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In Canada "Natives" are called Aboriginals. Aboriginals is used to described First Nations, Metis and, Inuit.
First Nations people are made up of many nations, and many cultures. They are the first people of Canada and North America for that matter. Examples of First Nations are Cree, Ojibwe, Nakota, Dakota, Saulteaux, etc. Each Nation has there own culture, language, beliefs etc.
Metis meaning mixed blood , is the culture formed by the intermarriage of French men(fur traders) , and First Nations women. Metis were formed at Red River Manitoba.
Inuit people are the first people of the North. Mistakenly known as "eskimos". Inuit is the the name of themselfs in there own language.
Treaties were signed with First Nations during the 18 and 1900s, with these treaties land was given up by the First Nations, with such things as education, healthcare, land etc being recieved by First Nations.
Treatie or status Indians include First Nations, and Inuit people, they are recognized and recieve the benefits granted by the Government. Metis are non-status Indians, and do not recieve treatie rights.
Traditional Aboriginals hold culture, values and beliefs very close to them. Spirituality is very important, and the belief in the holistic perspective(that everything is interconnected to everything else). An example of this is that the Spiritual Realm is connected to the physical world, and that actions that happen in the physical world can affect the Spiritual realm. The dream catcher is a way of showing the holistic perspective, every sting is connected, and if one is cut then the rest will fall.
Common symbols include the number four. Which has huge relavants to life: four seasons, four elements, four races, four parts of the day, four parts of life etc etc. The medicine wheel, which is a circle with four equal parts, is probably the most common symbol.
There is alot more history, and many many things to learn from such an amazing culture such as the Canadian Aboriginals.
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