Canadian First Canadian First NationsNationsAn Introduction to the Indigenous People of An Introduction to the Indigenous People of CanadaCanada

Canadian CultureCanadian Culture Canada is a Canada is a pluralisticpluralistic society. This society. This

means that our society is made up of means that our society is made up of many groups of people, each with its own many groups of people, each with its own unique identities, ideas, perspectives, and unique identities, ideas, perspectives, and culture.culture.

The resulting society has a sense of The resulting society has a sense of respect for all cultures.respect for all cultures.

Focus on CultureFocus on Culture Culture is a way of life or a way of being that is Culture is a way of life or a way of being that is

shared by a group of people. Culture includes shared by a group of people. Culture includes knowledge, experience, and values that a knowledge, experience, and values that a group shares and shape the way its members group shares and shape the way its members see the world. see the world.

Governments, relationships, languages, and Governments, relationships, languages, and beliefs are all aspects of a groups’ cultural beliefs are all aspects of a groups’ cultural identity. identity.

Culture of the First Culture of the First NationsNations

The First Nations peoples have lived in all parts of The First Nations peoples have lived in all parts of the land that we now call Canada. They lived in the the land that we now call Canada. They lived in the frozen lands of the artic, the mountains of the west, frozen lands of the artic, the mountains of the west, the prairie grasslands, eastern woodlands, and on the prairie grasslands, eastern woodlands, and on the islands from the north to the south. the islands from the north to the south.

Each First Nation developed a unique culture suited Each First Nation developed a unique culture suited to its surroundings in the natural world. Their to its surroundings in the natural world. Their cultures became as diverse as the Canadian cultures became as diverse as the Canadian landscape.landscape.

When studying the First Nation peoples we tend to When studying the First Nation peoples we tend to lump these diverse groups together for ease of use; lump these diverse groups together for ease of use; and many groups do have similar worldviews based and many groups do have similar worldviews based on shared past experiences. However, remember on shared past experiences. However, remember that each group has distinct histories, traditions, that each group has distinct histories, traditions, language, and beliefs. language, and beliefs.

What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name? Why do we call them First Nations? Long story short- Why do we call them First Nations? Long story short-

Europeans tended to be Europeans tended to be ethnocentric ethnocentric This means that This means that they judged other cultures and ideas according to their they judged other cultures and ideas according to their values and standards. Generally, they did not respect values and standards. Generally, they did not respect perspectives that differed from their own.perspectives that differed from their own.

For example, when Christopher Columbus arrived on the For example, when Christopher Columbus arrived on the shores of the Americas, he was actually looking for a trade shores of the Americas, he was actually looking for a trade route to India. When he saw the Natives, he assumed he route to India. When he saw the Natives, he assumed he land in India and they were therefore, Indians. Instead of land in India and they were therefore, Indians. Instead of asking them what they called themselves, even after he asking them what they called themselves, even after he realized his mistake, the name Indian stuck, along with realized his mistake, the name Indian stuck, along with many other incorrect names for Native tribes.many other incorrect names for Native tribes.

Today we realize our mistake and, along with the input of Today we realize our mistake and, along with the input of the First Nation peoples, have officially replaced the the First Nation peoples, have officially replaced the European names with the original names of the First European names with the original names of the First Nations. Nations.

WorldviewsWorldviews Some Fist Nation cultures share core values Some Fist Nation cultures share core values

relating to their relationships with the Creator, relating to their relationships with the Creator, the natural world, other people, and the natural world, other people, and themselves.themselves.

These beliefs were passed from generation to These beliefs were passed from generation to generation through traditional teachings. generation through traditional teachings. These teachings helped explain the These teachings helped explain the relationships among plants, animals, land, relationships among plants, animals, land, people, and the spirit world.people, and the spirit world.

The Passing on of The Passing on of TraditionsTraditions

The elders of the First Nation peoples The elders of the First Nation peoples were held in high regard. They were the were held in high regard. They were the keepers of knowledge, and passed on keepers of knowledge, and passed on their knowledge, histories and traditions their knowledge, histories and traditions to the youth through oral storytelling.to the youth through oral storytelling.

The information was memorized and The information was memorized and passed on orally from one generation to passed on orally from one generation to the next. It did not need to be written the next. It did not need to be written down. In this way, the First Nations down. In this way, the First Nations developed a rich oral culture.developed a rich oral culture.

Our StudyOur Study For this unit we will focus on three First For this unit we will focus on three First

Nation peoples: The Mi’kkmaq, Nation peoples: The Mi’kkmaq, Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinabe.Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinabe.

We will explore their worldviews and We will explore their worldviews and traditional ways of life. traditional ways of life.

Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaq

The Mi’kmaq lived, and continue to live in The Mi’kmaq lived, and continue to live in Eastern CanadaEastern Canada

They were hunters, fishers, and gathers They were hunters, fishers, and gathers relying on small game animals and cod.relying on small game animals and cod.

They had strong spiritual beliefs centered They had strong spiritual beliefs centered on nature and the interconnectedness of on nature and the interconnectedness of all creatures of the Creator. Ass all were all creatures of the Creator. Ass all were believed to be equal, they treated all of believed to be equal, they treated all of nature with respect.nature with respect.

Their political structure was a hierarchy. They Their political structure was a hierarchy. They had members of a Grand Council, elected from had members of a Grand Council, elected from District Chiefs (there were 7 districts), the District Chiefs (there were 7 districts), the remaining chiefs made up the council of elders. remaining chiefs made up the council of elders.

Members of districts lived in family clans, with a Members of districts lived in family clans, with a local leader called Sagamaw. They solved local leader called Sagamaw. They solved local disputes. local disputes.

All members of council had to be good hunters All members of council had to be good hunters and/or fishers.and/or fishers.

All decisions were made with the consensus of All decisions were made with the consensus of the council members with input from interested the council members with input from interested ‘citizens’. ‘citizens’.

Men held the highest positions in the councils. Men held the highest positions in the councils. They were also responsible for hunting and They were also responsible for hunting and fishing in order to provide for the clan.fishing in order to provide for the clan.

Women held important roles in their Women held important roles in their communities. They were in charge in communities. They were in charge in distributing the food and goods among the distributing the food and goods among the clan. They gathered and prepared food, raised clan. They gathered and prepared food, raised the children and took care of the home. the children and took care of the home.

Women were also allowed and encouraged to Women were also allowed and encouraged to voice concerns to council. There were many voice concerns to council. There were many female elders who gave advice and guidance female elders who gave advice and guidance to council and clans. to council and clans.

Mi’kmaq – Political Mi’kmaq – Political StructureStructure

Grand CouncilGrand Council Leader

Seven District Chiefs (1 from each district)

Council of Elders

Villages of Bands

Local Chiefs

HaudenosauneeHaudenosaunee The Haudenosaunee are a group that The Haudenosaunee are a group that

includes six different First Nations: includes six different First Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora.Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora.

They lived North to South of the St. They lived North to South of the St. Laurence River.Laurence River.

They shared a similar language They shared a similar language (Algonquin) and similar core values. (Algonquin) and similar core values. However each group has a distinct However each group has a distinct cultureculture

The Haudenosaunee depended on The Haudenosaunee depended on hunting, fishing and gathering. They are hunting, fishing and gathering. They are accredited as being Canada’s first accredited as being Canada’s first farming peoples. Their main crops, the farming peoples. Their main crops, the “Three Sisters” were corn, beans, and “Three Sisters” were corn, beans, and squash. They believed the crops came squash. They believed the crops came from the Spirit World.from the Spirit World.

The Haudenosaunee had similar beliefs The Haudenosaunee had similar beliefs surrounding the importance of Nature surrounding the importance of Nature and the interconnectedness of human, and the interconnectedness of human, animal, and spirit world. animal, and spirit world.

The Haudenosaunee government system The Haudenosaunee government system relied on alliances, or agreements relied on alliances, or agreements between the different tribes to woek between the different tribes to woek together. According to oral history, a together. According to oral history, a peacemaker arrived in the land of the peacemaker arrived in the land of the Haudenosaunee who were at the time, at Haudenosaunee who were at the time, at war with each other. The peacemaker war with each other. The peacemaker created the Law of Peace; a set of laws created the Law of Peace; a set of laws that explain how the government would that explain how the government would work and how people should behave. work and how people should behave. This is not unlike how the constitution This is not unlike how the constitution works within the Canadian and US works within the Canadian and US government.government.

In the Haudenosaunee community, men were In the Haudenosaunee community, men were expected to hunt and fish. They also were the expected to hunt and fish. They also were the leaders. However, it was a matrilineal society- leaders. However, it was a matrilineal society- headed by women. headed by women.

Families were organized in Longhouses, Families were organized in Longhouses, similar to Mi’kmaq clans. Women were the similar to Mi’kmaq clans. Women were the head of longhouses and called Clan Mother. head of longhouses and called Clan Mother. Male leaders were elected by the women.Male leaders were elected by the women.

They tended the crops, raised the children, and They tended the crops, raised the children, and were responsible for distributing food and other were responsible for distributing food and other goods. The first to receive resources were goods. The first to receive resources were children, then Elders, women, then finally the children, then Elders, women, then finally the men. men.

Women were well respected for their Women were well respected for their ability to create life. They were the ability to create life. They were the decision makers and controlled many decision makers and controlled many aspects of Haudenosaunee daily life aspects of Haudenosaunee daily life including:including:

Location of villagesLocation of villages What crops to plant and whereWhat crops to plant and where Whether men should go to war or make peaceWhether men should go to war or make peace Taught the childrenTaught the children Preformed ceremonies and ritualsPreformed ceremonies and rituals

AnishinabeAnishinabe The Anishinabe lived The Anishinabe lived

in the wooded in the wooded country of Northern country of Northern Ontario, central Ontario, central Ontario, and Sothern Ontario, and Sothern Manitoba. Later they Manitoba. Later they moved Westward moved Westward onto the Plains onto the Plains where they live where they live today.today.

The Anishinabe lived The Anishinabe lived according to seven according to seven main principles:main principles:

WisdomWisdom LoveLove RespectRespect BraveryBravery HonestyHonesty HumilityHumility TruthTruth

The Anishinabe were hunters and The Anishinabe were hunters and gathers. However, they had an gathers. However, they had an additional food source that set them apart additional food source that set them apart from other First nations: wild rice. from other First nations: wild rice.

They focused on the seasons and They focused on the seasons and created a life cycle based on when to created a life cycle based on when to grow, when to harvest, when to hunt and grow, when to harvest, when to hunt and when to fish.when to fish.

Nature dictated their lives, therefore they Nature dictated their lives, therefore they too showed respect to Mother Nature.too showed respect to Mother Nature.

Like the Mi’kmaq and the Haudenosaunee, the Like the Mi’kmaq and the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinabe created a clan system to resolve Anishinabe created a clan system to resolve local issues and organize education, medicine, local issues and organize education, medicine, food and goods, etc. food and goods, etc.

Each clan was named after an animal, and each Each clan was named after an animal, and each clan had duties to carry out for the good of the clan had duties to carry out for the good of the entire nation.entire nation.

Each clan had a leader who was chosen based Each clan had a leader who was chosen based on their courage, skills, and character. on their courage, skills, and character.

The clans worked together to create a balanced The clans worked together to create a balanced government.government.

Anishinabe – The Anishinabe – The governing systemgoverning system

Anishinabe Clan System

Deer – Poets, pacificists;Responsible for creatingAnd maintaining shelter

Bear – Strong and steady;responsible for patrolling and policing the community

Loon and Crane – LeadershipClans; responsible for providing governance

Marten – Hunters, food gathers, and warriors

Fish – Teachers and scholars;Responsible for teaching young people and solving disputes

Bird – Spiritual leaders;Responsible for well-beingand spiritual development ofthe community.

The Anishinabe believed in equality and The Anishinabe believed in equality and balance. Men and Women were equal balance. Men and Women were equal partners and preformed specific roles.partners and preformed specific roles.

Men hunted, fished, and held leadership Men hunted, fished, and held leadership roles in the clan system.roles in the clan system.

Women raised children and looked after the Women raised children and looked after the home. They also did some hunting. They home. They also did some hunting. They were primarily responsible for planting and were primarily responsible for planting and harvesting. They too divided the food and harvesting. They too divided the food and other goods among the clans.other goods among the clans.

Economies of First Economies of First NationsNations

An important part of every culture is the economy. An important part of every culture is the economy. This is the way people meet their basic needs. This is the way people meet their basic needs.

The First Nations were based on food supply. The First Nations were based on food supply. Growing, gathering, hunting, and fishing. They Growing, gathering, hunting, and fishing. They needed to gain as much in the summer and needed to gain as much in the summer and preserve as much in the winter.preserve as much in the winter.

The people had to have an excellent knowledge The people had to have an excellent knowledge of the land, climate, and cycles of nature in order of the land, climate, and cycles of nature in order for this economy to work. for this economy to work.

Trading NetworksTrading Networks The First Nations traded goods with one The First Nations traded goods with one

another long before European traders arrived. another long before European traders arrived.

For example, the Haudenosaunee traded corn For example, the Haudenosaunee traded corn and other crops in return for copper from the and other crops in return for copper from the Anishinabe, and seashells from the Mi’kmaq.Anishinabe, and seashells from the Mi’kmaq.

All across North America, First Nations traded All across North America, First Nations traded with eachother for goods they did not have. with eachother for goods they did not have. When the Europeans arrived, they joined their When the Europeans arrived, they joined their trading network.trading network.