1 TERMINOLOGY

A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

Planning your FIRST STEPS learning journey

What are the most appropriate There are many terms that are used to describe First Nations, Métis and Inuit in terms to use when referring to Canada. At times, the variety of terms can be confusing. The use of any of these terms First Nations, Métis and Inuit? has historical, legal and situational contexts that should be taken into consideration. Preferred terms, however, will continue to change as conventions evolve over time. The Alberta Teachers’ Association uses the term Indigenous and is used in the Alberta context to refer to First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Many Indigenous people prefer terms based on their specific community and traditional names for identification, for example, Dene Tha or Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Knowing the differences between terms and which is appropriate for each situation is important to prevent misunderstandings. If you are uncertain which term is appropriate, ask the local people and/or community for their YUET CHAN preference. Greetings are shared at the Awasis Day celebration at Prince Charles School in Edmonton. The Awasis program teaches Cree language, cultural teachings and activities to its elementary students. EXPLANATION OF TERMS

Many Indigenous Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Elder • The first peoples in Canada and • A highly respected member of people prefer their descendants, according a First Nations, Métis or Inuit terms based on to Section 35 of the Canadian community Constitution, 1982. • Recognized and identified by their specific • Includes First Nations, Métis members of the community community for and Inuit as carrying important wisdom, • Each group is distinct and has its oral traditions and knowledge identification. own history, culture, protocols, of their culture traditions and languages. • An elder shares his/her under- • Usually used as a term in standings through teachings, government policy ceremonies, stories and/or songs. • In November 2015, the Canadian • Individual elders hold different gifts or talents. government renamed Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development • The role of an elder and the ap- to Indigenous Affairs and propriate protocols for approach- Northern Development. ing an elder vary from communi- ty to community. Bill C-31 Indian • An elder does not have to be a • A person who gained or regained senior citizen; the carrying of Indian status because of the Act knowledge and the recognition by to Amend the Indian Act, 1985 the community are the key factors in determining who is an elder. • Prior to Bill C-31, status Indian (Guiding Voices women lost their status, band www.learnalberta.ca/content/ membership and all associated fnmigv/index.html) rights when they married non-status men. First Nations • Bill C-3, introduced in • First Nations refers to status and Parliament in 2010, sought non-status Indian peoples in Canada. to address continued gender • Not a legal term; the Canadian discrimination in the Indian constitution and legislation still Act, but inequalities and gender use the term Indian issues continue. • Term used by the Assembly Ceremonialist of First Nations (www.afn.ca/en • A highly respected member of a /about-afn/description-of-the-afn) First Nations or Métis community • Refers to the over 617 distinct • Recognized and identified by Indigenous groups in Canada members of the community as • Each Indigenous group has its being knowledgeable about spiri- own distinct culture, language, tuality and spiritual practices traditions and protocols. (Guiding Voices • First Nation is also used to www.learnalberta.ca/content/ replace band when referring fnmigv/index.html) to communities.

Walking Together: Education for Reconciliation FNMI Métis • An acronym for First Nations, • Métis are one of the three Métis and Inuit used in many distinct Aboriginal peoples Alberta educational publications of Canada recognized in the • This acronym should not be used 1982 Canadian constitution. to refer to First Nations, Métis • Métis communities and their and/or Inuit peoples as it is distinct culture were established considered offensive by many with the growth of the fur trade and often misunderstood. prior to the North-West Territories becoming part of Canada. They Indigenous Peoples played a crucial role in the • Term used globally to refer to development and success of the original inhabitants of any the fur trade throughout the NEXT STEPS region Canadian west. • Includes the three groups of • Many Canadians have mixed »»» Indigenous people in Canada: Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Educators always want First Nations, Métis and Inuit ancestry, but that does not in to be respectful in • United Nations Declaration itself make them Métis or their conversations and on the Rights of Indigenous eligible to be registered as Métis. Peoples does not directly define Métis in Alberta are Aboriginal working relationships the term, but is discussed in a people who are related by with people of a different report on Indigenous peoples kinship to, but culturally distinct culture. This includes from, other Aboriginal people, and United Nations Human using the culturally possessing their own Michif Rights System. appropriate terminology language, customs, traditions when working with First Inuit and relationships to land. Nations, Métis and Inuit or • “The people” in Inuktitut Non-status Indian engaging in First Nations, language • A First Nations person who is not Métis and Inuit education. • Inuit is plural and the singular registered or who has lost their form is Inuk. The terms defined in this status under the Indian Act • The Indigenous people in fact sheet are general Northern Canada who live in Status/Registered Indian guidelines, and best Nunavut, the Yukon, Northwest • A First Nations person who practice is to confirm with Territories, Northern Quebec meets the requirements and is the individual beforehand and Northern Labrador. Specif- registered with the Canadian how they wish to be ically, Inuit originated in the government under the Indian Act addressed. For example, central and eastern Arctic and one should not assume Inuvialuit originated in the Treaty Indian western Arctic. that an individual can be • A status Indian whose ancestors introduced as First Nation signed a treaty (legal document Knowledge Keeper between nations) with the Crown as they may prefer to be • A member of a First Nations, introduced using their Métis or Inuit community home community name. • Recognized and identified by elders of the community as being knowledgeable about cultural practices, products or world views (Guiding Voices www.learnalberta.ca/content/ fnmigv/index.html)

Stepping Stones | 1 | COMMON TERMINOLOGY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF CANADA Continuing Your Learning Journey FOR FURTHER STUDY Alberta Education. 2005. Our Words, a) Why there are a variety of terms for Indigenous peoples Our Ways: Teaching First Nations, in Canada? Métis and Inuit Learners. Edmonton, AB: Aboriginal Services Branch and Learning and Teaching Resources. https://education.alberta.ca/ media/563982/our-words-our-ways.pdf.

Guiding Voices, Alberta Education. A Curriculum Development Tool for Inclusion of First Nation, Métis and Inuit b) How is terminology connected to identity? Perspectives Throughout Curriculum. http://www.learnalberta .ca/content/fnmigv/index.html.

WNCP Common Tool for Assessing and Validating Teaching and Learning Resources for Cultural Appropriateness and Historical Accuracy of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Content (2011). http:// wncp.ca/media/49329/wncptool_%20 assessing_validating.pdf. c) As a teacher, why it is important to know the difference between an elder, a knowledge keeper and a ceremonialist? United Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. http://www.un.org/ esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_ en.pdf. Education is our Buffalo, Alberta Teachers’ Association, (2016) http://www .teachers.ab.ca/SitecollectionDocuments/ ATA/Publications/Humane-Rights- Issues/Education%20is%20Our%20 Buffalo%20(PD-80-7).pdf.

Stepping Stones is a publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association Walking Together Project intended to support certificated teachers on their learning journey to meet the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Foundational Knowledge competency in the Teaching Quality Standard. Walking Together would like to acknowledge the contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit community members within Alberta in developing these resources.

For additional resources and information on Walking Together visit www.teachers.ab.ca. www.teachers.ab.ca walkingtogetherata @ATAindigenous

PD-WT-16a 2018-03