Glossary of Certified Aboriginal Economic Process Terms 

A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / M / N / O / P / Q / R / S / T / U / V / W / X / Y / Z


A

Ability: the power to perform or accomplish something.

Aboriginal: in Canada, ‘Aboriginal’ applies to status and Non-Status Indians, Inuvialuit, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Accredited Program: accredited programs are those that have met the content requirements and standards expected by the Cando Certification Process. Candidates who have completed an accredited program and are enrolled in the Certification Process are automatically entitled to become certified at the Technician Level. Cando Certification will be a minimum of two years full-time study.

Assessment: the process of reviewing, measuring, and evaluating evidence of the candidate's learning to determine whether credit should be awarded.

Attitude: a demonstrated spirit; perception based on beliefs or experience.

Authenticity: being real, honest, something genuine.

B

Beliefs:
a mental acceptance of something as being true or real.

C

Candidate: a person enrolled in the Certification Process.

Certification:
the issuance of a formal document recognizing that a candidate has attained a standard of proficiency in either the Technician Level or Professional Level.

Certification Committee: reviews and grants or denies candidate requests for Certification at both the Technician and Professional Levels.

Certification Program: Cando Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer Process.

Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer: a candidate who has proven proficiency in the 16 competency areas is a ‘Technician Level’ Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer. A candidate who has proven proficiency in the 16 competency areas, has two years of work experience in Aboriginal economic development, has completed a Cando Professional Development Course and a final paper/case study, is a ‘Professional Level’ Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer.
 
Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer Program: The first national Certificate Process designed by Cando to meet needs identified by EDOs, following principles established by EDOs, and delivered using methods requested by EDOs.

Competent: having the required ability, skills, completion or competency.

Competency: ability to perform successfully in one’s job by completing tasks effectively. Competency is comprised of a specific knowledge and skill and the application of that knowledge and skill to the standard of performance required in employment. In the Certification Process, ‘competency’ also refers to one of the 16 competencies (Example, Competency 8: Financial Accounting).

Competency-Based Modules: district sets of associated task-based skills and knowledge that, in combination, make up the performance requirements of the Technician Level in the Certification Process. Used for education, training and evaluation purposes.

Conceptual: the generic idea of Aboriginal Community Economic Development abstracted from particular instances for the purpose of study, analysis and discourse.

Cultural Learning: relevant training using examples and applications appropriate to the cultural context and experience of the learner.

Competencies: specific skills, knowledge and abilities.

Competent: having the required ability, skills, completion or competency.

Credentials: letters depicting recognized skills, competency or status.

D

DACUM: an acronym for “Developing A Curriculum,” a system implemented by Cando to gather information from practitioners and educators in the field of Aboriginal economic development. The information collected is placed in a DACUM chart and used in decision-making to determine the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of entry-level professionals.

Designation: the Certified Aboriginal Economic Development Process has a ‘Technician Level’ and ‘Professional Level’ designation.

E

Economic Development: the process involved in stimulating the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. The term ‘Aboriginal Economic Development’ can be interpreted to mean economic development that takes place in or in the interests of an Aboriginal community. The term ‘Aboriginal Economic Developer’ can be interpreted as a person engaged in Aboriginal Economic Development.

Economic Development Officer (EDO) - Human Resource Development Council Occupational Profile:

Education and Research Manager: the Cando Education and Research Manager works with candidates of the Certified Aboriginal Economic Developer Process and helps each individual achieve Certification by performing transcript reviews, providing course counseling, assisting with a prior learning assessment and providing general support to candidates when needed.

F

Field: an administrative or instructional area or area of professional practice.

I

Individual Assessment: an individual assessment is used to assess a person’s prior learning gained through education, life/work experience and to recognize knowledge and skills for academic standing, credit transfer or employment/labour market qualifications.

Individual Assessment Exercises: in an individual assessment of prior learning, the candidate must successfully complete a series of individual assessment exercises for each competency he/she is trying to prove through prior learning.

