English Vocab List

Nation

A tribe or group of indigenous peoples that share the same history traditions or language

Self-Governance

Having control or rule over oneself

Sovereignty

absolute and independent authority of an individual, institution or nation (state) within a territory or international state system.

Identity

The distinguishing character or personality of an individual

Non-Status

Refers to Indigenous peoples who recognize themselves as Indigenous but are not legally recognized under the "Indian Act"

Band

An Indigenous governing unit that was Instituted by the Indian Act. They are legally recognized and receive funding from the government.

Aboriginal

Relating people who have been in the region from the earliest time

Indigenous

\n Relating to the earliest known inhabitants of a place and especially of a place that was colonized by a now-dominant group

Métis

People of mixed European and indigenous ancestry and one of the three recognized aboriginal peoples in Canada

Elder

Respected knowledge keepers that work as doctors, teachers or any type of expert that help maintain cultural continuity in their communities

Treaty

Agreements between made between the Government of Canada, Indigenous groups and often provinces and territories that define ongoing rights and obligations on all sides

Inuit

An indigenous people, the majority of whom inhabit the northern regions of Canada

Language

\n The words, their pronunciation and the method combining them used and understood by a community

Culture

Customs, arts and achievement of a particular nation or people

Decolonize

To identify, challenge and revise or replace assumptions, ideas values and practices that reflect colonizers dominating influence and especially a Eurocentric dominating influence

Colonization

When one nation conquers, settles and exploits another nation for resources (natural and human)

Stereotype

Something conforming to a fixed or general pattern, Especially a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment

Territory

\n Describes the ancestral and contemporary connections of Indigenous peoples to a geographical area.

Genocide

\n The intentional destruction of a particular group through killing, serious physical or mental harm, preventing births and/or forcibly transferring children to another group.

Equity

\n The quality of being fair and reasonable in a way that gives equal treatment to everyone

Rights

\n The quality of being fair and reasonable in a way that gives equal treatment to everyone

Declaration

An official announcement or statement

Discrimination

Prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment

Tribe

A group of people often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture and history

Assimilation

One group being absorbed into a more dominate group (willingly and unwillingly), often taking on the dominate groups culture

Intergenerational Trauma

A phenomenon in which the psychological effects of trauma are passed down from one generation to another

Terra Nullius

European principle to colonize land as it is seen as vacant or unoccupied

Civilization

A human society with its own social organization and culture

Enfranchisement

To admit to the privileges of a citizen and especially to the right to vote

Acknowledgement

A way that people insert an awareness of the indigenous presence and land rights into everyday rights. This is often done at the beginning of ceremonies, lectures, or any public event. It can be a subtle way to recognize the history of colonialism and a need for change in settler colonial societies.

Clan

Used to designate social groups whose members trace descent from either male or female ancestors. For the Indigenous people in Canada, the term has been used most often to designate groups based on unilineal descent. This means that a person belongs to the clan of either parent.

Protocol

Refers to ways of interacting with Indigenous people in a manner that respects traditional ways of being. Protocols are not just "manners" or "rules" - they are a representation of a culture's deeply held ethical system. Ex: The land acknowledgement

Reconciliation

Attempts made by individuals and institutions to raise awareness about colonization and its ongoing effects on Indigenous peoples.