An Aboriginal person generally refers to an individual who is a member of the original indigenous peoples of a particular region, especially Australia or Canada, depending on the context. In the Canadian context, Aboriginal identity includes those who identify as First Nations (North American Indian), Métis, or Inuit peoples. It also includes people who are registered under the Indian Act or members of a First Nation or Indian band. This identity is recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35(2) of Canada. Aboriginal identity typically involves self-identification and membership or registration under specific legal or community criteria. In the Australian context, an Aboriginal person is an indigenous inhabitant of Australia who is a descendant of the original peoples of the Australian mainland and nearby islands, excluding the Torres Strait Islanders. The definition often used includes three parts: descent from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, self-identification as such, and acceptance by the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community where they live. Aboriginal Australians have distinct languages, cultures, and territories, and their connection to the land is deeply spiritual and central to their identity. More broadly, the term "aboriginal" means being the first or earliest known to inhabit a region, with a specific emphasis on indigenous peoples who have longstanding historical and cultural ties to their ancestral lands. Thus, an Aboriginal person is essentially someone who is part of the original indigenous population of a land, recognized by cultural, ancestral, and often legal criteria specific to the country or region. In usage, the term frequently relates to the indigenous peoples of Australia or Canada.
