Glossary

The following terms and concepts are contained within the general and specific outcomes in the grade. The definitions are provided to facilitate a better understanding and more effective application of the social studies concepts presented.

ACFA - Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (French-Canadian Association of Alberta); a provincial association founded in 1926 to represent the needs of Franco-Albertans relating to education, health, politics, media, culture and communities.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Document entrenched in the Constitutional Act, 1982 that lists and describes the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to Canadians.

collective identity - Sense of belonging to a community or group, established and strengthened through common characteristics and interests. Culture and language are determining factors in the formation of collective identity.

consensus - The achievement of agreement through a process of consultation, in which all parties affected by a decision have equal power and equal voice.

democracy - Political system in which citizens have a voice in decision making (government of the people, for the people, by the people).

electorate - Group of qualified voters.

equity - The state or quality of being just and impartial, respecting individual and collective rights.

fairness - Justice; equity; the state of being consistent with rules, logic or ethics.

FNA - First Nations Authorities; local governing authorities for all First Nations in Alberta, made up of First Nations Chiefs and Councils. All First Nations in Alberta are a member of one of three treaty organizations: Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations or the Treaty 7 First Nations.

justice - Upholding just, fair and equitable treatment, and providing due reward in accordance with honour, standards or law.

local government - The level of government empowered by the provincial or territorial government, whose mandate is to make decisions and bylaws relating to local issues and services.

MLA - Elected member of the legislative assembly, representing a specific constituency within the province.

MNAA - Métis Nation of Alberta Association; consists of an elected provincial president and vice-president, six elected zone presidents and six vice-presidents from each of six zones across Alberta. There are approximately 65 MNAA locals across Alberta.

official language minorities - Groups for whom one official language of Canada is their first language and who live within a larger group for whom the other official language of Canada is the first language. Section 23 of the Charter helps ensure the protection of Canada's two official languages by providing minority groups of both official languages with education in their mother tongue, thereby contributing to the vitality of their communities.

provincial government - The level of government whose constitutional mandate is to make decisions and pass legislation relating to provincial issues and services.

representative democracy - Political system whereby citizens elect their representatives to govern and make decisions on their behalf.

Treaty of La Grande Paix de Montréal - Treaty signed in Montréal in 1701 by the representatives of the government of France and representatives of 39 North American Aboriginal nations, including five Iroquois nations. The Aboriginal representatives were from the Great Lakes region, New York State, the shores of the Mississippi, Acadia and the Saint-Lawrence region.

Wampum Treaty - Treaty representing a peaceful, parallel co-existence between the Iroquois Confederacy and Europeans. This treaty, symbolized by the Two Row Wampum Belt, is a relationship of mutuality in which neither side can act unilaterally without consultation.

The Two Row Wampum Belt symbolizes the relationship between the Aboriginal peoples of North America and the Europeans. One purple row of beads represents the path of the Aboriginals' canoe, which contains their customs and laws. The other row represents the path of the Europeans' vessel, the sailing ship, which contains their customs and laws. The two-row wampum captures the original values that governed the relationship between the Aboriginal peoples and the Europeans--equality, respect, dignity and a sharing of the river that both groups travel on.