4.2 Lexicon

Collective noun for all First Nations, Inuit and Métis; sometimes being replaced with “Indigenous.” Defined in the Constitution Act, 1982. (e.g. Section 35: “The existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada…”) Also referenced in the Canadian court system (e.g. "Aboriginal law” “Aboriginal rights”).

A doctrine in Canadian common law that is a unique collective right to the use of and jurisdiction over traditional or ancestral lands. (e.g. see Tsilqot’in decision when Supreme Court declared that the Tsilqot’in Nation has Aboriginal title to a specific section of land).

See “Indian Band.”

The governing body of an Indian Band, usually under the Indian Act or through custom. Generally comprised of one Chief and a number of Band Councillors. The Band Council manages the affairs of the Band.

See “Land Claims.”

English-language word used to describe wisdom- and knowledge keepers, ceremonial persons; mostly but not always older individuals. Term used for First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Métis may also use the term Senator. 

Not used in Canada. Derogatory term. Origin obscured but generally understood to be a Montagnais word that meant “eaters of raw meat.”

Generally replaces the terms or sometimes used interchangeably with the terms “band” or “Indian band” or “Indian reserve.” Used to denote place (e.g. Chapleau Cree First Nation, Long Plain First Nation). One of more than 630 First Nations in Canada; sometimes used interchangeably with “Indian band” or “Indian reserve.” Excludes Inuit and Métis.

Confusing. No consistent or uniform use, no legal definition. Used to denote a group Indian bands. (e/g., “Seven First Nations have joined together to…”). Also used to denote ethnicity; generally used in replacement of “Indian” (e.g. “A First Nations person”). An umbrella term that could mean one or all Indian bands. Excludes Inuit and Métis.

Collective term; no consistent definition or use. (e.g. Canadian Museum of History’s “First Peoples Hall” refers to First Nations, Inuit and Métis; First Peoples’ Cultural Council is a First Nations-run Crown corporation in British Columbia).

A Canadian Act of Parliament was first passed in 1876. It is the main statute through which the federal government administers Indian status, local First Nations governments, management of reserve land and communal monies. It has been amended several times but remains a racist, paternalistic, discriminatory piece of legislation.

Defined in the Indian Act as “a body of Indians for whose use and benefit in common, lands, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, have been set apart.” Convoluted! Can refer to a particular group living on a particular reserve. Some still use this term to describe their First Nation (e.g. Red Rock Indian Band, Kamloops Indian Band). Sometimes the term “Indian Act band” is used to differentiate between those bands still governed by the Indian Act from First Nations no longer governed by the Indian Act.

The Indian Register is a list of registered Indians (as defined in the Indian Act) kept by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Information on this list concerning the demographic characteristics of the Indian population is updated regularly by band officials and published on December 31 of each year.

Referenced in the Indian Act. Tract of land set aside under the Indian Act and treaties for exclusive use and benefit of particular Indian bands. The land is “reserved” or set aside. Most now use the term First Nation instead (e.g. Parry Island Indian Reserve is now known as Wasauksing First Nation).

People entitled to have their names on the Indian Register, recognized as Indians under the Indian Act, entitled to certain legal rights and benefits. May have a “status card.”

Used in older Canadian legislation, some of which is still in effect today (including the 1982 Constitution and the Indian Act) but not used in official publications anymore. Based on a case of mistaken identity, when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean but thought he was in India so-called the people Indians; hence all Indigenous people in the Americas were called Indians.

Collective term; increasingly used; understood in international context; now generally used instead of “Aboriginal” except when referring to legislation that references “Aboriginal.”

Also called Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Ecological Knowledge or Indigenous Knowledge Systems. No agreed-upon definition but generally, the collective knowledge, innovations and practices of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis related to culture and traditional teachings. Includes knowledge of land, water, animals and plants. Indigenous knowledge does not just exist in the past; it is a living and evolving knowledge system.

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or IQ, is the term used for Inuit knowledge systems. 

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is a system of knowledge and responsibilities for the natural world, including understanding, experience and participation with natural systems and processes, human and nature relationships, and cosmological beliefs. 

Used in Canada to refer to people who identify as Inuit, Métis or First Nations. A collective term. Understood in international contexts (e.g., United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).

Pre-existing rights accorded to First Nations and Inuit because of continual life on, and use of, a specific geographical area/territory.

Indigenous people who live primarily in Inuit Nunangat. “Inuit” means “people” in the Inuktitut language.

The circumpolar Inuit homeland including Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Inuit Nunangat.

Four Inuit regions in northern Canada: Inuvialuit Settlement Region (along northwest coast of Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (far northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador).

