Author: Mike Rybachuk

Savage Minds

http://savageminds.org/2010/04/06/two-books-on-indigenous-methods/

The website supports two books dealing with the methodologies of Indigenous research, “Decolonizing Methodologies”, (Linda Smith) and” Researching is Ceremony” (Shawn Wilson)

The link to the Smith book is weak, but the link to the Wilson book is quite good.  It offers a general overview of the book, as well as a brief intro by Wilson, an Opaskawayak Cree from N. Manitoba.  There is also a 6-page pdf file of excerpts from the book to read through

The power of this website is not that it mentions one of the readings in Module 3, but that it really doesn’t stop at the two mentioned above.  There is brief mention of a few other books on the same subject, but keep going.  Scroll down to the comments at the bottom of the page and find 9 posts from various professionals, again listing numerous other sources.

 Of interest to me was a link to Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn, an archaeologist from Simon Fraser University.  Dr. Yellowhorn’s research in Native Studies has focused on examining the experience of aboriginal people in the modern world and their struggle to promote cultural diversity in a homogeneous society.  This lends some confirmation that an Indigenous person with a mainstream education can represent traditional indigenous communities.

 

The Urban Native Youth Association Webpage

http://unya.yikesite.com/home

This webpage is very well laid out and easy to navigate.  There are numerous links from this Metro Vancouver based youth center.  The center offers over 21 programs to urban native youth, along with a wide array of special programs and activities. 

I believe this site is a great example of what might be called “contemporary aboriginal youth” 

There is a Face book link beside a link to success stories.  The center sells t-shirts to raise money for programs whose artwork by members meshes traditional symbols and pattern with center advertising. A resource page offers basic health info along with an extensive cookbook on how to eat healthy meals on a small budget, all in pdf format.  A guide explaining the ins and outs of college and university is also presented, again in pdf format.

The news link takes you to accounts of the youth center’s successes, press releases, and newspaper article from across Western Canada addressing issues pertaining to aboriginal youth from sexual abuse to comments on Steven Harpers apology regarding residential schools.  There are places where you can help, volunteer, or get help finding work.  The youth center itself is beautiful, and the website shows it off proudly.  Click on the links button and gain access to over 40 additional websites about other youth and aboriginal organizations.

 

The National Indian Youth Leadership Project

http://www.niylp.org/index.htm

This website is the flagship for the NIYLP, who for the past 25 years has set as their mission to nurture the potential of Native youth to be contributors to a more positive world through adventure-based learning and service to family, community, and nature.

Project Venture (PV) was designed to reconnect Native youth with nature through sequenced initiatives and outdoor activities.  From its modest beginnings promoting alternative activities to high risk native youth, NIYLP has grown to include the 1200 acre Sacred Learning Center in New Mexico, along with Walking in Beauty and Tacheeh projects aimed at transitioning adolescent girls and boys into adulthood.  Project Venture has grown to national and international status.  Check out the photo gallery about building Tortoise Amphitheatre and check out the smiles on the kid’s faces.  Watch the YouTube video as the youth describe the Project in their own words.  The website also offers opportunities for training in the Project Venture model, both initial and advanced.  This bodes well for the wellness of this project, now and in the future.

Red Hat, Where Are You Going?

http://www.westafricareview.com/vol3.2/konate.html

Red Hat, Where Are You Going? Is a documentary video produced by Emile and Maarten Adriaan Van Rouveroy Van Nieuwaal and Burkinabe historian Some Magloire.

Red Hat Where Are you Going? is about the traditional chiefs, of former Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso, in West Africa) the naabas, who wear red hat as a symbol of their authority?

Of particular interest in this review of the movie is a lengthy exploration of the role of traditional chiefs throughout the colonization period of Burkina Faso.  Some of the chiefs aligned themselves with the colonial power, becoming educated in Western economics and leadership and now see themselves as far more capable leaders than their traditional counterparts.  They have adopted many western views especially exclusion of traditional “values” since they are a threat to their power.  The tradition chiefs see themselves as defenders of culture and are looking for inclusion in all areas of post-colonization life.  Much debate continues among them as to “how far back” their culture should be maintained, pre-colonial or post-colonial.  While still in flux, even the most traditional chiefs understand that they must adapt to the changing political climate in Burkina Faso, and indeed all of Africa, if they are too have any say in the future.

When posed with the question “Can a traditional person become educated and still remain traditional?” this article would suggest no.  When the indigenous leaders of Burkina Faso became educated in Western ways, they tended to see themselves as superior, and look down on their traditional cousins.  While this is clearly not a binary phenomenon, the balance between “traditions” and “modernity” has been extremely difficult to maintain, and conflict, rather than cooperation, is the norm rather than the exception.  True this is only one situation, but the power associated with western colonization is a force difficult to relinquish.

