The First Nations Version (FNV) is a translation of the Bible into English that uses language and imagery familiar to Native North American cultures. It was published in 2017 and funded by Indigenous ministries. The goal of the FNV was to make Scripture more accessible and understandable to First Nations peoples in Canada and Native Americans in the United States.
Origins and Purpose of the FNV
The FNV was created by an interdenominational coalition of Indigenous leaders and scholars, including leaders from the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship. The translation was accomplished by Native speakers and approved by First Nations chiefs and elders. The FNV’s Indigenous publisher of the translation, Henry Budd College, commissioned the translation to bring the word of God to the hundreds of First Nations communities in Canada that did not have a scriptural translation in their own languages.
According to the FNV’s preface, the purpose of this translation was to communicate to First Nations peoples that God values Indigenous cultures and ways of communicating. By using language, imagery, and storytelling styles familiar to Native cultures, the translators hoped to enable First Nations peoples to experience the Bible as their own.
Distinctive Features of the FNV
The FNV incorporates several distinctive features that make it more relatable to Native American and First Nations cultures:
- Native American English: The FNV uses word choices, grammar, and sentence structures common in Native American English to reflect Indigenous speech patterns.
- Descriptive Language: It relies on descriptive phrases like “the One who made everything” instead of abstract names for God like “the LORD.”
- Nature Imagery: The FNV uses nature imagery like rivers, stones, trees, and animals that resonate with Native cultures that maintain close ties to the land.
- Poetic Language: It employs rich poetic language similar to the metaphors, symbolism, and narrative repetitions found in Native oral traditions.
- Honorifics: The FNV uses honorifics like “Grandmother Mary” and “Brother Jesus” that convey the respect given to elders in Native communities.
The goal was to move past strictly European modes of expression to find language and concepts to represent biblical truths in culturally relevant ways.
Translation Philosophy and Methods
The FNV was translated using meaning-based translation, also called functional equivalence. This method focuses on conveying the original meaning of the source text rather than a word-for-word translation. The translators aimed for a thought-for-thought translation over a literal word-for-word approach.
Since most Native languages communicate meaning through descriptive imagery and storytelling, the translators tried to recreate this dynamic style of communication. They also emphasized oral communication patterns found in First Nations storytelling.
The FNV combines both formal and dynamic elements of equivalence. It provides a balance between accuracy to the original languages and readability in contemporary Native English. This method enabled the FNV to communicate not just word meanings but the intent and concepts of the Bible in ways that make sense to Native cultures.
The Translation Team
The translation team for the FNV was made up of:
- Five Native American and First Nations Christian leaders
- Two Native American pastors
- Several non-Native biblical scholars
- A stylistic editorial board
This team included speakers of languages like Lillooet, Cree, and Ojibwe. They translated from Hebrew and Greek texts while consulting the New American Standard Bible as well as earlier translations by Indigenous translators.
The editorial board focused on style and clarity in English. They refined the wording to ensure it was clear, natural, and coherent for contemporary Native speakers. Elders and chiefs from several First Nations then reviewed the FNV before publication to confirm its relevancy and suitability.
Translation Choices in the FNV
Some examples of distinctive translation choices in the FNV include:
- “Most High” or “Great Spirit” for God or LORD
- “First Woman” and “First Man” for Eve and Adam
- “Great Flood” for Noah’s flood
- “Red Brother” for Esau
- Calling disciples “followers” or “students”
- Using “healings” instead of “miracles”
- Referring to Jesus’ death as his “great suffering”
Names were treated creatively, with some left closer to traditional forms like Isaaya (Isaiah), while others were translated like “Dove” for Jonah. The FNV often explains names the first time they occur, such as “Ishmael (God Hears).”
The FNV translators also frequently incorporated the original Hebrew meaning of names into the text to enhance meaning. For example, “Jacob” is translated “Heel-Grabber” and attached to explanatory phrases clarifying the name’s origin and meaning.
