Indigenous

Indigenous definitions in this glossary were informed by Indigenous information from: the Assembly of First Nations, Carleton University, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Government of Canada, Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, University of British Columbia and University of Victoria.

We indigenize by holistically integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching, and learning within all of the institutional practices, procedures and services we provide to students, staff and communities. This results in Indigenous people seeing themselves and their realities reflected throughout our institution. It also results in non-Indigenous people gaining the skills and knowledge that enable them to work with and live alongside their Indigenous neighbours knowledgeably and respectfully.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is committed to the indigenization of our institution. We believe that indigenization is our social and collective responsibility and that it enriches and benefits all aspects of our institutional culture. 

Tawow, háu/haŋ, anin, tanshi, and edlant’e. I would like to acknowledge that Saskatchewan Polytechnic is situated on Treaty 4 / 6 Territory and that we are gathered on the ancestral lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Dakota, Lakota and Nakoda peoples, and the traditional homeland of the Métis.

Notes for presenter:

• Males say háu (pronounced how) and females say haŋ (pronounced haun)
• Saulteaux is pronounced soto. 

Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories and the homeland of the Métis.

Anin sikwa (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: ah neen See qua
Definition: welcome

Avik wiiyawow (Michif)
Pronunciation: ah-vick wee yah wow
Definition: belong, with them, to be part of them

awîyak kasehkimiht (Cree)
Pronunciation: ahh-wee-yahk gah-see-he-gee-imm-mitt
Definition: giving inspiration to someone, inspiring

bdiheʾ́icʾiya (Dakota)
Pronunciation:
Definition: to strengthen oneself, empowering

Bi-zhaazhig (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: bee- zaa-ah-zig
Definition: all of you are welcome, welcoming

Daya ya hi (Nakoda)
Pronunciation: dye- yah—yah—hi
Definition: welcoming

ê-sihtoskâtoyahk (Cree)
Pronunciation: e see toe ska tie yahk
Definition: strengthening/supporting each other
The name of the Indigenous Students’ Centre, Saskatoon campus.

Edlanet’e (Dene)
Pronunciation: it lawn EE tay
Definition: welcome

hai, hai (Cree)
Pronunciation: hi hi
Definition: thank you

Hau koda (Dakota)
Pronunciation: how koda
Definition: welcome

Hau kola (Lakota)
Pronunciation: how cola
Definition: welcome

Hau kona (Nakota)
Pronunciation: how ko na
Definition: welcome

Heca (Dakota)
Pronunciation: hey-ka
Definition: to be, to belong to something, belonging

Hóʔą (Dene)
Pronunciation: hoe awh
Definition: welcoming

Hóhiya (Dakota)
Pronunciation: hoe-ee-yah
Definition: Encouragement, inspiring
Men’s way

Ihkwēwāk (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: ik way wuk
Definition: women

įknúwągąduwa (Nakoda)
Pronunciation:New Wag ga Dowah
Definition: to build oneself up, inspiring

Ininiwāk (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: nin ee wuk
Definition: men

Kaykiyow Nassyoon Mamawapowuk Enn plass (Michif)
Pronunciation: ka key ow, nass yoon, ma ma wo po wuk, enn place
Definition: All Nations Gathering Place
The name of the Indigenous Students’ Centre, Prince Albert campus.

Ki-kinomawo (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: ky kin oh mah woh
Definition: inspire, teach by example, teach by role modelling

kinanâskomitin (Cree)
Pronunciation: kin na nask coo meh tin
Definition: thank you

kiscâyâwin (Cree)
Pronunciation: kiss – cah-yaa-win
Definition: to belong, belonging

kiskēyihtamowin (Cree)
Pronunciation: kiss kay it ahh moe win
Definition: experience

kiskēyihtamowin asiwacikan (Cree)
Pronunciation: kiss kay it a moo win, a si wutch i kun
Definition: A collection of resources to help you along your journey towards Indigenization, reconciliation and decolonization
The name of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s knowledge container.

