CRRF Glossary of Terms

The descendants of the original inhabitants of North America. “Aboriginal Peoples” can be used to collectively describe three groups recognized in the Consitution Act, 1982: First Nation/Indians, Inuit, and Métis”. These are separate peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, and political goals. The word “Aboriginal” is an umbrella term for all three peoples, and is not interchangeable with “First Nations” but can be used interchangeably with “Indigenous peoples”, a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. It should also not be used when referring to only one or two of the three recognized groups.

Aboriginal rights refer to practices, traditions and customs that distinguish the unique culture of each First Nation and were practiced prior to European contact; rights that Aboriginal peoples of Canada hold as a result of long-standing ancestral use and occupancy of the land. Examples include the right to hunt, trap, and fish on ancestral lands. Aboriginal rights will vary from group to group depending on the customs, practices, and traditions that have formed their distinctive cultures. Aboriginal rights are protected under s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Aboriginal self-government is the formal structure through which communities may control the administration of their people, land, resources, and related programs and policies, through agreements with federal and provincial governments. Self-government agreements address: the structure and accountability of Aboriginal governments, their law-making powers, financial arrangements, and their responsibilities for providing programs and services to their members. Self-government enables Aboriginal governments to work in partnership with other governments and the private sector to promote economic development and improve social conditions.

A legal term that recognizes the inherent Aboriginal right to land or a territory. The Canadian legal system recognizes Aboriginal title as a sui generis, or unique collective right to the use of and jurisdiction over a group’s ancestral territories.

Affirmation and recognition of those whose race, religion, nationality, values, beliefs, etc. are different from one’s own. Acceptance goes beyond ‘tolerance’ which represents a “coming to terms” with difference rather than an embrace or approval of it.

The process where culture, values and patterns of a new or different culture are adopted by a person or an ethnic, social, religious, language or national group while still retaining elements of the original culture, values and traditions – both majority and minority cultures can be susceptible to this process. Acculturation is typically tied to political conquest or expansion.

The impact, whether intended or not, of employment practices that disproportionately affect groups such as visible minorities and women. Though a practice may appear neutral, it has a discriminatory effect on groups protected by human rights and/or employment legislation.

An active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women through explicit actions, policies or programs.

See “Employment Equity”

Ageism refers to two concepts: a socially constructed way of thinking about older persons based on negative attitudes and stereotypes about aging and a tendency to structure society based on an assumption that everyone is young, thereby failing to respond appropriately to the real needs of older persons. Ageism also includes discrimination that is more systemic in nature, such as in the design and implementation of services, programs and facilities.  Age discrimination involves treating persons in an unequal fashion due to age in a way that is contrary to human rights law.

A member of a different group who works to end a form of discrimination for a particular individual or designated group.

A line of people from whom one is descended; family or ethnic descent.

Policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions such as, education, health care, and justice that mirror and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination towards people of African descent.

Strategies, theories, and actions that challenge social and historical inequalities/injustices that have become part of our systems and institutions and allow certain groups to dominate over others.

An active and consistent process of change to eliminate individual, institutional and systemic racism.

Anti-racist education is based in the notion of race and racial discrimination as being embedded within the policies and practices of institutional structures. Its goal is to aid students to understand the nature and characteristics of these discriminatory barriers, and to develop work to dismantle them.

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred or blame. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. The IHRA definition provides examples, which may serve as illustrations, found here.

An Afrikaans word created to describe the South African system of institutionalized segregation to maintain white domination. From the 1960’s to 1991, a plan of “Grand Apartheid” was implemented, emphasizing territorial separation and police repression. The official State policy separated black and white South Africans in order to oppress, dominate, and control blacks, while enriching whites at their expense. Only the so-called “white” citizens of South Africa were allowed to vote and participate in government, and to enjoy many other privileges.

An individual’s state of mind which makes them react in certain ways towards social events or objects; a consistent pattern of thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and reactions.