MDA | Race Reporting Handbook Extend Your Learning with Additional Key Terms Antiracism Anti-racism involves actively attempting to combat racist policies, practices, culture and ideas. Anti-racism is about more than being ‘not racist’. It involves active decisions that seek to combat injustice and promote racial equity. It can be helpful to think of anti-racism as a skill set that we can all develop and use to promote a better, more equitable society. Learn more. Racism Racism is the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. Racism is more than just prejudice in thought or action. It occurs when this prejudice –whether individual or institutional– is accompanied by the power to discriminate against, oppress or limit the rights of others. Learn more. We must work towards a society where all people, regardless of their racial identity, enjoy equitable access to rights, freedoms and opportunities. Colonial Load A new term which explores the concept of the additional burden imposed on First Nations people by settlers and institutions, both consciously and unconsciously, due to the lingering effects of colonialism. This burden includes the ongoing need to preserve cultural practices while navigating systemic biases, addressing intergenerational trauma, and constantly advocating for justice. It also encompasses challenges like tokenism (superficial inclusion of First Nations people or communities in societal structures or decision-making without genuine empowerment or change), isolation, and the continued justification of cultural identity. The concept of colonial load recognises that the structures and policies established during colonisation continue to shape the experiences of First Nations communities today. Cultural Load Cultural load is the additional work borne by First Nations people in the workplace. It often goes unseen, with First Nations employees asked to provide cultural education and guidance to nonIndigenous colleagues. Cultural load also impacts other negatively racialised communities and may manifest 54