Resource library

Abenaki

Southern Québec; homelands also extend into the United States · Odanak and Wôlinak are Abenaki communities in Québec.

Algonquin / Anishinabeg

Western Québec and eastern Ontario · Algonquin refers to a people; Algonquian is a larger language-family term.

Anishinaabe peoples

Great Lakes and neighbouring regions of Canada and the United States · A broad family of related peoples, including Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi.

Atikamekw

Upper Saint-Maurice region, Québec · Manawan, Wemotaci and Opitciwan are Atikamekw communities.

Blackfoot Confederacy

Southern Alberta and Montana · The Confederacy includes Siksika, Kainai, Piikani and Aamskapi Pikuni. The last is based in the United States.

Cayuga

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Coast Salish peoples

Salish Sea, lower Fraser and surrounding coastal lands · A broad grouping of related peoples and languages, including many distinct Nations.

Dakelh

Central interior of British Columbia · Dakelh territories include the lake country of the central interior.

Dakota

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Dënesųłiné

Northern Saskatchewan and the wider northern interior · Dënesųłiné communities are part of the diverse Dene peoples.

Gitxsan

Skeena, Kispiox and Kitwanga rivers, British Columbia · These river valleys connect Gitxsan communities.

Gwich’in

Northern Yukon and Northwest Territories; also Alaska · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Haida

Haida Gwaii, British Columbia · The islands of Haida Gwaii are central to Haida homelands.

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region; homelands cross the Canada–US border · Six distinct Nations are connected through this Confederacy.

Hän

Yukon River around Dawson; also Alaska · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Innu

Québec and Labrador · Innu are distinct from Inuit, despite the similar-looking names.

Inuit Nunangat

Inuit homeland in Canada: land, water and ice · The homeland includes four Inuit regions. Inuit also live in cities and communities outside Inuit Nunangat.

Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Western Arctic, including northwestern Northwest Territories · The Inuit of this region are Inuvialuit.

Kainai

Southern Alberta · A distinct Nation within the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Kanien’kehá:ka / Mohawk

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Kaska Dena

Northern British Columbia and southern Yukon · Kaska communities and homelands extend across the provincial–territorial boundary.

Ktunaxa

Southeastern British Columbia and neighbouring US states · Ktunaxa homelands cross modern borders. Their language is distinct from neighbouring languages.

Lakota

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Lil’wat

Mount Currie and Pemberton area, British Columbia · Lil’wat is a distinct Nation within the wider St’át’imc people.

Mi’kmaq

Mi’kma’ki, across much of Atlantic Canada and Gaspé · Mi’kma’ki is the Mi’kmaw homeland, with its own districts and relationships.

Métis Nation

Prairie provinces and parts of Ontario, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the northern United States · A distinct Indigenous people with shared histories, communities and nationhood. Métis does not simply mean anyone with mixed ancestry.

Nakoda

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Naskapi

Northeastern Québec and Labrador peninsula · Kawawachikamach is a Naskapi community near Schefferville.

Nisga’a

Nass River valley, British Columbia · Nisga’a communities are connected through the Nass River valley.

Nlaka’pamux

Fraser Canyon and Nicola valley, British Columbia · Nlaka’pamux homelands include river and valley country.

Northern Tutchone

Central Yukon · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Nunatsiavut

Northern Labrador coast · The Inuit region in Labrador, with its own Inuit government.

Nunavik

Northern Québec · An Inuit region in Québec, distinct from Nunavut.

Nunavut

Central and eastern Canadian Arctic · An Inuit homeland region and a Canadian territory.

Nuu-chah-nulth

West coast of Vancouver Island · Related coastal Nations work together through the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.

Odawa

Great Lakes region on both sides of the Canada–US border · One of the peoples connected through the Three Fires Confederacy.

Ojibwe

Great Lakes region on both sides of the Canada–US border · One of the peoples connected through the Three Fires Confederacy.

Oneida

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Onondaga

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Piikani

Southern Alberta · A distinct Nation within the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Plains Cree

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Potawatomi

Great Lakes region on both sides of the Canada–US border · One of the peoples connected through the Three Fires Confederacy.

Red River Métis

Red River and the wider Métis homeland · The Manitoba Métis Federation represents the Red River Métis, including citizens living beyond Manitoba.

Saulteaux

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Secwépemc

Interior British Columbia, including the Kamloops area · Secwépemc communities share connections across a large interior homeland.

Seneca

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Siksika

Southern Alberta · A distinct Nation within the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Southern Tutchone

Southwestern Yukon · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Swampy Cree

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

Syilx / Okanagan

Okanagan country, British Columbia and beyond the US border · Syilx communities have connections across the modern international border.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh / Squamish

Southwestern British Columbia · Squamish and Lil’wat are distinct Nations with their own languages and traditions.

Tagish

Southern Lakes region of Yukon · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Tahltan

Stikine River country, British Columbia · Tahltan homelands extend along the Stikine and inland.

Tlingit

Southern Yukon, northern British Columbia and Alaska · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Tse’khene

Northern interior of British Columbia · Tse’khene homelands include northern interior mountain and lake country.

Tsimshian

Skeena River and northern Pacific coast · Coast Tsimshian territories include the lower Skeena and its delta.

Tuscarora

Members live at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario, and elsewhere · A distinct Haudenosaunee Nation. This community location is not its full ancestral homeland.

Tłı̨chǫ

Northwest Territories · Tłı̨chǫ communities include Behchokǫ̀, Whatì, Gamètì and Wekweètì.

Tŝilhqot’in

Chilcotin watershed, British Columbia · The Chilcotin, Chilko and Taseko rivers are important within Tŝilhqot’in territory.

Upper Tanana

Western Yukon and neighbouring Alaska · A distinct people represented in the Yukon’s Indigenous language landscape.

Wendat

Wendake, Québec; historic connections to the Great Lakes · The Wendat Nation has deep historical connections beyond its present community.

Wet’suwet’en

North-central British Columbia · Wet’suwet’en are a distinct people of the northern interior.

Wolastoqiyik

Wolastoq / Saint John River watershed and neighbouring lands · Wolastoqiyik identity is deeply connected to the Wolastoq river.

Woodland Cree

Saskatchewan and neighbouring regions · One of the distinct peoples whose languages and cultures are supported by SICC.

9 related resources

Yukon First Nations

Many peoples, a shared negotiation history