Stereotypes
This stereotype wrongly assumes all Indigenous people live in tipis and hunt buffalo.
noble savage
This European country first colonized much of Canada in the 1600s.
France
The Canadian government’s current process for recognizing Indigenous self-government.
self-determination
This is the traditional language family of many Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Algonquian
The ongoing negative effects of colonialism on Indigenous health and well-being.
intergenerational trauma
The stereotype that Indigenous peoples are all alcoholics or addicted to drugs.
drunken Indian
The system of laws and practices used to control Indigenous lands and peoples.
colonialism
This document affirms Indigenous rights internationally and was adopted by the UN in 2007.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A common form of Indigenous art involving intricate beadwork.
beadwork
The movement led by Indigenous peoples to reclaim land and rights.
Indigenous sovereignty
The media often portrays Indigenous women as this, ignoring their leadership roles.
victims
The name of the government policy that forced Indigenous children to attend boarding schools.
residential schools
The 2015 Canadian government apology was about these institutions.
Residential Schools
Indigenous peoples often gather around these to share stories and knowledge.
talking circle
This event commemorates missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
MMIG movement
This term describes the oversimplified portrayal of Indigenous culture as “mystical” or “primitive.”
romanticization
This doctrine justified European powers taking land inhabited by Indigenous peoples.
Doctrine of Discovery
Many Indigenous communities still lack access to this essential resource.
clean drinking water
This animal is sacred to many Indigenous cultures and symbolizes strength and wisdom.
eagle
Indigenous activists use this modern tool to share their stories worldwide.
social media
The belief that Indigenous peoples need “saving” by Western civilization.
white savior or complex
The year Canada officially became a country, marking a new phase of colonial governance.
1867
The policy approach that aims to fix harm caused by colonialism through Indigenous-led solutions.
reconciliation
The traditional Indigenous practice of hunting, gathering, and living off the land is called this.
stewardship
The 1969 law change that forced Indigenous children to leave their families and be adopted by non-Indigenous families.
the Sixties Scoop