Affirm- state as a fact; assert strongly and publicly.

Collective Identity- the shared identity of a group of people, especially because of a common language and culture.

Collective Rights- rights guaranteed to specific groups in Canadian society for historical and constitutional reasons.

First Nations - the umbrella name for the diverse Aboriginal peoples who have collective rights that are recognised and protected in Canada's constitution. The constitution refers to First Nations as "Indians" in keeping with the name used at the time of negotiating Treaties.

Sovereignty- independence as a people, with a right to self government.

Annuity- an annual payment.

Official Language Minority- speaking an official language, but living in a place where the other language is more commonly spoken.



Anglophone- a person whose first language is English.


Francophone- a person whose first language is French.



Assimilate- become part of a different cultural group.

Entrench (ed) - fixing firmly within.

Indian- Europeans used the word Indian to describe the First Nations of North America, although these people were diverse and had names for themselves. Many First Nations prefer not to use the word"Indian" to describe themselves.

Reserves- land for the exclusive use of First Nations.


Autonomy - authority to make decisions.

Land Claims - Land claims are a legal declaration of desired control over areas of property including bodies of water

Settlement -An official agreement intended to resolve a dispute or conflict

Collective- done by people acting as a group.


Ethnocentrism - the belief that ones culture is superior to all other cultures.

Official Language Community - one of the groups of Canadian society whose members speak an official language of Canada. (French or English).

Publicly Funded - paid for by taxes and provided by the government.

Scrip  - In Metis history, a document that could be exchanged for land and that was offered the Metis at the time in the numbered treaties were negotiated.