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Indigenous Studies 101

Week 4: Great Lakes and Eastern Subarctic

Outline

• The Region

  • Geography and environment of the Great Lakes and Eastern Subarctic.

• Indigenous Creation

  • Focus on James Bay Cree and Anishinaabe perspectives.

• The Distant Past

  • Historical overview of the Northern Great Lakes and Eastern Subarctic.

• The Recent Past

  • Examination of war and politics affecting Indigenous peoples.

• Contemporary Issues

  • Discussion on land disputes and cultural appropriation challenges facing Indigenous communities.

The Region

Indigenous Peoples and Geography

• Overview of notable Indigenous tribes and geographic outlines in North America, emphasizing diversity within regions such as the Arctic, Subarctic, and Great Plains.

Cree Nation Overview

• Cree:

  • Most populous and widely distributed Indigenous group in Turtle Island (North America).

  • Inhabits subarctic and Plains regions, spanning from Alberta to Quebec.

  • Cree language is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in Canada.

• Cree Origins:

  • Named by the French as "Kiristinon," later contracted to "Cri" (Cree in English).

  • Self-referential terms include "nehiyawak," "ininiw," and "Eeyou."

Eeyou Istchee (The People's Land)

• The James Bay Cree refer to their homeland as Eeyou Istchee (The People's land).

• Lifestyle and Economy:

  • Recognized as a nation of hunters.

  • Traditional practices include following animal migrations for meat, hides, and materials to craft tools and clothing.

  • Hunting and trapping of moose, caribou, and rabbit are integral to their contemporary culture.

Anishinaabe Overview

• Anishinaabe:

  • A culturally related group of Indigenous peoples, including Algonquin, Nipissing, and Ojibwa.

  • Autonym translates to "first man" or "good person."

• Migration Stories:

  • Oral traditions recount a migration from their original homeland in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Great Lakes region.

Subsistence Practices

Traditional Practices of the Anishinaabe

• Tapped maple trees for sap to make maple sugar.

• Harvested manoomin (wild rice).

• Wiigwaasabak:

  • Birchbark scrolls used for recording significant cultural narratives, ceremonies, and historical knowledge.

Medewiwin (Grand Medicine Society)

• Secretive religion that emphasizes healing and maintaining harmony between humanity and the earth.

• Use of specific scrolls (Mide-wiigwaas) to preserve teachings and rituals.

European Expansion and its Impact

• Colonial Encroachment:

  • French and English expansions disregarded Indigenous rights and governance.

• Seven Years War (1756-1763):

  • The war's outcome significantly affected Indigenous communities and their resistance efforts.

Royal Proclamation of 1763

• Issued by King George III as a response to post-war dynamics; acknowledged Indigenous land rights and prohibited settlement past the Appalachian Mountains.

• Still forms the legal basis for Aboriginal land claims in Canada, recognized in the Canadian Constitution.

Cultural Appropriation Issues

• Debate on the authenticity of Indigenous cultural expressions vs. non-Indigenous creators.

• Cultural appropriation defined as the taking of cultural elements without respect or permission, often reflecting historical trauma and ongoing struggles for cultural survival among Indigenous peoples.