Aboriginal People
This term arose from the 1982 change to the Constitution. It is the term to describe the indigenous people of Canada: Indians, Inuit and Métis. The word "Aboriginal" is most appropriately used as an adjective (e.g. Aboriginal person) as offence may be taken if someone were to be called an 'Aboriginal'.

 Aboriginal Rights
Concept that refers to the self-determination and self-sufficiency interests of First Nations and Aboriginal peoples. It is based on the sovereignty-nation status of First Nations prior to contact with the European. Common rights in law now include the aboriginal right to fish, hunt, trap, harvest and trade.

 Aboriginal Self-Government
The goal of Aboriginal peoples and Nations to control and manage their own affairs and to be recognized as a third level of government; an Aboriginal Right.

 Aboriginal Title
Means title to ownership of the land that is held by Aboriginal peoples. Based on historic occupancy and use of traditional territories dating back hundreds or thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 confirmed Indian ownership of their lands within British territories, and declared that treaties between the Indians and the Crown that extinguished Aboriginal title were required before British subjects might occupy Indian territories.

 Band
See First Nation and First Nation Council.

 Band Chief
The leader of the local Band and Band council. The chief is elected by eligible voters of the Band, or by the councillors according to the regulations of the Indian Act. The Band chiefs are not necessarily the same as the hereditary chiefs. In the past, government agents (Indian agents) sometimes deposed hereditary chiefs and installed amenable people as Band chiefs.

 Band Council
Governing or administrative body of a Band, elected according to procedures laid out in the Indian Act. They may either be an elected or custom council under the Indian Act. The Band council is usually responsible for administering the funds allocated to the Band by INAC (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada), and can pass municipal and provincial-like by-laws. The councillors are elected by eligible band members and serve two year terms.

 Clan
A local group of kin. Clans exist within tribal groups. Each clan possesses its own songs, crests, regalia and rights to certain hunting, fishing, trapping and harvesting territories.

 Consensus Decision-making
Refers to the traditional decision-making style and decision-making process of Aboriginal and other indigenous peoples as it relates to fundamental community affairs, plans or issues. Some features include: unanimous community agreement; lengthy consultations; agree in public but may have differences internally; and, Chief and council are spokespeople.

 Contemporary Leadership
The current political relations between the Band membership, elected Band chiefs and councils, hereditary chiefs, tribal councils, provincial/territorial organizations and national Aboriginal organizations and the public and private sectors. Extremely complex and varies between groups. In some tribal groups, the elected Band chiefs have become spokespeople for the hereditary chiefs.

 DIAND
The Department of Indian Affairs & Northern Development (DIAND) is also known as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. See INAC.

 Elders
Aboriginal persons who are respected and consulted due to their experience, wisdom, knowledge, background and insight. Elder does not necessarily equate with age.

 First Nation
Term frequently used interchangeably with Indian Band and refers to all the people of the particular Indian community. Often used to imply the First Nation Council.

 First Nation Council
The elected local government of an Indian community.

 Hereditary Chief
Chiefs who generally inherit rank and title through their mothers. Usually applies to First Nations in B.C.

 House
Extended family or household of a hereditary chief in the ranked societies, often living in the same long or bighouse. This term usually applies to First Nations in B.C.

 INAC
Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is the federal government department responsible for the administration of "Indians and lands reserved for Indians." Also known as DIAND.

 Indian Act
Comprehensive federal law, first enacted in 1876, that governs all aspects of status Indian lives, livelihoods, lifestyles, standard of living and quality of life, both on and off reserve.

 Indian Band
See First Nation and First Nation Council.

 Indian Reserve
Lands owned by the Crown, and held in trust for the use and benefit of an Indian Band, for which they were set apart. Indian Bands have the rights, stipulated under the Indian Act, to the indefinite use of the reserve land and and to receive the beneficial interest derived from those lands. (Called reservations in the U.S.)

 Indian Taxation
Term used to describe the varied and fast-growing body of Aboriginal tax law that is developing nationally. In some cases, it is expanding the scope of First Nations jurisdictional control over taxation on reserve lands. The Indian Act contains tax provisions which may entitle Indians to some unique tax benefits.

 Inuit
Aboriginal peoples who reside in the eastern arctic and Arctic Ocean regions of the North West Territories, formerly known as Eskimo. Inuit do not have legal Indian status under the Indian Act but a 1939 Supreme Court of Canada decision determined that Inuit are entitled to the same programs and services (funding) as provided to Indians.

 Land Claim Settlements
Political, legal/judicial and constitutional negotiated agreements between the federal government (sometimes involving the provinces and territories), and Aboriginal people that usually cover rights to land, hunting, fishing and logging access, compensation, areas of jurisdiction, governance, co-management regimes, resource royalty revenue arrangements etc.

 Métis
Mixed race offspring of Indians and fur traders/early European settlers of the North West Territories and the Prairies, and their descendants. Métis do not have Indian status under the Indian Act. Some Métis like those in Alberta have a form of self-government ("Communities") with free title to their land. Many Aboriginal people considered that Métis (prior to 1985), regained their right to be "Status" Indians as a result of Bill C31.

 Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel is an ancient symbol used by many Aboriginal people of North and South America. The Medicine Wheel teaches us that all life moves in a circle and each person's journey to self fullfilment lies within. There are many different ways that this concept is expressed, all reflecting the importance of wholeness and balance and the significance of the number four in Aboriginal life: four seasons, four grandfathers, four directions, four elements and four aspects of our nature, four life stages. The Medicine Wheel has no beginning and no ending, just as there is no end to our journey of the four directions. The human capacity to develop is infinite - The Medicine Wheel turns forever.

 Nation
A sizeable body of Aboriginal People with a shared sense of national identity that constitutes the predominent population in a certain territory or collection of territories.

 Status Indian
A person defined as Indian in the Indian Act is one having been registered as an Indian and having his or her name either on a Band list or a General list, and having certain rights, restrictions and benefits under the Indian Act. Sometimes referred to as Treaty Indian.

 Traditional Leadership
In most tribes the candidate for the chief's name and responsibility had to first show genuine skilled leadership to qualify. Traditionally, in some cases, authority was exercised by the most successful hunter/providers and effective leaders. If an incumbent chief ceased displaying the necessary qualities, or if his people failed to prosper, he would lose authority and influence.

 Treaty Indian
Indians and Nations who have signed treaties with the federal government (or Crown) and are entitled to certain treaty rights, restrictions and benefits under the Indian Act and are called "Treaty Indians".

 Tribal Council
An association of band councils.

 Tribal Group
Grouping of Indians based on the historic language and culture groups and geographic ties.