See “Indigenous Knowledge.”

Singular form of Inuit. “She’s an Inuk from Rankin Inlet.”

Two types: specific claims deal with specific grievances that First Nations may have regarding the fulfilment of treaties. Specific claims also cover grievances relating to the administration of First Nations lands and assets under the Indian Act; Comprehensive claims are based on the assessment that there may be continuing Aboriginal rights to lands and natural resources. These kinds of claims come up in those parts of Canada where Aboriginal title has not previously been dealt with by treaty and other legal means. The claims are called "comprehensive" because of their wide scope.

Root of word means “mixed.” From Métis National Council: The Métis are a distinct Indigenous people and nation recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982 as one of the three Aboriginal peoples in Canada. They emerged in the historic Northwest during the late 18th century, originally the mixed offspring of Indian women and European fur traders. As this population established distinct communities separate from those of Indians and Europeans and married among themselves, a new Indigenous people emerged – the Métis people – with their own unique culture, traditions, language (Michif), and way of life, collective consciousness and nationhood. Can be confusing as some use the word Métis to denote anyone with mixed First Nations/European ancestry.

Other names for Métis: children of the fur trade; flower beadwork people; the people who own themselves; Road Allowance people.

Métis villages/communities sprang up along riverways across Canada during the fur trade area. The Métis National Council considers the Métis homeland to include parts of northwest Ontario, all of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of northeast BC and southern Northwest Territories.

Another word for Métis; also the word for the Métis language, which has both Indigenous languages—predominantly Cree (mostly verbs) and European languages—predominantly French (mostly nouns).

Collective term; innocuous but ambiguous. (e.g., “A native of Ottawa”). The term “native” is increasingly seen as outdated (particularly when used as a noun) and is used less and less frequently.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission defines reconciliation as “an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships” and that “a process of healing of relationships that requires public truth sharing, apology, and commemoration that acknowledges and redresses past harms.”

Not an accurate term in Canada (see “Indian reserve”). In the United States, the term “reservation” refers to land set aside for Indians. The U.S. Congress created the reservation system in 1851 to move Indian tribes onto farming reservations across much of the country.

Also called “Métis Scrip,” it is a system of certificates exchangeable for cash or land, offered to Métis on the Prairies between the 1870s and 1920s in exchange for their land rights. 

Self-governing; self-governance. Having control over oneself or itself, not subject to outside authority. Indigenous groups, nations define this in their own way. Generally understood as being in charge of their own affairs. Can encompass many aspects of governance.

A specific, defined concept in Canadian law and policy in which First Nations, Inuit or Métis governments take over responsibilities formerly provided through federal or provincial/territorial governments. Not governed by the Indian Act. Defined by the Government of Canada as “negotiated agreements [that] put decision-making power into the hands of Indigenous governments who make their own choices about how to deliver programs and services to their communities.”

First Nations, Métis and Inuit assert their right and supreme authority to manage their own affairs, administer and operate their own political, legal, economic, social and cultural systems. Decisions taken by their governments are supreme within their own territories.

See “Land Claims.”

A registered Indian whose name is on the Indian Register and/or descendants of Indians who signed historical treaties; granted status by Canada; given a status card with identifying number; entitled to certain rights and benefits under the law.

See “Indigenous Knowledge.”

A term used by some First Nations to designate a geographic area identified by these First Nations as having been  used and occupied by their ancestors and can often be outlined on a map.

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between sovereign nations.

Rights accorded to First Nations and Inuit treaty signatories based on the scope and parameters of the treaty.

Lands and territory acknowledged by First Nations because of continued use and occupation and included in a treaty (historical or modern).

A group of First Nations with common interests in a particular geographic area. Other words used include confederacy, union, association (e.g. Sto:lo Tribal Council, Treaty 8 Tribal Association, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI).

An Indian tribe is a federally recognized, legal term in the United States. Group of Indians/Native Americans sharing a common language and culture. Only a few instances in Canada (for example, Blood Tribe in Alberta).

From Patricia Monture, Onkwehonwe (Mohawk) lawyer speaking to students at a conference in 2005 when asked, “What’s the right word?” Her response: “There isn’t one. Unless you’re going to use Onkwehonwe or Haudensaunee. Those are right words, that’s who I am. All those other words are imposed words. None of them are our words. None of them express who we are so I’m not going to engage in a debate about which imposition is less wrong. They’re all wrong, they’re all colonial. They all put you in the position of saying, not ‘I am’ in a proud, strong way, but ‘I am not really’ an Indian.”