Category — Uncategorized

http://www.firstnations.eu/

“We were never conquered and we have never surrendered
the right to govern or be stewards of our traditional territories”

This is an awesome website that is informative, and a good example of communities using technology to get their message out and their voices heard!

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/johnson/vancouver/vancouver.html#ch-07
This website has a great collection of First Nations legends about Vancouver. I have not had the chance to read them all yet.  This is another way of preserving our legends and using technology to share those legends. Traditionally it would be an Elder sharing this legends. This legends were recorded in 1906. It brings to mind some of our readings and was this another form of cultural appropriation?

Indian Residential Schools in Canada the painful legacy video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4-TYwFS-P0

This is a very powerful and moving video of stills. It made me think about my Grandparents who both attending residential school. I will let the video speak for itself.

One of the main principles of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs is that, despite our differences, we will be stronger if we work together. The goal of the UBCIC is to support the work of our people, whether at the community, nation or international level, in our common fight for the recognition of our aboriginal rights and respect for our cultures and societies.  Their goal, the goal of the people, has been to give the aboriginal people of BC a voice strong enough to be heard in every corner of the world.  They continue, to carry out this mission in a number of different ways.

Another major principle behind their organization is the belief that knowledge is power. they are dedicated to information-sharing as well as to the fostering of fundamental and necessary research skills for Indian people in the province.

http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/

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.

This is the Indian and Northern Affairs website. It is a good website for gathering information. I use it when I need to look up contact information for a First Nation band office. It is an informative website. Very interactive site which also links to other resources.

http://pse5-esd5.ainc-inac.gc.ca/fnp/Main/index.aspx?lang=eng

http://www.indigenousfoodsystems.org/

This is an interactive website where people can share information, stories, recipes in regards to food security. Food security is becoming concern for all peoples. More and more community gardens are being started in Vancouver. UBC farms is a good example. They various participants from Musqueam First Nation to a garden section designated to residents from the downtown Eastside. For anyone interested in learning more about Food sovereignty this is a good website.

Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty

The Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty (WGIFS) was born in March of 2006 out of a recognized need to carry the Indigenous voice in the various meetings, conferences and discussions that have taken place within the food security movement. Through participation in the B.C. Food Systems Network Annual Gathering and strategic planning meetings, the WGIFS was created for the purpose of increasing awareness of the underlying issues, concerns and strategies impacting food security in Indigenous communities. The WGIFS seeks to apply culturally appropriate protocols and ancient ways of knowing through a consensus-based approach to critically analyzing issues, concerns and strategies as they relate to Indigenous food, land, culture, health, economics, and sustainability.

http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Traditions/English/history_games.html

This website was created with funds from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. It looks at the history of the Indigenous games. It has some good resources that could be used in a class. Detailed history about traditional games/sports of Indigenous peoples in Canada. A worthwhile look!

http://www.sfu.museum/time/en/panoramas/long-tool

The Salmon Story

When the Creator was still creating Mother Earth, there were a lot of things we have today that were not here at the beginning. For food we had a lot of meat. There were deer, elk, bear but when you eat meat you always have a heavy feeling in your stomach. You feel weighted down. Our people prayed to the Creator for something different, something lighter. The Creator spoke to a Siam and gave him instructions. “You make a dip net and go to the river. There you will see something swimming in the river, these are salmon. Dip one out and roast it by the fire. Share this food with your people. Then gather up all the salmon bones, place them on cedar bark and return them to the river. The river will take the bones back to the salmon people who live in the Sea. If you don’t show your respect in this way, not many salmon will return to the river. You have to give thanks to the Salmon People for sending their children up the river to feed us.”

This is how the Creator gave us the salmon.

Told by Ed Leon, Chehalis. Retold by Frank Malloway.

This is just one example of the rich culture that is presented on this website. The website has a wide range of resources, from games, audio, video. This website was done in partnership with SFU and   Xá:ytem Longhouse in Mission which is part of the Sto:lo peoples territory.

http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/hulq/index.htm

This website was created by the University Of Victoria. It is an introduction to Hul’q’umi’num’ which is one of the Coast Salish languages. The website has a variety of exercises to assist learners with the language. It is a good example of using how  technology can be used to assist in preserving a language and teaching a language. Many Elders are passing on and they would traditionally played a significant role in teaching a language. Also many First Nations live away from their home community so using a website like this assists in keeping our languages alive.