A Colonial Legacy of Language and the Path Toward Nation-Defined Prosperity

Contributed by Isiah Desjarlais-Paul

The phrase economic development is embedded in virtually every discussion of progress,  growth, and prosperity in contemporary governance and policy. However, this terminology  carries significant colonial weight. It reflects Western assumptions about value, productivity, and  success that are often incompatible with Indigenous worldviews, which are centred on balance,  relationship, and stewardship. For Nations, re-examining the language used to describe  economic priorities is not merely semantic. It is an act of reclamation, one that restores meaning,  intention, and cultural alignment to governance and planning processes.  

The concept of economic development emerged from industrial and capitalist systems that  prioritized extraction, ownership, and perpetual growth. In Canada, economic development  policies historically operated as tools of assimilation, aiming to transform Indigenous societies  into participants in a colonial economy. These frameworks often positioned Indigenous Peoples  as "underdeveloped," requiring external intervention, training, or investment to become  "productive."  

Even contemporary Indigenous economic development programming, while well-intentioned,  can perpetuate these dynamics by measuring success through Western metrics, such as GDP,  employment rates, business formation, or revenue generation. These indicators rarely account for  non-monetary forms of wealth, such as community health, ecological integrity, or  intergenerational knowledge, which are central to Indigenous concepts of wellbeing. As a result,  the continued use of "economic development" can inadvertently reinforce a colonial worldview  in governance, language, and policy.  

Indigenous languages contain within them the philosophies, ethics, and governance systems of  their respective peoples. Words are not neutral; they carry encoded relationships between people,  land, and spirit. I have not had the privilege of learning my own language due to the acts of  assimilation, but what I do know is that within SENĆOŦEN, for example, there are likely  expressions that convey ideas of sharing, responsibility, and mutual care, which together embody  what English might flatten into "economics." However, these concepts are relational rather than  transactional. They are about maintaining balance and fulfilling obligations rather than  maximizing output or accumulating capital.  

Reclaiming and re-articulating these concepts in each Nation's respective language offers a  profound opportunity to realign community operations with cultural teachings. It allows Nations  to lead with their worldview rather than adapting to colonial frameworks. 

Cultural Integrity and Self-Determination: By defining economic principles in their own  language, First Nations assert intellectual and cultural sovereignty. This act reframes what  prosperity means according to Indigenous law and values, rather than through external economic  models. 

Governance Alignment: Integrating Indigenous economic principles into administrative and  corporate structures ensures that decision-making remains grounded in community values and  ethics. It becomes a living expression of the Nation's laws and priorities. 

Intergenerational Continuity: Working with Elders and fluent speakers to define such  terminology revitalizes language transmission, strengthens identity, and embeds teachings within  governance processes that youth can inherit and continue. 

Decolonizing Policy and Planning: Using a Nation-specific term invites partners, consultants,  and governments to engage on the terms of the First Nation, both linguistically and conceptually.  It creates a linguistic boundary that requires respect for the individual Nation's worldview in  collaborative projects and funding agreements. 

Work could begin with a collaborative circle involving Elders, language teachers, and economic  staff. Rather than translating "economic development" directly, the group would explore  questions such as: 

• How do we describe collective wellbeing and sustainability in OUR language? • What are traditional expressions of reciprocity, trade, or mutual support? • How might these teachings inform our approach to investing, distributing, or managing resources today? 

The resulting term or phrase would then be used in place of 'economic development' across  governance and corporate documents, with an English footnote acknowledging that it reflects the  holistic understanding of prosperity rooted in relationships and balance. 

Re-defining "economic development" in Indigenous languages is not an act of translation; it is an  act of sovereignty. It enables First Nations to reclaim the narrative of prosperity, to govern from  a place of cultural authenticity, and to ensure that economic actions reflect the values of the land  and the people they serve. As a First Nation, developing a term that embodies these principles  would not only strengthen governance, but it would also signal to partners and future generations  that the path to prosperity begins with its own words.