Glossary

Collective rights based on Indigenous Peoples’ occupation of land in what is now Canada since time immemorial.

Knowledge acquired through peer reviewed research.

The act of seeking to influence public opinion or policy to benefit an individual or group that has experienced discrimination or unfair treatment.

Being stereotyped or discriminated against due to one’s age.

Supporting a marginalized group without being a member of that group.

Desire or effort to help and support others for selfless reasons.

Policies and practices that attempted to erase Indigenous identity in Canada and force Indigenous peoples to adopt non-Indigenous educational, social, political, and economic systems.

The state of experiencing and dealing with the passing of a loved one.

Professional standards to guide the actions of professionals like community support workers and social workers.

The ability of the brain to grow and shift perception through stimulation, new knowledge, and repetition.

Conditions that impact mental tasks and cognitive functioning.

Mental well-being and the capacity to think, learn, and remember.

To give explicit permission or agreement.

Licensed settings that receive public funding to provide long term care to residents.

Feelings that arise in the helper when prior experiences and relationships in the helper’s life are projected unconsciously onto the client. Feelings may be positive or negative.

A higher level thought process where information is analyzed using logic, objectivity, and reasoning to consider all facts and come to a reasonable decision.

The way of life and traditions of a group of people in a specific place or environment.

Challenging colonial systems of oppression and privilege and reclaiming Indigenous self-determination.

To require someone or something else in order to function properly. Lack of self-reliance.

Impairments that begin in childhood and impact physical, intellectual, and emotional development.

A European legal document that grants European sovereignty to lands upon discovery. It was the tool used to extinguish Aboriginal rights and is still referred to in Canadian courts in land rights and treaty rights negotiations.

Knowledge gathered in a process of formal learning.

Caring solely about yourself and your own needs, possibly at the expense of others.

The ability to express, regulate, and be aware of emotion.

A state of feeling in response to stimuli.

The moral principles that guide how a person behaves or how an activity is conducted. What one considers to be right and wrong, or acceptable and unacceptable.

Viewing Western European culture as the norm and superior to other cultures and worldviews. Foundation of colonization.

Nations mainly located in the Northern Hemisphere who are typically regarded as having greater industrial development and economic prowess. Many are current or former colonial powers who benefited greatly from colonialism.

Nations mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere who are typically regarded as having lower industrial development and economic prowess. Many are or were colonized nations, and deal with the lasting effects of colonialism.

Deep sorrow and distress caused by the death of a loved one or a significant loss.

Technical skills that one learns for a particular job. Some examples are computer skills, being multilingual, or having a First Aid certificate.

Approaching things with a view of the whole, considering all aspects. An example is considering the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being of an individual, community, or society.

An ideology and policy of controlling and exploiting a foreign territory through military or economic force.

The process of a colonized nation gaining sovereignty and freedom from colonial rule. Part of the decolonization movement throughout the Global South.

A Canadian Federal law established in 1876 that governs the relationship between the Canadian government and First Nations communities and individuals. Over time, the Act has been amended for being very paternalistic, oppressive, and assimilatory in nature.

Movements to reclaim Indigenous ways of being and knowing, advocate for self-determination, and resisting settler colonialism and oppressive colonial policies. Part of the process of decolonization.

The passing down of resilience and coping strategies from one generation to another.

The passing down of trauma from one generation to another, which has a negative psychological impact. Research suggests that trauma can be passed down genetically.

The interconnection and overlap of different social categorizations and roles, for example, race, class, colour, gender, ability, sexuality, and many more. The term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw.

Being without land due to displacement, often colonial in nature.

Times in life with significant changes, such as retiring, getting married, or graduating from school.

Being unable to store or recall memories. May occur due to illness or age. May be temporary or worsen with time.

Psychological and emotional well-being.

Particular movements of the body or muscles to accomplish a specific action.

One's beliefs, needs, and personal views on helping. This directs our actions and approaches.

Limitation on an individual’s physical functioning. Can be permanent or temporary.

A state of well-being, including physical health, strength, and flexibility.

Rights, benefits, and advantages given to certain groups of people.

Application of knowledge and expertise in a public setting.

Skills or competencies that one upholds in the workplace to be successful.

A space where individuals can share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment, and experience safety in an environment or with a group. This includes safety from violence, discrimination, and emotional distress.

An interpersonal skill whereby we actively analyze events to make sense of them and respond differently in the future.

Government-sponsored schools run by the Catholic Church that Indigenous children were forced to attend as part of the process of assimilation. They caused significant harm to all Indigenous Peoples and led to intergenerational trauma, the impacts of which are still felt in Indigenous communities today.

To cease working once you reach a certain age. This is usually 65+, although some professions provide an early retirement.

A process of searching within to understand who you are, your preferences, motivations, and biases that form your personality and actions.

The act of showing kindness and consideration to yourself during difficult moments, in place of self-judgment and criticism.

Depending on oneself rather than others.

A form of colonialism where the colonizers never left, but rather populated the land and intentionally displaced Indigenous Peoples through oppressive policies of assimilation and exclusion from the benefits of the land.

The steroid hormones estrogen and testosterone. These impact sexual development and reproduction, and fluctuate throughout the life span.

The ability of individuals and groups to have a voice and opportunity to participate in their community and society.

The process of learning the skills of reflection, critical thinking, and self-awareness through relationships with others.

Personal qualities that enhance professionalism and are transferable to many different positions. Nontechnical skills. Some examples of soft skills are having a growth mindset, resilience, adaptability.

Economic, social, and psychological barriers that discriminate against individuals or groups and are enforced through policy and practice in society. Systemic barriers are large scale and often unnoticed by those whom they do not affect.

Approaching helping through an understanding of trauma that considers a person's past experiences and physiological responses to stress.

The rights set out in treaties between the federal government, the British Crown, and Indigenous Peoples. The rights are constitutionally protected.

A legal settlement between residential school survivors, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit representatives, and the parties responsible for creation and operation of the schools: the federal government and the church bodies. It has a mandate to educate all Canadians on what happened at residential schools and to provide an accurate version of history and the harms of colonialism.