied broadly to non-white populations in various colonial contexts and has historically functioned as a legal category for racial discrimination. This is especially obvious in the phrase  “the natives”, which should be avoided. This is different from “Native people” or “Native Peoples”, which is legitimate and appropriate usage. The term frequently appears in official historic titles such as “Department for Native Affairs”, “Native Labor Corps”, “Native Army”. Native American, American Indian, or First Nations (Canada - not to be confused with the First Nations of Australia) are preferable to ‘native’. In Latin America the term indígena is used. The words “native” and “indigenous” can objectively be used as adjectives to describe a person, animal, or plant in relation to their/its place of birth/origin. The term “Native” or “Indigenous peoples” is a general term that recognises their collective entities, ethos, and rights, the latter of which have some legal status in some countries, and globally. *Reminder: pluralise “peoples” and capitalise “Indigenous” in this context*		Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Native North American	The term “Native North American” refers to Indigenous peoples who live in the territories now known as Canada, the United States, and Mexico, although it does not appear to be popularly used.	Canada, USA, Mexico
Nitchie Neche Neechee Neejee Nichi Nichiwa Nidge Nitchee Nitchy	Derogatory term used towards Indigenous peoples in Canada.	Canada
people/s	For the purpose of self-identification and legal status, the  plural Indigenous “peoples” is important. *Reminder: pluralise “peoples” and capitalise “Indigenous” in this context*	USA	Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Russian Far East	To be distinguished from Siberia. Referring to the Pacific coast of Russia as Siberia is outdated.		Kadir O.
Siberia Siberian/s	There are a considerable number of different ethnic/linguistic/national/religious communities indigenous to the Siberian region. The term “Indigenous peoples of Siberia” might be acceptable when a specific ethnic identity is unknown. The Siberian region must be distinguished from the Russian Far East.	Siberia, Russia	PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [28] British Library – Endangered Archives Project – Endangered images of ethnicity and religion in Western Siberia in the late 19th to early 20th centuries [29]
Squaw Esqua Squa Skwa	An ethnic and sexual slur historically used to denigrate Indigenous women in North America. Its connotations are that Native women are ‘drudges’, ‘slaving away’ while their husbands do nothing.	USA, Canada, women’s history	PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [30] Indian Country Today – The Word Squaw: Offensive or Not? [31] Native Way – Reclaiming “Squaw” Part 1 [32] Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
warrior/s			Gyorgy Toth – Terminology for North American Indian Issues
Yupik Yup’ik	Mainland Yup’ik (pl. Yupiaq) people prefer the spelling with an apostrophe after the p. Yupik without the apostrophe refers to the people of St. Lawrence Island and the nearby coast of Chukotka in Russia. Alternative spellings: Yupighyt/Yupihyt/Yupiik/Cup’ik/Cup’ig	Alaska, USA, Russia, Siberia	PCUSA – Terminology Crosswalk [33]