Chapter 1

Terminology

Terminology

When attempting to understand controversial issues, whether historical or contemporary, one must not get tripped up by the lingo. In this age of political correctness and sensitivity, the terminology will keep changing but that does not detract from what has already transpired or is currently ongoing.

The purpose of defining terminology is so that everyone is starting from the same foundational base.

Colonization vs Colonialism

Although the words colonization and colonialism are similar, their definitions show slight differences in meaning. According to the Oxford Dictionary:

Colonization: is the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area.

Colonialism: is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Colonialism is broader in that it refers to entire countries rather than an area and adding the economic exploitation factor. Whether the term being used is colonization or colonialism, the long standing effects on Indigenous Peoples in Canada and other colonized countries remains the same.

The following video goes into more detail on historical colonization from around the world.

 

 

 


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