nouns - "People" or "peoples" when referring to an indigenous population?


Let's say we are talking about the indigenous pukapuka who live in Pluto.


What is correct: "the pukapuka people" or "the pukapuka peoples"?


I've read somewhere the usage of "peoples" in this context, and it has surprised me.



Answer



"Peoples" means a group of populations. So for example "the native American peoples" means the tribes that were living in America before Columbus. "the pukapuka peoples" would mean "the group of tribes/groups collectively known as pukapuka", whereas "the pukapuka people" would mean "the group of people known as (the) pukapuka (tribe/group/etc.)"


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