Indigenous Studies Vocab

Identity

An individual’s perception of who here she is: a sense of self. Includes values, beliefs.

Worldview

A collection of police about life and the universe, held by an individual or group; the line which of the world is viewed by an individual or group; the overall perspective from which the world is interpreted

Intergenerational Trauma

The continuous passing of an unresolved and deep seated motion, such as great chronic sadness is successive descendants

Governance

The process of making an enforcing decisions with an organization or society

Assimilation

The process through which individuals and groups of differing heritage require basic habits, attitudes, and life of another culture

Colonization

The actual process of settling among an establishing control over the indigenous people of a certain area

Community

A group of people with diverse characteristics linked by social ties, sharing perspectives and engaging in joint action and geographical locations or settings

Bias

The influence that our individual perspective has on what we read see hear and believe. It is not right or wrong

Standard of Living

The degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community

Economy

The way people spend money and the way people make money

Primary source

Original records or artifacts created during the time being studied

Kinship

The most universal and basic of all human relationships and is based on ties of blood, marriage or adoption. There are two types.

Cultural appropriation

When individuals or groups who do not belong to a particular culture, a doctor, imitate elements from that culture without proper understanding, respect or acknowledgement of its cultural context. Uses symbols, language, and clothing and disrespectful ways.

Cultural appreciation

When someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to brought in their perspective and connect with others cross culturally

Métis

People of next European and indigenous ancestry

Inuit

Indigenous people of the Arctic. It means the people.

First Nations

Refers to a group of people officially known as Indian in the Indian act

Indian

The most contentious term, still has legal connotations. Negative term and should be avoided.

Stereotyping

Making unfair or incorrect generalizations about a culture based on limited or false information

Reciprocity

A mutual exchange of respect, help, or gifts that builds relationship between people and communities

Secondary source

Information that came from someone who did not directly experienced the event being studied, like books or documentaries

Self-Government

When communities have the power to make their own laws and decisions about people and land

Subsistence Economy

A way of living where people rely on hunting fishing and gathering just enough food and resources to survive

Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings and experiences of indigenous people

Indigenous peoples

The original peoples of a land who have unique cultures, Languages, and traditions connected to that land

Ignorance based thinking

Beliefs or ideas about indigenous people that came from not knowing or understanding their true history and culture