Sid: What is indigenous? It means originating or occurring naturally in a particular place. So, Indigenous people are-- Me! Hi,Sid. Hi, Ruby. Indigenous people are the first people to be living in a place. Indigenous people like me, have lived here for over 12,000 years, long before it was even called Canada. Around 1.4 million people identify as indigenous in Canada today. Hi, Sunny. You're indigenous? Yep. I'm Algonquin, First Nation. So, which word should I use? Indigenous or Algonquin First Nation? Well, most indigenous people would rather be called by the title of their nation Algonquin, Cree, Haida, Mohawk, but if you don't know what nation someone is, it's better to use the word indigenous. Sid: Is indigenous the same as aboriginal, native, and Indian? Ruby: Actually, those words aren't used as often anymore, Sid. In some cases those words can even be hurtful. In Canada there are three different groups of indigenous peoples. The First Nations, the Métis, and the Inuit. The First Nations is the largest and most varied group and they are found all over Canada. They include my nation, The Algonquin, First Nation, and many others, like Cree, Haida, Mohawk, Ojibwe, the Métis are the descendants of First Nations peoples and the European settlers who came to Canada and they are all across the country. Finally, the Inuit are the indigenous peoples of the Arctic and they are also found all across the country. So, many amazing groups of people! That's right. And think about this. Each nation has their own culture with their own languages, laws, and spiritual beliefs. The First Nations alone, include over 50 different nations with 50 different languages. Wow! Respect! And those cultures had and continue to have a huge influence on Canada, giving it words, inventions, concepts, and games that are used by Canadians today, including that canoe and this kayak. The country's name, Canada, comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquois First Nations word kanata, meaning village or settlement. Thanks for sharing with us, Sunny. Happy to. And remember, if you know what nation someone is, you can use that to describe them, if not, use the word indigenous. Got it. Whoops! [splash] ♪ ♪