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Indigenous Suffrage

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Indigenous Territory

Indigenous territory — also referred to as traditional territory — describes the ancestral and contemporary connections of Indigenous peoples to a geographical area. Territories may be defined by kinship ties, occupation, seasonal travel routes, trade networks, management of resources, and cultural and linguistic connections to place. Indigenous territories are constantly evolving in both a Canadian legal context and on the basis of kinship ties and relationships between Indigenous nations. This article addresses some of the difficulties in mapping Indigenous territories and explores how it is challenging, if not impossible, to accurately capture Indigenous worldviews and understandings of ancestral territories within a colonial map framework.

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Indigenous Treaties in Canada

Indigenous treaties in Canada are constitutionally recognized agreements between the Crown and Indigenous peoples. Most of these agreements describe exchanges where Indigenous nations agree to share some of their interests in their ancestral lands in return for various payments and promises. On a deeper level, treaties are sometimes understood, particularly by Indigenous people, as sacred covenants between nations that establish a relationship between those for whom Canada is an ancient homeland and those whose family...

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Indigenous Women and the Franchise

The context for Indigenous women and the franchise has been framed by colonialism as much as by gender discrimination. Indigenous women (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) have gained the right to vote at different times in Canadian history. The process has been connected to enfranchisement — both voluntary and involuntary — which means that Indigenous women were afforded political participation and Canadian citizenship rights at the cost of Indigenous rights (see Indigenous Suffrage).

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Indonesian Canadians

Immigration from Indonesia to Canada began after the Second World War. In the wake of the decolonization process, 300,000 “Indos” (Indische Nederlander), persons of mixed Dutch and Asian ancestry, were repatriated to the Netherlands. Some of them decided to continue their journeys, settling in Australia, the United States and Canada. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, political instability also led many Indonesians to immigrate to Canada. According to the 2016 census, 21,395 individuals indicated that they had Indonesian origins. Notable Indonesian Canadians include violin maker Piet Molenaar and Toronto filmmaker Mike Hoolboom.

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Indspire

Indspire is a national charitable organization, formerly known as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. Indspire is dedicated to investing in the education of Indigenous people in Canada. In so doing, the organization hopes to give Indigenous students the skills and opportunities to create positive futures for themselves and their communities. Indspire aims to inspire and promote excellence. Every year, Indspire presents awards to Indigenous peoples who have made significant contributions to their communities and to Indigenous peoples as a whole. Well-known recipients of the Indspire Awards include Murray Sinclair, Susan Aglukark, Maria Campbell, Daphne Odjig, Tomson Highway, Reggie Leach and hundreds more.

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Influential Indigenous Actors from Canada

For most of the 20th century, theatre, movies and television portrayed Indigenous nations and people in a manner that often perpetuated negative stereotypes. Indigenous actors from Canada were among those who fought the stereotypes and whose talents are continuing to contribute to Canadian and Indigenous cultures.

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Influential Indigenous Filmmakers in Canada

Indigenous filmmakers have been creating award-winning films and shows for decades. Through documentaries and works of fiction, Indigenous filmmakers have created space for representations of Indigenous peoples that more accurately reflect their lived realities and help to counter stereotypes.

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Influential Indigenous Musicians in Canada

Music entertains and soothes, but it can also educate and challenge. These talented artists are among many popular Indigenous musicians in Canada. Their work celebrates Indigenous cultures and shines a light on important issues concerning Indigenous people in Canada.

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Ingemar Korjus

Ingemar Korjus. Bass-baritone, teacher, adjudicator, b Stockholm, of Estonian parents, 8 Apr 1950, naturalized Canadian 1960; ARCT (Associate, Royal Conservatory of Music) performance 1970, ARCT teaching 1971.

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Ingrid Veninger

Ingrid Veninger, producer, director, actor, writer (born 21 August 1968 in Bratislava, Slovakia). The "DIY queen of Canadian filmmaking," Ingrid Veninger is a multitalented filmmaker.

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Tlingit

The Tlingit (sometimes also known as the Łingít) are Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America who share a common cultural heritage. Tlingit means “people of the tides.” In the 2021 Census, 1,770 people identified as having Tlingit ancestry.

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Innu (Montagnais-Naskapi)

Innu, which means “people” in the Innu language, is the predominant term used to describe all Innu. Some groups maintain the use of one of two older terms: Montagnais (French for “mountain people”), usually applied to groups in forested, more southern communities, and Naskapi, which refers to far northern groups who inhabit the barren lands of the subarctic. In the 2021 census, 18,620 people identified as having Innu ancestry, with 17,970 people claiming Innu/Montagnais ancestry and 735 people claiming Naskapi ancestry.

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Intendant

Intendant of New France, office created in 1663 when Louis XIV established a system of colonial government, including a Gouverneur and Sovereign council.

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Interculturalism

Interculturalism is a model for living together developed in Quebec during the 1980s and represents its approach regarding the integration of newcomers and minority groups. (See Immigration to Canada.) This approach is the Quebec response to the federal government model, i.e., Canadian multiculturalism. The philosophy behind interculturalism is based on the idea that equality between the cultures in Quebec requires francisation and secularization of the public domain. Due to the controversies and debates surrounding the policies regarding reasonable accommodation, an official policy regarding the concept of interculturalism has become essential. The report from the Bouchard-Taylor Commission continues to represent the most significant consultation effort regarding interculturalism. The Charte de la langue française is one of the major pillars of the intercultural approach. (See also Quebec Immigration Policy.) This article is a full-length entry about interculturalism. For a plain-language summary, please see Interculturalism (Plain-Language Summary).