Intuitive and Traditional Knowing: an entire system of knowledge, a way of being and knowing stemming from culture, worldview, place, and experience that can be found in many Aboriginal communities and is equally as valid as other types of knowing.

J

Job Analysis: an assessment of a particular job, its function and relationships.

Job Description: an overview of a job outlining duties and tasks as well as skills required, reporting lines and salary range.

Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development (JAED): published jointly by Cando and Captus Press and peer reviewed by a distinguished academic editorial board, the Journal provides a view of economic development from a uniquely Aboriginal perspective, with topics ranging from best practice case studies, scholarly research, to book reviews and commentaries

K

Knowledge: understanding possessed by someone through accumulated experience, association, or awareness, it can include data, information, or theories learned from going to school, reading books, and study, or it can also be wisdom gained from everyday living, observation, and knowing how to do things.

L

Learning Narrative: learning narratives are performed by candidates wishing to claim credit for skills and knowledge they already possess, through the individual assessment process. As part of an individual assessment exercises, writing a narrative involves describing what you know, what you can do, and what valuable attitudes and insights developed as the result of tasks performed, with each narrative directly related to the competency you are trying to claim credit for.

Learning Outcome: learning outcomes are the expected result of learning expressed as statements clearly identifying what learners should be able to do upon completion of a competency. For example, upon completion of competency 1, candidates should be able to "research, identify, interpret and provide advice to clients about business and economic indicators of relevance to Aboriginal economic development.”

Lifelong-Learning: ongoing learning in formal, non-formal and informal ways, cradle to grave learning and knowledge building.

P

Post-Secondary Institution: universities, community colleges, vocational and technical colleges for adults or graduates of secondary school (Grades K-12 or 13). Recognized post-secondary institutions are those that have been authorized by provincial Departments of Education (Ministry of Education in Quebec) to issue certificates, diplomas and degrees.

PLA Committee: reviews individual assessment exercises and provides recommendation to the Standing Committee on Education and Research Committee for acceptance.

Professional Development (PD) Course: an intensive one-week workshop that addresses a wide range of topics, including: communication, ethics, leadership, culture and values, professional conduct and other selected development issues. It is offered on an annual basis at locations throughout the country and facilitated by professors with experience in the field of Aboriginal economic development.

Professional Level Certification: Professional Level Certification is achieved upon completion of Technician Level Certification, a Cando Professional Development (PD) Course, two years of work experience in Aboriginal economic development, and submission of an economic development final paper/case study.

Q

Qualification: recognition of skills, abilities or expertise, authority.

S

Secondary School: also called high school, it is grades 10-12. Grades 1-6 is primary or elementary school, while grades 7-9 is junior high or middle school.

Self-Assessment: the process of gathering, describing, and quantifying information to assess one’s own knowledge, skills and abilities against a standard set of criteria, assessment standards and personal goal setting. Self-assessment may involve critiquing one’s own work or may be a simple description of one’s performance. By using self-assessment, one can determine if their knowledge, skills and abilities are above or below a certain level.

Skills: performance of mental or physical tasks acquired through education and/or training, work, life-experiences, etc. Skills can be identified within an occupation-specific context and using a variety of instruments.

T

Technical: involving special and practical knowledge related to the field of Aboriginal Economic Development.

Technician Level Certification: Technician Level Certification is achieved when proficiency in the 16 core competencies has been sufficiently demonstrated through completion of an accredited program, Transcript Review, and/or Prior Learning Assessment.

Technique: approaches or processes used to do something.

Transcript: an official record of a student's academic performance issued from the Registrar's Office of the institution the student attended and listing courses studied and results gained, including withdrawals. An unofficial transcript is a copy of this academic record, which can be issued to the student on written request but lacks the institution’s seal.

Transcript Review: transcripts from recognized post-secondary institutions are submitted by candidates for review by Cando's Education and Research Manager. The Education and Research Manager then uses transcripts and institutional calendars to match the material covered in the courses described on the transcript against the 16 technician level competencies.

V

Validation: confirmation, proof, supported by facts or authority.

Values: highly regarded ideals or customs.