Is the Federation actually Trek’s biggest retcon?

[Imaus]

I think you might be confusing The First Federation with another species. Bakok claimed to belong to The First Federation in The Corbomite Maneuver. He could have made it up completely. If it was a legitimate political entity, nothing was revealed about it.

My head canon has the Trill and the Ferengi living in (possibly former members of) The First Federation's territory and that some (like Trill) joined the Federation while others (like Ferengi) did not.

Of course, this idea is shot down by Emony Dax meeting McCoy prior to TOS first season.

Correct - I was thinking of the Metrons from Arena.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I think you might be confusing The First Federation with another species.

Yeah, The First Federation is not remotely the same thing. I think it's explained in the novel called Federation, that they're very much a different entity. Could even be Preserver related.