For concepts foreign to Native cultures, the FNV often replaces them with analogous concepts and descriptive phrases understandable to First Nations readers. For example, rather than transliterating Greek terms like “baptize” or “apostle,” the FNV uses descriptive phrases like “put through a special washing” or “students who were sent out.”
Examples of the FNV Translation Style
Here are some examples that demonstrate the descriptive, natural translation style of the FNV in contrast to a more literal English translation (the English Standard Version):
Isaiah 40:3
ESV: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
FNV: Someone is calling out: “In the wild country, prepare the road for the Great Spirit! Make a straight path in the desert for our God!”
Psalm 23:2
ESV: He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
FNV: He makes me lie down in a good place, like green grass all around. He leads me by quiet streams.
Matthew 4:19
ESV: And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
FNV: And he said to them, “Come, follow me. I will make you students who will teach people.”
As these examples show, the FNV takes a descriptive, dynamic approach to translation that seeks to convey the original meaning naturally in contemporary Native English.
Critical Reception of the FNV
The FNV was welcomed by many Indigenous communities and leaders as an accessible way to engage with the Bible. Here are some notable reactions to its publication:
- The Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde called it an “incredible gift to all First Nations peoples across Canada.”
- Lois Greene-Maurer, a First Nations elder, said “Now when I read this new translation, I feel like it feeds me.”
- The website Indian Life said the FNV “offers Native people the wonderful opportunity to experience the Bible as if it was originally written with us in mind.”
- Chief Kenny Munday of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation said it “paints the words of our Creator in the colours of our culture.”
Some evangelical groups questioned the freedom of the FNV translation. But many Native readers and leaders appreciated how the FNV captures biblical ideas in Native terms.
The Impact of the FNV
Since its publication, the FNV has been embraced by many First Nations communities as an authoritative Scripture translation:
- Over 160,000 print copies have been distributed, making it one of the bestselling Bible translations in Canada.
- Many Native congregations are now using the FNV for teaching, preaching, and Bible study.
- It is spreading spiritual renewal and growth in several Indigenous communities.
- Young First Nations people are engaging with the Bible through the FNV, often reading it aloud in gatherings.
- It has empowered Indigenous church leaders and enriched worship in culturally relevant ways.
This enthusiastic reception shows that the FNV is fulfilling its purpose of communicating Scripture in Native terms that resonate with Aboriginal cultures. For many First Nations peoples, the ideas of the Bible are coming alive in a fresh way thanks to the FNV.
Current and Future Editions of the FNV
The FNV New Testament was published in 2016. The complete FNV Bible followed in 2017. Currently available editions of the FNV include:
- Softcover FNV Bible
- Hardcover FNV Bible
- Paperback FNV New Testament
- eBook editions for Kindle and Apple Books
- An audio recording of the FNV New Testament
Upcoming plans include study Bibles, a children’s edition, and translations in various Native American and First Nations languages based on the FNV. There are also hopes for expanding the translation work to Native communities in the United States and worldwide.
The FNV translation team continues to partner with Native translators and leaders to refine the translation and extend its reach. They are committed to culturally relevant translation work that empowers Indigenous communities with God’s word in their heart language.
Conclusion
The First Nations Version offers Native North American readers a new encounter with the Bible crafted specifically with their cultures in mind. By weaving Indigenous imagery and storytelling styles into natural English, the FNV makes Scripture feel like it was written for Native peoples. As a translation created by Native speakers for Native communities, it has fostered spiritual renewal among First Nations in ways that demonstrate the power of Scripture shaped by one’s own culture and tradition.
For Indigenous believers, the FNV is helping fulfill dreams of hearing God’s word resonate deeply in their languages and worldviews. For Christian translating, it provides a model of ministry that serves marginalized communities with God’s message in culturally engaging ways. The enthusiastic reception of the FNV reveals an ongoing need for translations worldwide that make the Bible live within diverse local cultures.