Terminology
For the purpose of this textbook age groups have been defined as the following;
- Infants: 0 – 18mths
- Toddlers: 18mths – 30mths
- Preschoolers: 30mths – 5yrs
- Middle childhood: 6 – 12 yrs
The use of the word Indigenous is still just starting to get known in First Nation, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) communities. Although some communities still use the word Aboriginal, many Indigenous leaders are asking that the word Aboriginal be replaced with Indigenous. When specific studies were/are conducted or stats are used or when Indigenous people are mentioned, it is best to use either one of those words to reflect the peoples that were part of them. (i.e. A study that was conducted about Inuit people; the wording should be Inuit instead of the broader term “Indigenous”.). For hundreds of years, Indigenous people were treated as “less than human”. For this reason, we use a capital “I” to reflect that Indigenous people are human.
For the purpose of establishing an understanding of the importance of the spiritual domain for Indigenous people, the ancillary activities will capture spirituality in the emotional component of the textbook to reflect the worldview that individuals should be seen in a holistic way. That is that we must see the individual as a whole because all the domains that are part of the individual are interconnected. The reasoning behind this is that anything that raises the self-esteem, self-worth, and the spirit of a child or individual will enhance their spiritual development.
Indigenous people Traditions and culture know and understand the sacredness of our ways. For this reason, throughout the activities, one will note that the word tradition is seen with a capital “T”. When the reader sees this, they will be reminded that the Indigenous people value their Traditions in a sacred way. When the word is seen with a lower case “t”, it will reflect the common use of the word traditional.
