Terminology and Language Guide

allyship: The active support and advocacy by non-Indigenous people for Indigenous rights, understanding, and reconciliation.

anti-oppressive practice: Actions aimed at challenging and dismantling oppressive systems, behaviors, and structures that marginalize Indigenous and other oppressed groups.

Apakosīs Sīpi: Cree for “Little Bear River”; a place or river name in Cree territories.

Assiniboine: A Nakota First Nations group from the Northern Plains of Canada and the U.S., originally connected to the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota nations.

assimilationist: An approach or policy that seeks to absorb and integrate Indigenous peoples into dominant cultures, erasing their distinct identities and practices.

bois-brûlé: A historical term meaning “burnt wood” in French, used to describe Métis people due to their mixed Indigenous and European ancestry.

cultural appropriation: The adoption of elements of Indigenous culture by non-Indigenous people in a way that is disrespectful or without proper understanding or respect.

cultural imperialism: The imposition of one culture over another, often diminishing Indigenous practices, languages, and customs.

colonization: The process by which a foreign power takes control of Indigenous land, people, and resources, often leading to cultural, social, and political domination.

decolonization: The process of Indigenous people reclaiming their land, culture, language, and governance from colonial influences.

einowuk ooma kiyanow: Cree phrase meaning “they are our relatives.”

ekwa kahkiyow oota kah ki ashtat kotahwinow: Cree for “everything that has been placed here.”

exploitation: The unfair use of Indigenous land, labor, resources, or knowledge for benefit without proper compensation or respect.

First Nations: A term for Indigenous peoples in Canada who are neither Métis nor Inuit; they are the original inhabitants of the land and have unique cultures, languages, and traditions.

Inuit: Indigenous people from the Arctic regions of Canada, known for their unique culture, language, and strong connections to their harsh northern environment.

Kayasiwaskahikan: Cree for “ancient house.”

Kikawinow aski: Cree for “Mother Earth,” emphasizing the respect for land as a nurturing force.

Kīyokīwin: Cree word meaning visiting or the act of visiting. It reflects the cultural importance of gathering, connecting, and building relationships through visits, often seen as a way to maintain kinship and community bonds in Cree culture.

Kinīpihko-sāhkahikan: Cree for “Willow Lake.”

Kisaynew Sputinowah: Cree name meaning “the one who walks on the spirit road.”

Miyo-Wîcêhtowin: Cree for “living together in harmony,” focusing on respectful relationships and interconnectedness.

marginalization: The process of pushing Indigenous people and voices to the edges of society, denying them access to resources, representation, and decision-making power.

Métis: People of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, especially connected to the Red River region and recognized as one of Canada’s Indigenous groups with distinct culture, language, and traditions.

Michif: The unique language of the Métis, which combines elements of Cree and French, with some English and Indigenous languages.

muskiki atoquak: Cree term for “medicine plants.”

National Resource Transfer Act: A 1930 Canadian law that transferred control of natural resources from the federal government to the Prairie Provinces, impacting Indigenous land rights.

Neheyawak: The Cree name for themselves, referring to the Cree Nation.

nehiyaw: The Cree word for “Cree people,” referring to themselves as a nation.

nokoms: A Cree term for “grandmother.”

Notokwew Sahkikun: Cree phrase meaning “my mother’s lap.”

Omisimow Pusqwawew: Cree name meaning “my father’s mother.”

oppression: The systemic and societal mistreatment of Indigenous people through unjust practices, policies, and institutions.

pisiskoouk: Cree word for “birds.”

Pimtatinow: Cree name meaning “the one who lives” or “the living one.”

powerlessness: A state in which Indigenous people have limited control over their own lives, lands, and resources due to external power structures.

Puktahow Seepis: Cree for “smoke river.”

reconciliation: The process of repairing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, addressing past injustices and creating equitable and respectful interactions.

Residential School: Government-funded, church-run institutions where Indigenous children were forcibly sent to assimilate them into European-Canadian culture, often leading to abuse, loss of language, and trauma.

segregation: The enforced separation of Indigenous people from mainstream society, often creating physical, social, and economic divides.

self-determination: The right of Indigenous people to govern themselves, make decisions about their lands, and maintain their cultural practices.

self-identification: The act of an individual identifying with a particular cultural or ethnic group, essential to Indigenous identity and personal agency.

Seneca root: Refers to Seneca snakeroot, a medicinal plant (scientific name: Polygala senega) traditionally used by Indigenous peoples, particularly the Seneca Nation, one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and is used in traditional medicine for its expectorant properties, especially for treating respiratory ailments like colds, coughs, and bronchitis.

settler: A person or group who colonizes or resides on Indigenous lands, often associated with European settlers in Canada.

scrip: A certificate issued to Métis people, originally intended as a land grant, but often used to extinguish Indigenous title in exchange for small parcels or payments.

Taphtew musiskumik: Cree phrase meaning “White Buffalo Lake.”

treaty: Formal agreements between Indigenous nations and the Crown, establishing terms of land use, resources, and mutual obligations, though many treaties have been misinterpreted or broken by colonial governments.

wahkotowin: A Cree concept meaning “all our relations,” which emphasizes interconnectedness among all beings.

white privilege: The societal advantages held by white individuals due to systemic inequality, often at the expense of Indigenous and other marginalized groups.

wissakodewinmi: An Anishinaabemowin term used by the Ojibwa or Métis, meaning “people of the burnt wood.”

Woodland Cree: A group of Cree people traditionally living in the forested areas of northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.