In Forts & Frontiers, the rules use the term Indian to refer to the Native people of non-European ancestry. This term, which originated from a misnomer attributed to early European explorers encountering people populating lands they mistakenly believed to be the Indies of Asia, is still commonly used today.

In the late 20th century, various terms, including Native American and Amerindian in the United States and First Nations or First Peoples in Canada, attempted to correct the use of the term Indian. However, these terms fail to fully capture the complexity of the history of numerous cultures, languages, and traditions under a single name.

The Native people encountered in Forts & Frontiers, who lived in the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast, were not static over their centuries of history. Migrations and shifting alliances challenge the use of the words native and first for a dynamic, ever-changing society with hundreds of overlapping histories.

Moreover, the lack of written native language, coupled with rich oral traditions, can frustrate historians with inconsistent or non-existent European language translations. With non-standardized spelling or pronunciations of historical native people, groups, and places, even the most well-intentioned history lover is forced to navigate a complex thicket of inaccuracy.

Even among people referred to today as Indians, there is vast disagreement on how to self-identify beyond words used in their own languages. Therefore, in Forts & Frontiers, the word Indian is used because of its familiarity found in the (European) historical record and popular culture. As with every part of the game system, players are encouraged to read, research, and respectfully learn about the history of the period.