Indigenous 101 (4)

Week 4: The Region - Geography and Environment

• Great Lakes to James Bay

  • Transitioning north leads to rocky terrain, prolonged winters, denser pine forests, and resilient rivers and lakes, which serve as vital transportation routes for Indigenous peoples.

  • Presence of bears in the region.

Indigenous Creation - James Bay Cree and Anishinaabe

• Cree

  • Most prominent and widely spread Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.

  • Occupy subarctic and plains regions, from Alberta to Quebec.

  • Original designation from a nation near James Bay, labeled as "Kiristinon" by the French and later shortened to Cree.

  • Self-identifiers include nehiyawak, ininiw, and Eeyou (meaning The People’s Land).

  • In the James Bay region, Cree refer to themselves as Eeyou.

  • Their territory, Eeyou Istchee, is in Eastern James Bay.

  • Traditionally hunters who adapt their movements to follow seasonal animal migrations for sustenance (meat, hides, bones for tools, clothing).

  • Small community living reinforced by ceremonial gatherings.

• Anishinaabe

  • The term refers to a related group of First Peoples, meaning "first man" or "original man.”

  • Known also as Ojibwa.

  • The Thunderbird is a significant symbol for the Anishinaabe people.

  • Includes entities like Algonquin, Nipissing, Mississaugas, Potawatomi, Odawa, Ojibwa, Salteaux, Oji Cree, and Métis.

  • Different from the Haudenosaunee, who formed a confederacy.

  • Share similarities in culture and languages from the Algonquian family.

  • Oral history recounts migration from Gulf of St. Lawrence to Great Lakes.

Historical Until Contemporary Issues

The Distant Past - Northern Great Lakes and Eastern Subarctic

• Written on the Earth

  • Mark areas of migration using red ochre, especially noted by the Anishinaabe.

• Subsistence Practices

  • Maple trees tapped for sap (for making maple sugar).

  • Harvesting wild rice (manoomin) emphasizes gratitude for resources used.

  • Spiritual connections to the Earth, introducing themselves to flora and fauna, respecting what the land offers.

• Wiigwaasabak

  • Wiigwaas = Birchbark; Wiigwaasabak are birchbark scrolls carrying medicinal information, aiding memorization of complex concepts, serving oral history, and sacred knowledge transmission.

• Medewiwin (Grand Medicine Society)

  • A secretive religion focused on ceremonies, healing methods, and the relationship between humanity and Earth.

  • Scrolls used in Medewiwin, called Mide-wiigwaas, require training for handling and understanding.

  • Teachings passed alongside scrolls to initiate members.

The Recent Past - War and Politics

• European Expansion

  • Occurred in the 17th century with French moving west and south into Louisiana and the English moving north for fur trading.

  • Many territorial disputes arose, often ignoring Indigenous rights.

• Taking Sides in Fur Trade

  • French allied with Indigenous peoples in fur trades, promoting intermarriage but refraining from distributing guns.

  • The English provided firearms, leading to military engagements.

Seven Years War (1756-1763)

• The first global conflict centered on economic interests and land; France was ultimately defeated, causing significant impacts on First Nations groups.

  • Ignacio’s War (1763-1765) exemplified Indigenous resistance, leading to a British reassessment of engagements with Indigenous peoples (Royal Proclamation of 1763).

Contemporary Issues - Land Disputes and Cultural Appropriation

• Royal Proclamation (1763)

  • Issued by King George III, establishing guidelines for European settlement in North America, acknowledging Aboriginal title to lands.

  • Settlement past the Proclamation line was prohibited, which continues to affect Canadian law today.

• Provision 25: Charter of Rights and Freedoms

  • Stipulates that rights under the charter should not undermine Aboriginal rights, including those recognized since the Royal Proclamation.

  • Any rights recognized through land claim agreements must be preserved.

  • The complexity of rights under this law signifies both recognition and overshadowing of Indigenous laws.

Notes from Video (Page 27)

• Indigenous peoples regarded as sovereign nations.

  • The Royal Proclamation protects Indigenous rights, emphasizing unity among young Indigenous people.

  • Collective identity as "treaty people" highlighting historical agreements between First peoples and Canada.

Fur Trade Capitalism

• Northwest Company (1779-1821) and Hudson’s Bay Company (1670-present)

  • Established for advancing the fur trade while engaging with Indigenous communities as vital intermediaries for obtaining fur and resources.

The Beaver - Driven for Trade

• Fur trade centered predominantly on beaver pelts, crucial for both Indigenous sustenance and European fashion.

  • Ranging peak shipments reached up to 300,000 pelts/year to Europe.

  • The beaver today is regarded as Canada’s national animal.

Cultural Legacy - Norval Morrisseau

• Known as "Copper Thunderbird," regarded as the "Picasso of the North".

  • Artworks reflect Indigenous legends and innovative styles influenced by traditional cultures.

  • Founded the Woodland School of Art, drawing inspiration from rock paintings and birchbark scrolls.

  • His art features themes of shamanism, internal vision representation, and connectivity between figures.

• Morrisseau's Background

  • A residential school survivor who revitalized Anishinaabe culture through his art.

  • Originally faced resistance from his community for his pioneering style.

  • Established relationships with anthropologist Selwyn Dewdney as well.

Woodland Art Style

• Founded by Morrisseau, intertwining traditional legends with contemporary narratives.

  • Various artists contributing include Daphne Odjig, Jackson Beardy, Alex Janvier, and Carl Ray.

Morrisseau’s Lasting Impact

• Received the Order of Canada in 1978, leaving a legacy that encourages new generations of Indigenous artists.

  • His artworks possess spiritual significance; misuse for non-spiritual contexts is cautioned against.

Cultural Appropriation

• Defined as taking elements of a culture without respect or permission, leading to cultural theft.

  • Loss of cultural expression often arises from historical oppression.

  • Artistic appropriation lacks genuine connection, reducing Indigenous narratives to superficial aesthetics.