Transcript Document 7362746

Aboriginal Spirituality
By: Rafi, Richard, Karolyn
Native Adherents
• New data from the 2001 census shows the
aboriginals share in Canada’s rising population.
• Census count of people registered under the
Indian Act was about 558,000
Aboriginal Influences
Late 20th century
• The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawk nation and the town
of Oka, Quebec which began on March 11, 1990, and lasted until
September 26, 1990. It resulted in three deaths, and would be the first of a
number of well-publicized violent conflicts between Indigenous people and
the Canadian Government in the late 20th century.
• The Ipperwash Crisis was an Indigenous land dispute that occurred in
Ipperwash Provincial Park, Ontario in 1995. Several members of the Stoney
Point Ojibway band occupied the park in order to assert their claim to the
land. This led to a violent confrontation between protestors and the Ontario
Provincial Police, who killed protestor Dudley George. The ensuing
controversy was a major event in Canadian politics, and a provincial inquiry
investigating the events continues today.
Aboriginal Influences CNTD.
Early 21st century
• Many First Nations, along with their peers the Métis and the Inuit, claim to
receive inadequate funding for education, and allege that their rights have
been overlooked in many instances. Recently James K. Bartleman,
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, listed the encouragement of indigenous
young people as one of his key priorities, and during his term (which began
in 2002) has launched several initiatives to promote literacy and bridge
building.
Interaction with European-Canadians
• As far back as the late 18th century, First Nations believe they have been
targeted for assimilation into what they call European/Canadian culture.
Important Facts/Timeframe
Quotations
• "The culture, values and traditions of native people amount to more than
crafts and carvings. Their respect for the wisdom of their elders, their
concept of family responsibilities extending beyond the nuclear family to
embrace a whole village, their respect for the environment, their willingness
to share - all of these values persist within their own culture even though they
have been under unremitting pressure to abandon them." Mr. Justice
Thomas Berger, Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry, (aka the Berger
Inquiry).
Timeframe
The Aboriginals were in Canada approximately 35,000 years ago.
Interesting Facts
The aboriginal peoples of Canada came into contact with Europeans around
900 years ago for the Inuit and over 400 years ago for the peoples of the
north Atlantic coast. Some did not meet Europeans until the early 20th
century. Earliest contact with the Europeans were with the Norse in
Newfoundland around 1000 AD.
Place Of Origin
Important Facts
• The origins of Canada's Aboriginal peoples are largely
shrouded in mystery, others think that they came by
crossing an ice bridge in The Bearing Strait from east
(Asia) to the west (North, and South America).
The Aboriginals had twelve major language families
and over fifty languages evolved many different types
of ecological environments.
Archaeologists have found native artefacts dating back
beyond 10,000 years
Beliefs
• Animism: all human and non-human withhold
a soul and after death, live on.
• Aboriginal is more polytheistic (believing in
more than one god) rather than monotheistic
(believing in one god).
• They believe in reincarnation, or rebirth.
Practices, Rituals, Ceremonies…
• The Sweat Lodge: It is a ceremony common among the Great Plains nations
and cleanses both the physical and spiritual body.
• The Morning Dance: Occurs every spring, the Ojibwa of southern Ontario
perform this dance. It pays homage to “the tree of the universe”
• The Shaking Tent: It’s a ritual where one communicates with its spirits.
• The Sun Dance: A summer festival that takes place over a period of eight to
sixteen days. This festival was so powerful that the government banned it in
the late 1880s.
• The Potlatch Ceremony: Feasting, distributing wealth, and sharing songs and
dances are all part of a Potlatch. This was another ceremony that the
government made illegal in 1884.
Other interesting facts…
• The definition of Aboriginal is: of native ancestry inhabiting or existing in a
land from the earliest times and before colonists.
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The leader of the group is called a Sachem.
Aboriginals have many interesting stories about genesis/origins.
These stories hold a great deal of spiritual powers.
Not only are they located in North and South America, but they are also
located around the world.
• All over Canada, there are specific pieces for natives only. One is located in
Orillia.
• Aboriginals have many traditions and rituals, some are: the morning dance,
and the sun dance.