Health Promotion in Canada, 4th Edition

​Using this Glossary 

The Fourth Edition of Health Promotion in Canada Book, chapters 10 and 11 were authored by KSDPP Research Team members. Lucie Levésque and Treena Delormier. The following glossary defines key terminology from the book:
​Aboriginal:
  • Definition: A collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants used in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada. (See Indigenous as the preferred term).
 
Anti-Colonial:
  • Definition: Refers to ideologies, movements, or actions aimed at resisting colonial systems of power, oppression, and exploitation. It advocates for the restoration of Indigenous sovereignty and the rejection of colonial domination.
 
Ally:
  • Definition: An individual or group that actively supports and advocates for marginalized or oppressed communities, demonstrating solidarity and commitment to combating discrimination and injustice. Allies work to amplify the voices of those facing discrimination and strive to create inclusive and equitable environments.
 
Allyship:
  • Definition: Supportive and active partnership between non-Indigenous individuals, organizations, and communities and Indigenous individuals, organizations, and communities.
 
Calls to Action:
  • Definition: 94 recommendations outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to address the impacts of residential schools and advance reconciliation. (Visit https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports).
 
Collective Well-Being:
  • Definition: The shared state of health and prosperity of a community, prioritizing the interconnected welfare of individuals and the entire collective.
 
Colonization:
  • Definition: The process of establishing control over a territory and its inhabitants, often leading to negative cultural, social, and economic changes.
 
Cultural Humility:
  • Definition: A commitment to self-reflection, openness, and ongoing learning about different cultures, fostering respectful interactions.
 
Cultural Safety:
  • Definition: Creating an environment where cultural differences are both recognised and respected, and individuals feel safe and valued in their cultural identity.
 
Data Sovereignty:
  • Definition: The right of Indigenous communities to control, access, possess, and take ownership of their data, ensuring respect and protection.
 
Decolonization:
  • Definition: The process of dismantling current systems that discriminate against Indigenous Peoples.
 
Decolonizing Research:
  • Definition: An approach that dismantles and transforms colonial research methods, prioritizing Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. (Also see Strengths-Based Approaches definition).
 
Elder:
  • Definition: An esteemed member of an Indigenous community who possesses wisdom, knowledge, and experience, often serving as a spiritual and cultural guide. Elders play a vital role in preserving and transmitting traditional teachings and practices.
 
Environmental Health
  • Definition: The interconnected well-being of both human and ecological systems, emphasizing the mutual impact of environmental and human health.
 
First Nation:
  • Definition: Refers to Indigenous peoples in Canada who are recognized as distinct legal entities with their own governance structures, cultures and languages. There are 635 distinct First Nations in Canada.
 
Indian:
  • Definition: A term historically used in North America to refer to Indigenous peoples, particularly those registered under the Indian Act. It is considered outdated and inappropriate due to its colonial origins and is often replaced with more specific terms.
 
Indigeneity:
  • Definition: The state or way of living that embodies the cultural, social, political and spiritual connections of Indigenous peoples to their traditional lands, languages, practices and protocols.
 
Indigenous:
  • Definition: In the Canadian context, this includes communities comprising the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, with distinct cultures, languages, and histories.
 
Indigenous Health Promotion:
  • Definition: A wholistic approach to fostering well-being within Indigenous communities, integrating traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and community-led initiatives to address health disparities, promote resilience, and empower individuals and communities in a culturally sensitive and sustainable manner.
 
 Intergenerational Trauma:
  • Definition: The transmission of trauma and its impacts across generations, often stemming from historical events like residential schools.
 
Inuit: 
Knowledge Keeper:
  • Definition: A respected member of an Indigenous community who holds and shares traditional knowledge, teachings, and practices. Knowledge Keepers play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and passing down ancestral wisdom to future generations.
 
Land Acknowledgement:
  • Definition: A formal statement delivered by settlers and visitors recognizing and honouring the Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories on which an event, gathering or activity takes place. It is a way to for settlers and visitors to recognize that they are on stolen Indigenous lands.
 
Land Back:
  • Definition: A social movement advocating for the return of Indigenous lands to Indigenous control, emphasizing the connection between land, culture, and well-being.
 
Métis:
  • Definition: Indigenous peoples that are of historic Métis Nation ancestry in Canada with a unique history, culture, language and way of life.
 
Pathologizing
  • Definition: Treating or presenting Indigenous populations as inherently problematic or deficient, overlooking strengths and assets.
 
Racism:
  • Definition: A systemic and pervasive form of discrimination or prejudice based on race, resulting in the unequal treatment, marginalization, and disadvantage of individuals or groups. Racism can manifest on personal, institutional, and systemic levels, contributing to social inequalities.
Relationality:
  • Definition: A concept rooted in Indigenous worldviews that emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings, both human and non-human, as well as their relationships with the land, ancestors, and future generations. Relationality recognizes the significance of reciprocal and respectful relationships in fostering harmony, balance, and well-being within communities and ecosystems.
 
Residential Schools:
  • Definition: Institutions where Indigenous children were housed for long periods of time after being forcibly removed from their families, experiencing cultural assimilation and mental, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.  At least 100,000 children were removed from their families and the last residential school closed in 1996.
 
Resilience:
  • Definition: The ability to adapt, recover, and maintain strength in the face of past and present adversity and challenges.
 
Strengths-Based Approaches:
  • Definition: Strategies focusing on the inherent strengths, assets, and resilience of individuals and communities, rather than emphasizing problems or deficits.
 
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada:
  • Definition: A Canadian National Commission established to address historical abuses in Canada's residential school system, issuing Calls to Action for reconciliation.
 
Teioháte Kaswentha (Two Row Wampum):
  • Definition: A historical agreement (Treaty) symbolized by a wampum belt, emphasizing mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and European settlers.
 
Wholistic Health:
  • Definition: An approach to health and wellness that considers the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being within the individual and their community. It emphasizes balance, harmony, and integration of all aspects of life for optimal health.
 

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