Aboriginal people:  Refers to the original inhabitants of Canada. The Canadian constitution defines Aboriginal people as Status Indians, non-Status Indians, Metis, and Inuit peoples.

Aboriginal Rights: Special rights that apply to practices, customs, and traditions integral to the culture of Aboriginal people prior to European contact.

Adhesion: Assent or agreement to join.

Annuity: An annual sum of money paid out.

Assimilate: The act or process of absorbing into another society by means of their characteristics, customs, andattitudes.

Autonomous: The act of being independent and free without outside control.

Band: A band is a body of Indians for whose collective use and benefit lands have been set apart or money is held by the Crown, or declared to be a band for the purposes of the Indian Act. A band may also be known as a First Nation. The members of a band generally share common values, traditions and practices rooted in their ancestral heritage. 

Cede: to surrender possession of.

Compensation: Something given in return for goods or services.

Constitution: A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. 

Consultation: The action or process of formally consulting or discussing.

Crown: The British monarch, where the Queen is the head of State.

Enfranchise: Was the most common way, First Nations lost their Indian Status under the Indian Act, especially women.

Ethnocentrism: Belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group.

Famine: A drastic food shortage causing severe hunger and starvation.

First Nations: In Canada, the First Peoples indigenous to North America.  Also used to define a First Nations band.

Grievance: A complaint or resentment, as against an unjust or unfair act.

Indian Act: is a Canadian staute that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian Reserves. The Indian Act was enacted in 1876 by the Parliament of Canada under the provisions of Section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867, provides Canada's federal government exclusive authority to legislate in relation to "Indians and Lands Reserved for Indians". Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is administered by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northeren Development.

Indigenous: Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment.

Inherent: existing in someone or something as a natural and inseparable quality, characteristic, or right.

Jurisdiction: the authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate; the power or right to exercise authority and control.

Metis: A person of mixed North American Indian and European ancestry, who identifies as Metis.

Non-Status Indian: Commonly refers to people who identify themselves as Indians but who are not entitled to registration on the Indian Registrar pursuant to the Indian Act

Oral Tradition: A community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written instruction.

Reserve:  A reserve is a tract of land, the legal title to which is held by the Crown, set apart for the use and benefit of an Indian band.

Sovereign: One that exercises supreme, permanent authority, especially in a nation or other governmental unit.

Status Indian: a member of any of the numerous indigenous groups registered as Indians under the federal Indian act, having special rights and privileges associated to Treaties.

Treaty: Formal agreements negotiated between two or more sovereign Nations.   

Worldview: A group’s view of the world and its relationship to it.