Page 184 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies
constitutional convention.* Well-established customs or practices that have evolved over time and are integral aspects of the Canadian system of government even though they are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. See also constitution.
constitutional monarchy.* A form of government in which executive (Crown) powers are exercised by or on behalf of the sovereign and on the basis of ministerial advice. Canada is a constitutional monarchy.
country wives. Indigenous women who became common-law wives of European men during the fur trade era.
Covenant Chain Wampum. A series of alliances between the Haudenosaunee and Europeans that were based on Haudenosaunee governance structures and represented in a wampum belt. It is referred to as a chain to symbolize the linking of both parties in the alliance and their promise to renew the relationship by polishing the chain whenever it tarnishes.
Crown corporations.* Corporations in which the government, be it at the national or provincial level, has total or majority ownership. Organized on the pattern of private enterprises, they have a mandate to provide specific goods and/or services.
Crown land.* Land belonging to the government, whether in the national or provincial jurisdiction.
culture. The customary beliefs, values, social forms, and material traits of an ethnic, religious, or social group.
death rate. The number of deaths per thousand people in one year.
deforestation. The destruction and removal of a forest and its undergrowth by natural or human means.
democracy. A form of government in which laws are made by a direct vote of the citizens (direct democracy) or by representatives on their behalf (indirect democracy). In an indirect,
or representative, democracy such as Canada, elected representatives vote on behalf of their constituents.
demographics. Statistics describing the character- istics of an area’s population, including those relating to age, sex, income, and education.
desertification. The process by which arable land becomes desert, as a result of factors
such as a decline in average rainfall over time, deforestation, and/or poor agricultural practices.
DEW Line. The Distant Early Warning Line was a series of radar stations that were set up in the Arctic during the Cold War to provide a notice of attacks on North America by missiles or aircraft.
digital footprint. A trail of information a person leaves when using digital devices. It enables third parties to access data such as an individual’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, the Internet sites that person has visited, and comments he or she has made.
digital representations. Computer-based representations of the world in which spatial characteristics are represented in either 2D or 3D format. These representations can be accessed and applied using online mapping software or interactive atlases.
disparity. The unequal distribution of funds, food, or other commodities or resources among groups, regions, or nations. Indicators of economic wealth are often used when assessing disparity.
diversity. The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
Doctrine of Discovery. A concept embedded in a 1493 papal bull, the doctrine stated that any lands inhabited by non-Christians could be acquired on behalf of Europe. The Doctrine of Discovery became a key foundation for European claims to lands outside of Europe.
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