 

 

 

Aboriginal Place Names

The names we give to things are an important and revealing component of who we are, both as individuals and as a culture. One aspect of colonization is to change names, perhaps as a way to assert control over the indigenous territory, but more often than not names are changed because the new inhabitants cannot pronounce the original word(s).  In Canada, especially in Western Canada, we still use many of the aboriginal names given by the indigenous people in the area.  I present with minimal apology several websites that list current names or cities, rivers, lakes and provinces.  I believe we are extremely lucky to have and use the names associated with our collective indigenous past.  Enjoy.

http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/685669

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/is/info106-eng.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_place_names_in_Canada_of_Aboriginal_origin

A paper prepared in collaboration of Indian affairs 2002. 

http://www.usask.ca/education/people/battistem/ikp_e.pdf

Part 1 outlines the bipolar view of Eurocentric knowledge vs Indigenous knowledge.  Originally indigenous knowledge was pushed out because it did not fit into our scientific belief system, or our school system for that matter.  Slowly, respect for indigenous knowledge is gaining ground along with ways to integrate it into our Eurocentric school system.

Part 2 more specifically outlines the parameters of indigenous knowledge, and how such learning really does not fit into our current school system.  As a high school teacher myself I can testify this to be very true, sad but true.  Vales are deeply imbedded into indigenous knowledge, making them hard to quantify or distinguish from morals.  Indigenous learning is viewed in a more holistic fashion, with the learner setting the course for learning dependant on personal circumstances and interests. This section very clearly outlines the key concepts of indigenous knowledge and in itself is a very worthwhile section to read.

Part 3 presents a conclusion and recommendations for change.  At least this gives a framework for change.  Like all change, taking steps forward, even small steps, will require determination and time.

Aboriginal People in the Movies

http://www.paperlw.net/html/Movies—Tv/200807/21-4976.html

This is a very well written article chronicling how the motion picture industry has been responsible for many of the stereotypes of the North American Indian.  Starting with the role of the Indian in silent movies, how the Noble Red Man changed into the Savage as film and native involvement evolved.  The article recounts has certain cinematographic techniques were used and developed to further these stereotypes.  The political native activism movement in the late 60’s have been critical in identifying the inferior roles played and given to natives.  They have been less successful in erasing these stereotypes.  The article ends with an optimistic look as recent contemporary movies depicting Native Indians, as well as several links for addition reading.   The article offers a concise overview of how movies have stereotyped the North American Indian and neatly summarizes many of the key topics of discussion in Module 2.

Climate Change… the old and the new

http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/indigenous-innovation-at-vanguard-of-climate-change/

Indigenous people have always had the best knowledge of the land that sustains them.  They are most adaptable to change as they have been adaptable to change for millennia.  This article chronicles some of the ways in which indigenous knowledge has been used to help combat climate change, most specifically caused by man himself.  There are several cases where indigenous knowledge has been linked with “scientific knowledge” in way that is beneficial not only to the indigenous community but also the “outside” community at large. 

This article also provides links to related information, the use of “GPS and the Inuit”, and how knowledge from the local “bininj” is helping control wildfires and reduce greenhouse gasses by as much as 100,000 tonnes per year  (complete with a short video, native language, english subtitles)

The UN recognizes indigenous knowledge

Indigenous peoples are among the first to face the direct consequences of climate change, owing to their dependence upon, and close relationship with the environment and its resources. Climate change exacerbates the difficulties already faced by indigenous communities, including political and economic marginalization, loss of land and resources, human rights violations, discrimination and unemployment.

Although they contribute very little to the underlying causes of climate change, indigenous peoples are helping enhance the resilience of ecosystems they inhabit and are interpreting and reacting to the impacts of climate change in creative ways, drawing on traditional knowledge and other technologies to find solutions which may help society at large to cope with impending changes.  (Opening press release for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues)

Watch this short video to set the tone for the conference!

http://hub.witness.org/IndigenousMedia

Now to the UN website.

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_seventh.html

This is remarkable.  This website provides a link to all the proceedings from the conference.  Of special interest are the press releases (patience, they take a few seconds to load up).  Look at the “Handbook for Participants”.  The cover features a North American Indian in full headdress, while page 28 offers a website for participant who need a hotel room.  Even in its effort to address indigenous concerns, the UN gets caught in the “stereotype” game.

A look at the start of Indigenous media….. newspaper and radio

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/learning/lifelong/stories/s1174633.htm

Part Nine of the “Cultures of Journalism” series exploring Journalism in Australia, produced and hosted by Donna McLachlan.   Donna interviews the pioneers of Indigenous media, starting with black newspapers in the USA, and focussing on movers and shakers of the indigenous media in Australia and the Pacific.  The message is much the same as the plight of the indigenous people in North America, especially in television; starting by trying to counteract the negative and untruthful stories of the dominant white culture.  Once a toe-hold into the system is obtained, expanded air-time, expertise with emerging technology, and greater involvement by indigenous people follow.  What I found very refreshing is that you can listen to the broadcast via “Real Player”.  Hearing the voices and accents of the local journalists helps to reinforce the powerful notion of media as a way to “store and revitalize language”, another positive argument supporting the use of media by indigenous people.