Colonization and Its Impact on Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Turtle Island

Indigenous name for North America by Indigenous people.

Colonization

Establishing control over Indigenous people and resources.

Indian Act

1876 law defining Indian status and bands.

Métis

People of mixed Indigenous and European descent.

Inuit

Indigenous people inhabiting Arctic and subarctic Canada.

First Nations

Indigenous groups not identifying as Métis or Inuit.

Sixties Scoop

Forcible removal of Indigenous children to white families.

Residential Schools

Mandatory boarding schools for Indigenous children (1894-1997).

Residential Schools effect

: forced removal from families/homes/culture/language, physical and sexual abuse which too led to long-term intergenerational effects/trauma: suicide, PTSD, alcoholism, drug use, etc

Assimilation

Adopting the dominant culture by different heritage groups.

Christian Churches

Institutions administering residential schools for Indigenous children.

Forced Removal

Displacement of Indigenous children from families and culture.

Physical and Sexual Abuse

Trauma experienced by children in residential schools.

Coerced Sterilization

Forced sterilization targeting Indigenous women and children.

Eugenics

Belief in improving human population through selective breeding.

Bill C-31

Amendment to Indian Act addressing gender discrimination.

Second Generation Cut-off

Rule limiting Indian status for descendants.

MMIWG2S+

Acronym for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Highway of Tears

Highway in BC where many Indigenous women went missing.

National Day of Action

October 4th, advocating for MMIWG2S+ awareness.

Intergenerational Trauma

Psychological effects of trauma passed through generations.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Commission addressing historical injustices against Indigenous peoples. 2008-2015

Restorative Justice

Accountability and compensation for abusers to victims.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th, recognizing Indigenous history and rights.

Clean Drinking Water

Ongoing issue for many Indigenous communities in Canada.

Racism in Winnipeg

City identified as most racist in Canada (2015).

Tina Fontaine

Indigenous girl whose murder sparked national outrage.

Cattle Thief Poem

Poem expressing Indigenous perspective on land theft.

Racial Profiling

Discriminatory practice targeting visible minorities.

Colonial Attitudes

Persistent views reflecting colonial mindset in society.