Niiji is an ancient descriptive term that defines all indigenous or aboriginal people that have historically inhabited the landmass called Turtle Island, in which this "Turtle Island" term refers only to particular western areas of the supercontinent known as Gondwana; which includes North
America, South
America, Canada and the surrounding Pacific Islands.
Not to be confused with the word "friend" which was originally defined as "a Quaker" or "a member of the Religious Society of Friends" during the
mid-1600's and beyond, the term Niiji was directly used as a positive means to refer to an
ally or an associate by numerous indigenous families throughout
America and Canada, especially amongst men who traditionally used Niiji towards each other as a sign of respect for one another.