The word "Ateker" is a generic term for "related peoples" or "relatives" (the term also refers to clan). It is derived from the root "ker", which has two root meanings: fear and respect. Ateker, in its true sense, is a union of free people with mutual recognition and respect for each other. In the context of ethnic identity and nationhood, the Turkana language classifies different people with common characteristics as belonging to distinct "ateker". The Maa people belong to "Ateker a Ngi Maasa Maasai" and so on. The Turkana and the Karamojong and related people belong to one "Ateker".