Glossary: Speaking the Names of Indigenous Nations
The glossary that follows is not exhaustive: it only covers Indigenous peoples whose histories are surveyed or mentioned in the text. It will, from time to time, require modification, corrections, and updating.
A’aninin (a.k.a. Atsina, Gros Ventre, Snakes)
Abenaki
Anihšināpē (a.k.a. Nahkawininiwak, Saulteaux, Plains Ojibwa, Chippewa. See also Nawakē)
Anishinaabe (a.k.a. Ojibwa, Chippewa)
Apache (a.k.a. Indé)
Arapaho
Atsina (a.k.a. Gros Ventre, A’aninin, Snakes)
Attawandaron (a.k.a. Neutral)
Babine (a.k.a. Western Carrier. See also Wet’suwet’en)
Beothuk
Cree. Includes Assin’skowitiniwak (a.k.a. Rocky Cree), Nêhiyawak (a.k.a. Plains Cree), Maskiki Wi Iniwak, Mushkegowuk, Maskekon, and Mōsōni, (a.k.a. Swampy Cree), Nîhithaw (a.k.a. Woodland Cree)
Dakelh (a.k.a. Carrier)
Dane-Zaa (a.k.a. Dunne-za, Beaver)
Dené (a.k.a. Dene, Athabaskan. Includes Denesuline, Tlicho/Dogrib, T’atsaot’ine/Yellowknives, Deh Gah Got’ine/Deh Cho/Slavey, and Sahtu.
Dënesųlįné (a.k.a. Chipewyan)
Diné (a.k.a. Navajo)
Erieehronon (Erie)
Gayogohó:no (a.k.a. Cayuga)
Gitxsan (a.k.a. Gitksan)
Gros Ventre (a.k.a. Atsina, A’aninin, Snakes)
Haida
Haudenosaunee (a.k.a., Iroquois, Five Nations, Six Nations. Comprised of Kanien’kehá:ka, Onondaga, Onyota’a:ka, Gayogohó:no and Seneca. After 1722 includes Skarù:ręˀ as well.)
Heiltsuk (a.k.a. Bella Bella)
Innu (a.k.a. Montagnais and Naskapi, northern Québec Cree)
Inuit (a.k.a. Eskimo)
K’ómoks (a.k.a. Comox)
Káínaa (a.k.a. Bloods, Kanai)
Kanien’kehá:ka (a.k.a. Mohawk)
Ktunaxa (a.k.a. Kutenai, Kootenay)
Kwakwaka’wakw (a.k.a. Kwagiulth, Kwakiutl, Northern Kwakiutl)
Laich-kwil-tach (a.k.a. southern Kwakiutl, Ligwilda’xw, Lekwiltok)
Laurentian Iroquois (a.k.a. Hochelaga, Stadacona, and others)
Lenape (a.k.a. Delaware)
Łingít (a.k.a. Tlingit)
Mandan-Hidatsa
Mi’kmaq, (a.k.a. Micmac; singular form is Mi’kmaw.)
Mingo (Term used for the Gayogohó:no and Seneca together.)
Montagnais (a.k.a. Neenoilno, a branch of the Innu. See also Naskapi)
Mōsonī (a.k.a. Moose Cree)
Myaamiaki (Miami)
Nahkawininiwak (a.k.a. Anihšināpē, Saulteaux, Plains Ojibwa, Chippewa)
Nakoda (a.k.a. Stoney)
Nakoda Oyadebi (a.k.a. Assiniboine, Nakota, Nakota Sioux)
Naskapi (a.k.a. Innu. See also Montagnais)
Nawakē (a.k.a. Saulteaux — particularly in Saskatchewan, Anihšināpē, Plains Ojibwa, Chippewa)
Niitsitapi (a.k.a. Blackfoot, includes the Piikáni, Káínaa, Siksika, and the Tsuu T’ina.)
Nisga’a (a.k.a. Nishga)
Nlaka’pamux (a.k.a. Thompson)
Nuu-chah-nulth (a.k.a. Nootka)
Nuxalk (a.k.a. Bella Coola)
Odaawaa (a.k.a. Odawa, Ottawa)
Omàmiwinini (a.k.a. Algonquin)
Onyota’a:ka (a.k.a. Oneida)
Piikáni (a.k.a. Stoney, Piegan-Blackfoot)
Potawatomi
Salis (a.k.a. Flathead)
Secwépemc (a.k.a. Shuswap)
Sekani (a.k.a. Tsek’ehne)
Shaawanwaki (Shawnee)
Shoshone (a.k.a. Shoshoni)
Siksika (a.k.a. Siksikáwa, Blackfoot)
Skarù:ręˀ (a.k.a. Tuscarora)
Skwxwú7mesh (a.k.a. Squamish)
Stl’atl’imx (a.k.a. St’at’imc, Lillooet)
Stó:lō (a.k.a. Sto:lo, Fraser River Indians, Lower Fraser Salish)
Syilx (a.k.a. Okanagan)
Tahltan (a.k.a. Nahanni)
Tionontati (a.k.a. Petun, Tobacco)
Tla-o-qui-aht (a.k.a. Clayoquot)
Tlingit
Ts’msyan (a.k.a. Tsimshian)
Tsétsêhéstâhese (a.k.a. Cheyenne)
Tsilhqot’in (a.k.a. Chilcotin)
Tsuu T’ina (a.k.a. Sarcee)
Wabanaki (alliance including Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Abenaki, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy)
Wendat (a.k.a. Huron)
Wendat Confederacy (a.k.a. Wendake Ehen, Huron Confederacy)
Wenrohronon (a.k.a. Wenro)
Wet’suwet’en (a.k.a. Western Carrier. See also Babine.)
Wolastoqiyik (a.k.a. Wuastukwiuk, Malicite, Maliseet, Etchemins)
Xwméthkwiyem (a.k.a. Musqueam or xʷməθkʷəy̓əm)
Resource:
Native Land Digital. https://native-land.ca/
Aboriginal First Nations: Out Own Names and Our Locations. https://ammsa.com/sites/default/files/articles/article-photos/11-sn_ws_can-givennames.jpg
