Early European explorers referred to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples as “Indians” because they mistakenly believed they had reached the East Indies. When Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, he thought he had landed in Asia, and the term stuck for centuries.

Although the label was based on a historical misunderstanding, it became widely used in early records and maps. Today, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit are the respectful and accurate terms used to describe Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.

This topic is often included in Canadian Citizenship Test preparation, especially in sections focused on history, identity, and reconciliation.