This is a partial list of famous people who are members of the First Nations in Canada.
A Aatsista-Mahkan, Blackfoot chief Abishabis, Cree religious leader A-ca-oo-mah-ca-ye, Blackfoot chief Evan Adams, Sliammon actor, doctor and health policy Mary Kawennatakie Adams, Mohawk basket maker Agouhanna, chief of Hochelega David Ahenakew, politician Freda Ahenakew, author Frederick Alexcee, Tsimshian-Iroquois woodcarver Jerry Alfred, musician Almighty Voice, fugitive Anahareo (Gertrude Bernard), author Anna Mae Aquash, Mi'kmaq activist Nathaniel Arcand, actor Jeannette Armstrong, author, artist and activist Arron Asham, NHL hockey player Shawn Atleo, chief Auoindaon, Wyandot chief
B James Bartleman, diplomat and author Francois Beaulieu, northern prospector and guide Adam Beach, actor Big Bear, Cree chief Jackson Beardy, Ayisini painter Billy-Ray Belcourt, writer Perry Bellegarde, politician and leader of the Assembly of First Nations Rykko Bellemare, actor Kwena Bellemare-Boivin, actress Rebecca Belmore, Ojibwe conceptual artist Ethel Blondin-Andrew, politician Dempsey Bob, Tahltan-Tlingit woodcarver Columpa Bobb, actor, playwright and poet Rodney Bobiwash, scholar and activist Steven Bonspille, Mohawk chief Milton Born With A Tooth, activist James Bourque, activist Joseph Brant, Mohawk leader Mary Brant, Mohawk leader T. J. Burke, politician
C Douglas Cardinal, architect Harold Cardinal, writer and political leader Lorne Cardinal, actor Tantoo Cardinal, actor Kate Carmack, possible finder of the gold deposits in the Yukon Nadine Caron, first female First Nations Canadian general surgeon Dawson Charlie, co-discoverer of gold in the Yukon Jonathan Cheechoo, ice hockey player Chief Lady Bird, (aka Nancy King), Chippewa and Potawatomi artist, illustrator, educator and community activist Byron Chief-Moon, Kainai Nation American-born actor Matthew Coon Come, former NationalAssembly of First Nations Harold Crowchild, last surviving Tsuu T'ina veteran of World War II Crowfoot, Blackfoot chief Bert Crowfoot, broadcaster and journalist
D Brian Deer, Tionerahtoken (Mohawk) librarian from Kahnawake, laid the foundation for the Brian Deer Classification System (BDCS) Demasduit, one of the last Beothuk people Andy de Jarlis, Métis fiddler Paul DeVillers, politician Bonnie Devine, Ojibway conceptual artist Donnacona, chief of Stadacona site of present-day Quebec City Armond Duck Chief, country singer-songwriter Willie Dunn, filmmaker, folk musician, playwright and politician Jeremy Dutcher, musician Lillian Dyck, Canadian Senator
E Georges Erasmus, politician Ron Evans, politician
F Gary Farmer (b. 1953), Cayuga actor and filmmakerThe American Indian Film Festival Jerry Fontaine, politician Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Rainbow Sun Francks, Plains Cree actor
G James Gabriel, Grand Chief of Kanesatake, Quebec Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, politician Dan George, actor and Salish chief Dudley George, protester killed near Camp Ipperwash Leela Gilday, Dene musician James Gladstone, Canadian Senator Michelle Good, writer and lawyer Graham Greene, Oneida actor Mary Greyeyes-Reid, first First Nations woman to join the Canadian Forces Guujaaw, Haida, carver, musician and political activist
H John Harding (Sha ko hen the tha), chief of Kanesatake, Quebec Elijah Harper, politician Rinelle Harper, advocate for victims of violence Jimmy Herman, actor René Highway, dancer and actor Tomson Highway, playwright, novelist, and children's author Tom Hogan, Ojibway painter Kaniehtiio Horn, actress
I Ilona Verley, Nlaka'pamux drag queen most known for competing in Canada's Drag Race
J Alex Janvier, Dene Suline-Saulteaux artist Chief William Jeffrey, Tsimshian hereditary chief, activist and carver Edward John, political leader Mary John, Sr., leader of the Dakelh or Carrier people Pauline Johnson, writer and performer Dr. Gene Joseph, Wet'suwet'en Nadleh'dena First Nations librarian, founder of the Xwi7xwa Library Edith Josie, writer
K Stephen Kakfwi, premier of the Northwest Territories Tina Keeper, activist, actress and politician Keish (Skookum Jim Mason), discovered gold in the Yukon Wab Kinew, musician and broadcaster, premier of Manitoba Chester Knight, musician
L Melina Laboucan-Massimo, climate justice advocate Oscar Lathlin, politician George Leach, musician Reggie Leach, ice hockey player Mary Leaf, Mohawk artist specializing in basketmaking Ange Loft, Kanien'kehá:ka Kahnawà:ke (Mohawk) performing artist Tom Longboat, distance runner Morley Loon, musician Loma Lyns (Whitefish Lake Ojibway), musician
