Indigenous Studies Overview

Underwater forests found in coastal areas, mostly along the Pacific Coast. They are important to many Indigenous cultures for food, tools, and medicine.

A land bridge connecting Asia and North America during the Ice Age. It's believed to be the route by which the ancestors of Native Americans migrated.

Spiritual healers or leaders in many Indigenous Arctic communities. They guide people through spiritual practices and healing.

Metal plates used in Northwest Coast cultures. They symbolize wealth, status, and are used in ceremonies.

Constitution followed by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy). It focuses on peace, unity, and governance.

A frame used by Indigenous peoples of the Plains. It’s traditionally used to transport goods and tools, pulled by horses or dogs.

Semi-subterranean homes used by Indigenous peoples in cold regions. They provide good insulation during harsh winters.

Suggests that the first inhabitants of the Americas arrived by following the coastlines. They followed the Pacific coasts, relying on coastal resources.

Approaches to research that combine Indigenous knowledge systems (like oral traditions and community engagement) with Western methods, emphasizing respect for Indigenous ways of knowing.

The principles guiding Indigenous research practices, prioritizing collaboration, relationship-building, and decolonization of research.

A research approach that actively challenges colonial research frameworks, focusing on Indigenous empowerment by using Indigenous knowledge systems and community-driven agendas.

The study of knowledge within Indigenous cultures, including spiritual beliefs, oral histories, traditions, and unique worldviews.

The understanding of being and existence within Indigenous cultures, emphasizing interconnectedness with nature, community, and spirituality.

Refers to values and ethics in Indigenous knowledge, emphasizing respect for all living things, reciprocity, and well-being of the community.

Indigenous peoples in Canada, not including Métis or Inuit, with a wide range of diverse cultures, languages, and histories.

A distinct group of Indigenous people in Canada with mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, having their own language (Michif) and cultural practices.

A report written in 1879 by Nicholas Flood Davin that recommended establishing residential schools for Indigenous children to assimilate them into European-Canadian culture.

Treaties made before Canadian Confederation in 1867, outlining agreements between Indigenous groups and British settlers regarding land and rights.

Early land agreements where Indigenous peoples ceded land to the British in exchange for promises or goods.

Treaties negotiated after Canadian Confederation, including the Numbered Treaties, to secure land for settlers and provide compensation to Indigenous nations.

A conflict between the United States and Britain, with Indigenous groups often allied with the British to protect their land from American expansion.

A land grant or voucher system used to compensate Métis people for their land rights after the Red River Rebellion.

A series of treaties negotiated after Confederation between the Canadian government and Indigenous nations, primarily in Western Canada.

An uprising led by Louis Riel and Métis people in 1869-70 to protect their land rights against the Canadian government.

A right or privilege protected by an agreement between Indigenous peoples and the government, like the right to hunt, fish, or live on specific lands.

When Indigenous groups formally join a treaty already negotiated by another group. Often happens after initial treaties are signed.

A symbolic treaty agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and European settlers, representing peaceful co-existence and mutual respect while keeping each group's distinct ways of life.

A term with significant meaning in certain Indigenous languages or cultures. Specific definition requires further context.

An Anishinaabe philosophy term meaning 'the good life,' a balanced way of living with respect and responsibility towards all aspects of life.

Likely a traditional Anishinaabe concept related to leadership or governance. Requires further clarification for precise meaning.

A law passed by Britain in 1867 that established Canada as a nation, also setting the legal framework for the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the government.

The unique cultural identity of Métis people, formed through the intermarriage of European settlers and Indigenous peoples, with their own language (Michif) and heritage.

Military and trade partnerships formed between French colonists and Indigenous groups in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River regions during the 17th and 18th centuries. These alliances aimed to protect French interests against British rivals and expand trade networks.

Reports written by Jesuit missionaries in New France (Canada) during the 17th and 18th centuries, describing their encounters with Indigenous peoples. However, these accounts often misrepresented or misinterpreted Indigenous cultures and beliefs to fit European Christian values.

The practice of enslaving Indigenous individuals in New France, particularly in the context of intertribal warfare and the fur trade. The French exploited Indigenous people, sometimes through forced labor.

Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, established strategic alliances with Indigenous groups like the Huron-Wendat. These alliances were crucial for French defense against the Iroquois and expanding trade networks.

A Canadian law passed in 1985 that aimed to address gender discrimination in the Indian Act by allowing Indigenous women who married non-Indigenous men to regain their status.

A policy that encouraged Indigenous people to assimilate into Canadian society by giving up their Indian status and becoming full citizens. This often led to the loss of land rights.

A Shawnee leader and warrior who played a crucial role in unifying Indigenous tribes against the expansion of the United States. His goal was to resist the American government's attempt to seize Indigenous lands.

Likely refers to a significant leader or figure within an Indigenous tribe, often connected to the fur trade or territorial conflicts. Further historical context is needed to pinpoint their specific role.

The process of forcing Indigenous peoples to adopt the culture and values of the dominant society, often through policies like residential schools.

Government-funded boarding schools for Indigenous children, intended to assimilate them into Canadian society by separating them from their families and cultures.

A Canadian law aiming to gradually assimilate Indigenous peoples into settler society by offering them land and citizenship in exchange for adopting European customs.

A Canadian law designed to control and regulate the lives of Indigenous peoples, including their land, governance, and cultural practices.

A Navajo concept emphasizing the inner strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples who have faced adversity and oppression.

Métis and Inuit children, like First Nations children, were also forced into residential schools, facing unique challenges in these institutions.

A Métis veteran who served bravely in World War II, later becoming an advocate for Indigenous veterans' rights.

A day to recognize the contributions of Indigenous peoples who served Canada in the military during wars and conflicts.