h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just a quick note to point out some vaguity in the entries on First Nations and Inuit.

In terms of preferred official usage:

The Inuit ("Eskimo") and the First Nations ("Indians") are completely seperate ethnic groups, and the term First Nations does not include the Inuit. There is also a third term, Métis, which is specific to persons of mixed First Nations/"Indian" and European heritage.

The term used to encompass all three groups is "aboriginal".

Now, in common usage, the word "Indian" (when not speaking of people actually from India, of course) is quite out of favour, similar to the "N word" in the United States for people of African descent. However, still similar to the N word, people who themselves are Aboriginal will use it of themselves or others, but if you are white and try to do the same, God help you. There are still some institutions, including government institutions of both kinds (Aboriginal and provincial and federal) that incorporate the I word, but it is definitely not for polite conversation.

Some people also use "Native", though it's decreasing in popularity I think - at least where I am.

Seems to be the way around here (Southern Ontario) too!