M George Manuel, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations Maquinna, chief of the Nuu-chah-nulth Lee Maracle, poet and author Leonard Marchand, politician Donald Marshall, Jr., wrongly convicted of murder Mungo Martin, Kwakwaka'wakw woodcarver Matonabbee, Chipewyan hunter and leader Matooskie (also known as Nancy McKenzie) Duncan McCue, journalist Deborah McGregor (Whitefish River Ojibway), environmentalist, educator Claude McKenzie, singer-songwriter Gerald McMaster, Siksika First Nation-Red Pheasant First Nation artist, author, curator Henri Membertou, Mi'kmaq leader Billy Merasty, actor Gary Merasty, politician Ovide Mercredi, politician Mattie Mitchell, Mi’kmaq Chieftain, explorer Gilbert Monture, honorary chief of the Mohawk tribe Alwyn Morris, athlete Norval Morrisseau, Ojibwe artist Daniel David Moses, poet and playwright Tara Lee Morin, writer Will Morin, politician Ted Moses, politician
N Nahnebahwequa, Ojibwa spokeswoman and Christian Missionary Darlene Naponse, filmmaker and writer David Neel, Kwakwaka'wakw conceptual artist, print-maker and author Ellen Neel, Kwakwaka'wakw woodcarver Aaron Nelson-Moody, woodcarver Sandra Lovelace Nicholas, Canadian Senator Shelley Niro, New York-born Six Nations of the Grand River Mohawk artist and filmmaker Ted Nolan, ice hockey player and coach Nonosabasut, leader of the Beothuk people Kaúxuma Núpika, prophetess
O Kim O'Bomsawin, filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, filmmaker Diane Obomsawin, artist and animator Daphne Odjig, Odawa-Potawatomi painter Bernard Ominayak, elected leader of the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation Joseph Onasakenrat, Mohawk chief of Kanesatake, Quebec Oronhyatekha, first Aboriginal medical doctor Helen Betty Osborne, Manitoba woman, kidnapped and murdered
P Francis Pegahmagabow, sniper, Military Medal winner Peter Penashue, politician Tahmoh Penikett, actor Elizabeth Phillips, Cheam elder, Halq’emeylem specialist Piapot, leader, diplomat, warrior, horse thief, and spiritualist Poundmaker (Pitikwahanapiwiyin), Cree chief Susan Point, Coast Salish artist Chief Pontiac, Odawa war leader Gary Potts, former chief of Temagami First Nation Gaylord Powless, lacrosse player Ross Powless, lacrosse player Carey Price, NHL hockey player Tommy Prince, war hero William Prince, singer-songwriter
Q
Carl Quinn, singer-songwriter
R Bill Reid, Haida jeweler, sculptor and artist Sandrine Renard, newscaster on the Naked News Waubgeshig Rice, writer and broadcaster David A. Robertson, Indigenous graphic novelist and writer Robbie Robertson, songwriter and guitarist Carla Robinson, television journalist Eden Robinson, writer Eric Robinson, politician
S Samian, musician Fred Sasakamoose, ice hockey player Gregory Scofield, writer Alfred Scow, Judge and Hereditary Chief Bev Sellars, Secwepemc writer and chief James Sewid, former chief councilor of the Kwakwaka'wakw Shanawdithit, believed to have been the last surviving member of the Beothuk people Crystal Shawanda, musician Shingoose, musician Jay Silverheels, Mohawk actor best known for performing as The Lone Ranger's companion Tonto Éléonore Sioui, Wyandot healer, teacher, and activist Sheldon Souray, ice hockey player Ralph Steinhauer, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Shayla Stonechild, actress and podcaster Cree Summer, voice actress
T Drew Hayden Taylor, playwright and journalist Gordon Tootoosis, Cree/Stoney actor best known as Albert Golo on North of 60 Walter Patrick Twinn, Canadian Senator Tecumseh, military leader, War of 1812 Jeff Thomas, photographer Dahti Tsetso, Dehcho environmentalist and educator Arielle Twist, poet Jaylene Tyme, drag entertainer
V Diyet van Lieshout, musician Roy Henry Vickers, Tsimshian artist Florent Vollant, Innu singer-songwriter
W Barbara Wardlaw, interim leader First Peoples National Party of Canada Frank Whitehead, politician Joshua Whitehead, writer Massey Whiteknife, businessman and musician David B. Williams, Ojibway painter and printmaker Kona Williams, forensic pathologist Myron Wolf Child, activist, public speaker and politician Sara Wolfe, nurse, midwife, and healthcare advocate
Y Greg Younging, member of the Opsakwayak Cree Nation, editor and expert on First Nations copyright
See also
Aboriginal Canadian personalities List of Canadian Inuit List of First Nations leaders List of Métis people
Notes