English First Peoples 10 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical policies, legal concepts, and traditional cultural practices from the English First Peoples 10 course notes.

Aboriginal

A legal term created in Canada's 1982 Constitution that includes three distinct groups of indigenous peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Acknowledgement of Territory

An act of respect recognizing local First Nations and their Traditional Territories, delivered at the start of a meeting or event to acknowledge their past, present, and future presence.

Assimilation

A process where a group is forced to give up its culture, language, and identity to fit into the controlling society.

Band

A First Nations community recognized under the Indian Act, with land set apart and funds controlled by the federal government.

Ceded territory

Land that an indigenous group gave up or transferred to the government through a treaty or agreement.

Colonialism

A system where a foreign country takes control of another region's land and people, taking their resources and forcing its own rules on them.

Crown

The Canadian government or state, named after its historic relationship with the British monarch.

Crown land

Public land in Canada that is owned and controlled by the provincial or federal government.

Elder

A respected person in an Indigenous community who guides and supports others through their wisdom, knowledge, actions, and teachings.

Elected chief

The leader of a contemporary First Nations Band Council or self-government system who is chosen by community members through an election.

Indian

A term historically used by settlers for Indigenous peoples, which today has specific legal meaning under the Indian Act to define legal status.

Indian Act

A Canadian law created in 1876 that regulates registered status Indians, band governance, and many more aspects of life on reserves.

Indigenous

The original peoples of a region or territory, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada.

Land

In First Nations culture, the entire natural world, including the environment, plants, animals, water, skies, and traditional territories.

Matriarch

A respected woman leader in a First Nations community who provides guidance, wisdom, and decision making power.

Oral history

Stories and history that are spoken out loud and passed down from generation to generation, rather than written down.

Oral tradition

The practice of sharing culture, laws, and beliefs out loud through spoken words instead of writing them down.

Pass system

A policy from 1885 to 1951 that forced First Nations people to get written permission from an Indian Agent before leaving their reserve.

Potlatch

A traditional ceremony where wealth and resources are shared among people, often connected to major life events.

Reserve

Land set apart under the Indian Act for the use and benefit of a First Nations band, with legal title held by the government.

Self-determination

The rights of a community to determine what is best for them and freely choose their own political status, economic, social, and cultural development.

Treaty

A voluntary agreement between two or more nations that involves mutually binding obligations.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

An official group created in 2008 to document the memories of residential school survivors and release a report with 94 Calls to Action.

Unceded territory

Lands that have not been surrendered or transferred ownership through a treaty or agreement.