First Nations Culture Analysis

Unique traditions, language, beliefs and values all comprise Indigenous culture. It is critical that a meaningful appreciation of their culture

The impact of colonization on First Nations peoples in Canada is unsurpassable, regarding every aspect of Aboriginal life and well-being. Throughout Canadian history, the government has been aiming to assimilate and annihilate Aboriginal people by way of racist policies, ethnocentric institutions, discriminatory laws and destructive capitalist behaviours. Because of this, Aboriginal people have suffered many losses, both physically and culturally. One of the main perpetrators of enacting this loss is the education system. The education system in Canada has and continues to threaten the relationship First Nations peoples have with the land. The connection First Nations peoples have with the land is crucial to their cultures, traditions, ceremonies and beliefs. Colonization and colonialism jeopardize this relationship and that is what this essay will address.

Since the colonization of Canada First Nations people have been discriminated against and assimilated into the new culture of Canada through policies created by the government. Policies created had the intentions of improving the Aboriginal people’s standard of living and increasing their opportunities. Mainly in the past hundred years in Canadian Society, policies and government implemented actions such as; Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reserve systems have resulted in extinguishing native culture, teachings, and pride. Policies towards the treatment of Aboriginal Canadians has decreased their opportunities and standard of living because of policies specified previously (Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reservation systems).

Aboriginal-Canadians have an excessive history of mistreatment and discrimination in Canada. Europeans considered Canada’s First Nations as savages, eventually residential schools were created which in extreme cases were comparable to Prisoner of War camps. According to Evelyn Kallen, “Substandard housing breeding disease and death, closed schools due to lack of teachers, heat, and/or running water are only two examples of continuing, dehumanizing life conditions on many reserves” (198). Although, extensive improvements have been made to reservations and Aboriginal rights, more improvement remains necessary. Allan Blakeney stated, “An important starting point of course, is that Aboriginal people in Canada do not, as a group, occupy high

The drastic cultural impact of residential schools on First Nations people has been extensive, as it is mentioned in the novel Keepr’n Me by Richard Wagamese. Keeper’s statement in this book, “Only thing they did was create a whole new kinda Indyun. We used to

Residential schools in Canada were present for over 100 years and were created by the government to eliminate the Indigenous culture. These schools successfully separated families while creating huge cultural barriers between children and their Native culture (COHA, 2011). These children were forcibly removed from their families and taken to residential schools because Canadians saw Indigenous peoples as “backwards” or “savage” (COHA, 2011). They also believed that they were inferior to Natives and that these schools would help “civilize” aboriginals by replacing their Native traits with Western values (COHA, 2011).

Native Canadians play an important role in our national identity, unfortunately, the culture has been slowly dying out for the past century as advancing generations lose the spoken language. Less identify themselves as a true Native for the little knowledge they have of their culture, especially those who live in an urbanized city. One of the greatest contributing factors to this outcome were residential schools, a tragic and critical part of Canadian history.

Prior to this course, I had a general understanding of the history and colonization of Native Americans. Coming from a family that celebrates our Native American culture, I knew that it was my responsibility to accept and embrace who I was and share my knowledge with others. My family is from the Pine Point community of the White Earth reservation; growing up I was always sure to listen to the stories of my elders and understand the hardships that have taken place in my family. I have always tried to help and correct those around me who have incorrect preconceived ideas about Native Americans. Even though I have never looked the part of being American Indian with my Swedish bright blonde hair and blue eyes, I have never been discouraged to embrace my culture and be an advocate.

Before registering for this class I had little to no knowledge of indigenous people. Growing up with the limited teachings and history of indigenous people I believed they were very primitive, outdated and dying race. I didn’t really know about their culture, their language or their way of life, so learning about them more was every insightful. The one thing that really amazed me and stuck with me was the fact that Carolinians were able to navigate through the waters even before and European voyagers and their method of doing so was way more accurate. At first it was pretty difficult for me to wrap my head around the indigenous people’s methods of voyaging viewing the land as traveling towards you and not you towards it did puzzle me at first but the more I thought about it the more I began to understand it. Another method that opened my eyes was the star compass, it was pretty simplistic yet it was a very accurate tool in navigating through the waters. To be able to come up with such genius methods of voyaging went against my thinking of indigenous people being primitive. Another thing that surprised me was how spiritual and good willed they were. In schools and media indigenous people were portrayed to be savages/ mindless beasts but this clearly was not the case. I had a deeper understand of indigenous people’s relations to earth and all life. They treated everything with respect. The grand take away from

It can be said without a doubt that the indigenous peoples of Canada have had to undergo much turmoil in order to reach the point that they are at today. When one looks at the timeline of events and the laws implemented since the arrival of the Europeans in North America it can be considered a miracle that so many aspects of the rich culture and tradition of these people have survived to see today. It is a blessing that these people have been able to pass down the languages, cultural and societal beliefs, as well as their stories from generation to generation so that the people of North America and the world today may be able to know and study these civilized and multifaceted cultures. The First Nations people of Canada have had to go

Residential schools are a dark past of Canadian history which many people are not educated about. Residential schools were the extremity of day schools and were traumatizing and disturbing. A residential school was an institution for the first nations children where the child was forced to attend to learn about Christianity, and be taught the English language and the European ways. The residential schooling system was run by the Canadian government. The idea of the schools was to “kill the Indian in the child”. The meaning of this assimilation is that the purpose of the establishments was to take away all of the culture and identity of the First Nations children. In the peaks of residential schools, the Europeans believed highly that the first

That Canada took the land of First Nations and occupying “on native land.” That the treaties created are not always promised to the First Nations and not all First Nations get these agreements or treaties. The Oka Crisis is an example of how treaties are sometimes infringed on. That the Mohawk Tribe was promised that land, but the Canadian federal government chose to ignore it. That treaties are not always kept and how it is not always acknowledge Canadian government. The Meech Lake Accord shows how rights of First Nations are sometimes forgotten or even not consider as a “distinct society.” The Nisga’a had to fight for their rights and showed how they would have to be able to get their land. That sometimes First Nations would have to take action to fight for their rights and for their land. First Nations should have right to a their land or at least have the promise given to them kept. That Canada needs to be more aware of different societies and respect the treaties given to

While Canadians are known for their willingness to lend a hand, an Aboriginal individual would beg to differ. Students in secondary and postsecondary institutions ought to take a trip to communities like Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and live with locals in order to understand the extent of these conditions, rather than travelling internationally to poverty-stricken countries. In order to shed light on these issues, one must reach out and extend a hand to our

This book is all about the healing process from Residential Schools. It talks about recovery programs that have started up to deal with the aftermath. It has many great, inspiring stories about how to heal and in a sense grieve their old lives and start to make new. Wadden speaks about what the Aboriginal families and communities have lost and what they have now learned to gain from the Residential Schools. It also touches on what Canada can do to help tear down the walls we have put up between each other so we can grow as one instead of as two. This book helps open many peoples eyes so they can see how Aboriginal People are rebuilding their lives based on the hard times. This is a strong source for the essay because it speaks of how we are

A couple weeks ago I was given the opportunity to visit and get a tour of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School by the Woodland Culture Centre in Brantford Ontario. There are no words to explain how I felt during this field trip. I was horrified by what I felt and heard, what I am currently learning about in my Indigenous studies class and by what is still going on.