Mahsi cho (Dene)
Pronunciation: mah see cho
Definition: thank you

mamâhtâwihew (Cree)
Pronunciation: mah-maah-tao-wee-hue
Definition: he/she empowers him/her to do extraordinary things, empowering

Marsee (Michif)
Pronunciation: mar see
Definition: thank you

Marsi (Dene)
Pronunciation: mar see
Definition: thank you

Mîkwêc (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: meeg- wich
Definition: thank you

Miigwech (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: mee gwe tch
Definition: thank you

Mnihéya (Nakoda)
Pronunciation: Min Hey yah
Definition: to strengthen. to make strong, empowering

miyo wâhkôhtowin (Cree)
Pronunciation: mee yoh wah gooh toe win
Definition: good relationships

Nâpêwak (Plains Cree)
Pronunciation: nah pay wuk
Definition: men

Nebah ho?á (Dene)
Pronunciation: nib nah hoe awh
Definition: welcome, there is room for you, there is room for everyone

Nundoweydahgozi (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: NUN do way dah gozee
Definition: where you are wanted, belonging

Ohpihâ (Michif)
Pronunciation: ooh pēē ha
Definition: inspire

Okâch (Nakoda)
Pronunciation:Oak Cha
Definition: to welcome one person

Okâ otâgach (Nakoda)
Pronunication: Oak ohtay Cha
Definition: to welcome more than one person

Okhódaya (Dakota)
Pronunciation: Oak ho die yah
Definition: welcoming

Ombi-ah` (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: oh-bee-ah
Definition: inspiring, to fill someone with confidence and eagerness, inspiring

Pēžik Tēwē-ihkan, Pēžik Mihtē-ihkan (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: p/bay-shhick meh deh ig gaan, p/bay-shhick deh way ih gaan
Definition: One Heart, One Drum Beat
The name of the Indigenous Students’ Centre, Regina campus.

Pidamaya (Dakota)
Pronunciation: pee dah ma yah
Definition: thank you
Men’s way: ho pidamayado
Women’s way: hau pidamayaye

Pihtikewé – kihèw waciston (Cree)
Pronunciation: pee-ta-guay ku-hay-you watch i son
Definition: Eagle’s Nest
The name of the Indigenous Students’ Centre, Moose Jaw campus.

Philámayaye (Lakota)
Pronunciation:pee lah mah yah yee
Definition: thank you

Sītoskawâ (Michif)
Pronunciation: see tōōs kawa
Definition: empower

Tanshi (Michif)
Pronunciation: taun shee
Definition: welcome

tatawaw (Cree)
Pronunciation: tah tah wow
Definition: welcoming

tawâw (Cree and Michif)
Pronunciation: ta wow
Definition: welcome

Tipyihtâkosô (Michif)
Pronunciation: tee pēēya tāā kōōsōō
Definition: belong

Tóhe (Nakoda)
Pronunciation: toh-hey
Definition: his/her place, belonging

tôtamowin (Cree)
Pronunciation: toe ta moe win
Definitinon: action

wāpa kih ôtēh nīkāhn (Cree)
Pronunciation: wah paw key ohtay nee kahn
Definition: tomorrow in the making, looking forward to tomorrow

Wicaša (Dakota/Lakota)
Pronunciation: wee cha sha
Definition: men

Wichitowin ahci kaskihtamâsowin ati nikan (Michif)
Pronunciation: wee chee hee too win - a chēē - gaas gee ta ma soo win a tee nēē kan
Definition: helping each other with success for the future
The name of the 2024-2029 Indigenous Student Success Strategy.

Winyaŋ (Dakota/Lakota)
Pronunciation: wee yeah
Definition: women

wītōkamāhtōtān (Cree):
Pronunciation: wee-toe-ga-maah-toe-tan
Definition: working together toward a common goal

Wiyokihiya (Dakota)
Pronunciation: wee yoke key yah
Definition: empower, to empower someone, to make someone capable of accomplishment

Wįca (Nakota)
Pronunciation: wee cha
Definition: men

Wįyą (Nakota)
Pronunciation: wee yeah
Definition: women

Wopina (Stoney Nakota)
Pronunciation: woah-pin-nah
Definition: thank you

zoongitayehwin (Nakawē)
Pronunciation: Zoo knee tay yah win
Definition: strong Heart/Ability to do something, empowering 

Do not capitalize Cree words.

Elder (capitalized)

First Nations

Homeland of the Métis

indigenization (not capitalized)

Indigenous (capitalized)

non-Indigenous

Métis (to insert the accent over the e, press CRTL + ‘ (apostrophe) then e)

Storyteller or storytelling (one word)

tipi

Treaty (capitalized)

Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses can be found on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, and Saskatchewan is home to a total of six treaty territories. 

• Moose Jaw: Treaty 4 territory and homeland of the Métis
• Prince Albert: Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis
• Regina: Treaty 4 territory and homeland of the Métis
• Saskatoon: Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis