Lesson 1:2  Question 5 

At the heart of the intersection between story and literature we will easily find the meeting of native and newcomer, and as Chamberlin says, “I keep returning to the experience of aboriginal peoples because it seems to me to provide a lesson for us all. And for all its [Canada] much-vaunted reputation as an international mediator and peacemaker, it is in this story of natives and newcomers that Canada really has something to offer the world” (228).  And, then he goes on to propose: “Why not change underlying title back to aboriginal title?” (229). Explain how Chamberlin justifies this proposal.

In the last chapter of If this is your Land Where are your stories? Finding Common Ground J. Edward Chamberlin brings the book to a close by suggesting that we should change Canada’s underlying title back to the aboriginal title.  He Justifies his proposal by explaining how this will allow Canada to reconcile with its Aboriginal people, and provide the world with an example of how to make peace with the original inhabitants of our country.

“Land means more than property” to aboriginal cultures (Armstrong). It is an essential part of their culture, history, and spirituality (Armstrong), and Chamberlin emphasises the importance of land in aboriginal culture throughout his book.  Changing the title of the land back to its aboriginal title “would finally provide a constitutional ceremony of belief in the humanity of aboriginal peoples in the Americas” (Chamberlin 231).  In other words changing the land title provides a ceremonial construct of recognizing whose land we are living on.  It is a big step in reconciling aboriginal relations in Canada because it acknowledges that: yes this land was originally yours and we did take it from you. Chamberlin also says that changing the land title also recognizes aboriginals’ humanity.  It allows them to be seen as people and the original occupants of Canada rather than the “others”.  This eliminates the delusion of “them” and “us” and brings aboriginal peoples into the forefront  of our shared history (Chamberlin 239).

In addition, Chamberlin justifies his proposal by revisiting the idea that stories are both true and untrue. He says “it is in the act of believing in these stories and ceremonies… that we come together, and this act of believing can provide common ground across cultures…” (224). We do not need to see each others beliefs as true but we do need to respect them and acknowledge their equal importance to our own, after all they are just stories but they are very important to our identities.

The Raven By Bill Reid as displayed in the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology

For example, there is one Haida myth that I remember learning about in elementary school.  It is the Haida creation story called the Raven and the First Men – or at least that is what it has become called in English. In contrast the Settlers of Canada brought their own creation story with them to the Americas: the Christian creation story.  To this day both groups believe in the truth of their stories, but a third story has also emerged commonly known as the Big Bang Theory.  All stories have their truth, and depending what your own belief system is you will find that one story is truer to you than some of the others but, as Chamberlin would say, this does not make the other stories less true.  By changing Canada’s title back to aboriginal title we recognize everyones’ stories as having truth.  

For those who think changing Canada’s title to aboriginal title would change day to day life in Canada, or is going backwards rather than forwards Chamberlin responds: “ Let’s get serious. The past is where we live with the settlers’ stories anyway… changing the title wouldn’t mean that the Indian chief could come and sit on my doorstep or walk into my house, any more than the Queen or president could right now” (Chamberlin 230-31). Nothing in day to day life would really change, but we would be recognizing Canada’s first inhabitants as the rightful owners of this land. Canada has the opportunity to set an example for the world by acknowledging both aboriginal and settlers’ stories through the ceremonial re-titling of Canada. This will allow all of our stories to be recognized “on common ground” (Chamberlin 240).

Works Cited:

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Land & Rights.” Land & Rights. UBC First Nations Study Program, 2009. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

Chamberlin, J. Edward. If This Is Your Land, Where Are Your Stories?: Finding Common Ground. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2004. Print.

Howell, Elizabeth. “What Is the Big Bang Theory?” Space. Space, 22 June 2015. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.

McWilliams, Barry. “Raven Finds the First Men.” Raven and The First Men. Eldrabarry, 1997. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.

Reid, Bill. The Raven and the First Men. Digital image. Virtual Museum. The Canadian Museum of History, 2000. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.