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Indigenous Language

Nothing about us without us

Keep that phrase top of mind when you are writing anything about Indigenous Peoples. We have a long way to go in decolonizing our language. This guide is a step in that journey.

Indigenous style

In his book, Elements of Indigenous Style, Gregory Younging sets out 22 principles of Indigenous style. We’ll mention the first one here and leave it to you to read up on the others.

The purpose of Indigenous style is to produce works that:

  • Reflect Indigenous realities as they are perceived by Indigenous Peoples
  • Are truthful and insightful in their Indigenous content
  • Are respectful of the cultural integrity of Indigenous Peoples

Younging’s Indigenous style uses more capitalization than Canadian Press style; for example, terms such as Elder, Indigenous, Indigenization and Indigenous Knowledge.

TRU style says works written by Indigenous authors or with Indigenous content must follow Indigenous style first. Writing that is not by Indigenous authors or that does not contain Indigenous content follows Canadian Press style first.

When there is any question or uncertainty about something you’re writing that has Indigenous elements, consult the Office of Indigenous Education.

Territorial acknowledgement

Thompson Rivers University campuses are on the traditional lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwepemcúl’ecw, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. Our region also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.

Secwepemctsín

The accents in Secwepemctsín are for emphasis. You will see them move around to different syllables, even though the words are similar: Secwépemc, Secwepemcúl’ecw. That is because the stress has changed to a different syllable. The apostrophe indicates a glottalized consonant.

  • Kukwstsétsemc (one person), kukwstsétselp (several people) — thank you
  • Kw’seltktnéws — we are all related and interconnected with each other, nature and all things (this is central to TRU’s vision statement)
  • Qelmúcw — The Qelmúcw Affairs Committee of Senate has regular meetings to review Indigenous programs and services at TRU
  • S7extekékstmen — a person who is a necessary part of a team, project or any activity; a successful outcome is predicated on the knowledge and effectiveness of this person — indispensable
  • Secwépemc — Members of the 17 First Nations in the region (there were 32 ancestral homefires/communities of the Secwépemc Nation)
  • Secwepemctsín — The language of the Secwépemc people. Learn more about the language here.
  • Secwepemcúl’ecw — The unceded territory of the Secwépemc people
  • Sk’elép — coyote
  • Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc — Kamloops Indian Band
  • T’exelc People — Williams Lake First Nation

Common words

  • Chief — Kúkpi7
  • Coyote — Sk’elép (capitalized, as coyote is a character common in many stories)
  • Elder — An older Indigenous person who has acquired wisdom through experience, education, and reflection (always capitalized)
  • Hello — Weytk (one person), weytkp (several people)
  • Knowledge Keeper — Someone recognized in their Indigenous community as being wise and knowledgeable in traditional ways (always capitalized)
  • Métis — The Métis are a distinct cultural group. They are descendants of Indigenous Peoples and European settlers, but everyone who is of mixed background is Métis. Ask the person or group you are writing about how you should identify them, and whether they want the accent on Métis (some do not use it)
  • Residential school — always lowercase; TteS still retains the residential school buildings
  • Stop — Es´tíl (you’ll see this on stop signs on campus)
  • Survivors — capitalized
  • Thank you — Kukwstsétsemc (one person), kukwstsétselp (several people)
  • The missing — (in relation to the 215 confirmed remains at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in 2021) — Le Estcwicwé`y
  • Traditional Knowledge Holders — capitalized

Dialects

As TRU’s First House is Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, and Second House is T’exelc, both draw upon the western dialect so that is what the university uses as a reference for words and spellings. Within each dialect there may be minor dialectal differences.

The Eastern dialect communities (located east of Kamloops) include:

  • Skwlax te Secwépemc (Little Shuswap)
  • Adams Lake Indian Band
  • Neskonlith Indian Band
  • Splatsin First Nation

Western dialect communities include:

  • Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
  • Skeetchestn First Nation
  • Simpcw First Nation
  • Bonaparte First Nation
  • Whispering Pines First Nation
  • High Bar First Nation
  • Canim Lake First Nation
  • Canoe Creek First Nation
  • Dog Creek First Nation
  • Esketemc First Nation
  • T’éxelc (Williams Lake) First Nation
  • Xatsull First Nation

Be vigilant

  • Indigenous Peoples refers to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada.
  • In all references, be guided by the preference of those concerned.
  • Be specific about the Indigenous groups you are writing about. Rosanne Casimir is from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, not Rosanne Casimir is from the Interior BC Indigenous community..
  • Use the terms Indigenous or First Nations, not Aboriginal and never Indian (unless officially used, such as in Skeetchestn Indian Band).
  • Capitalize Indigenous, First Nations, Secwépemc, Inuit, Métis, Innu (Indigenous people from Labrador) and other proper nouns/names.
  • Uppercase Indigenous and Indigenization (nouns). Lowercase indigenize (verb).
  • Use the Indigenous spelling of First Nations and people’s names if that’s their preference: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (not Kamloops Indian Band), Mukwa Musayett (Shelly Johnson).

What not to do

  • Never use sentence formations that result in colonial ethnocentrism: not Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, not our Indigenous students. Think carefully about the words you choose and if in doubt, consult Indigenous Education for guidance.
  • Do not use quotes from Indigenous stories or writing without permission. Be extremely careful about paraphrasing Indigenous experiences and stories in your work — seek approval and input before publishing. Indigenous experiences, stories and words come from a context that non-Indigenous people might not know.
  • Do not use native, Indian, tribe or band unless it is part of an official name or there is an appropriate reason/context. Avoid words that suggest stereotypes and clichés.
  • Avoid words/phrases that suggest Indigenous Peoples are all the same (painting them with the same brush), or that suggest they are allowed or permitted agency.

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