BeatNation

Beat Nation

Thanks to the BeatNation web site for this image, among other things.

For those of you who couldn’t find it when Shirley mentioned it in the discussion form, here is the link to BeatNation. For anybody interested in a youth culture, this is a MUST SEE!/ LISTEN!! There are a bunch of tracks here and the dialogue and respect shown even in the text is absolutely fantastic. I will definitely be looking into the history of the aboriginal hip-hop movement much more closely as a result of this. And if it hasn’t been done already, I am sure there is some incredible research value in that topic. I am sure that people like Amy Metcalf and her teachers have contributed to scholarship around this, but it is definitely my first real encounter and all kinds of questions arise because of it.

For example, how many other hip-hop artists are using traditional language in their recordings? I am sure that I’ve heard Australian aboriginal hip-hop, but I don’t have any exact references to draw from. Also, how many different aboriginal languages are being used in hip-hop? And probably most importantly, how useful could hip-hop be in engaging aboriginal youth and preserving indigenous language? 

Of course when it comes to hip hop it’s very easy to compare the plight of African-Americans and the plight of First Nations people. As we learned, many aboriginal groups around the world feel and felt a kinship with African-Americans during the civil rights movement. And there’s no question that hip-hop is vitally important in African-American culture and is born from the sentiment fo the civil rights movement. So it should come as no surprise that there are First Nations artists taking the lead from African-Americans. And the thing that comes to mind for some reason when I think about hip-hop, are the Brer bear and Brer rabbit  folktales, which are extremely similar in many ways to the oral traditions of First Nations culture. Interesting stuff and at the very least a great chance to listen to Dreamwarriors again for the first time in a long-time!

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

This Government of Canada Panel on Research Ethics website (Modified: 2010-03-22) Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, focuses on research involving Aboriginal peoples. Due to the fact that the agencies responsible for the formation of this policy statement feel that that there have so far been insufficient discussions with representatives of the Aboriginal communities involved, or with the various organizations or researchers involved, the agencies have decided that it is not yet appropriate to establish policies in this area. The text drafted to date (Section 6) builds on literature on research involving Aboriginal Peoples in Australia and abroad, and is intended to serve only as a starting point for discussions around a policy statement.

I find this website a somewhat hopeful government document for several reasons. For example it:

  • Respectfully acknowledges the unique cultures of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and the fact that specific policy language needs to be crafted in order to accommodate these needs.
  • Describes clearly some of the past research techniques that have impacted Aboriginal peoples and “historical reasons why Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples may legitimately feel apprehensive about the activities of researchers” and the subsequent harm that has resulted.
  • States the integral need to include Aboriginal groups in the formation of a complete policy statement.

http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique/tcps-eptc/section6-chapitre6/

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Technology, Education and Indigenous Peoples: the case of Maori

http://eec.edc.org/cwis_docs/NEWS_ARTICLES_JOURNALS/marshall_james.pdf

JAMES D. Educational Philosophy and Theory, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2000

This site may not be appropriate for module #4 – however, I did think it was interesting and wanted to post the information.

This article examines the introduction of technology within the Maori people within the New Zealand curriculum framework. It highlights the nature of technology and the issues in implementing this paradigm within a Western idealized education system when dealing with the aboriginal people of New Zealand. The author highlights that there has been little to no  research done on the impact or nature of technology on aboriginal people or the resulting influence on the people and their culture.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Medicine Keepers: Issues in Indigenous Health

http://www.ldb.org/indheal.htm

Lori A. Colomeda & Eberhard R. Wenzel

This site examines the indigenous cultures and the impact that the present day has on traditional lands and ways of life. It examines present day life on indigenous health and health issues. It compares indigenous education to the Western linear education system that is presently taught. Cultural contexts and values need to be taken into account when examining indigenous health and education.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Weaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Biological Education

http://www.esf.edu/nativepeoples/weaving.pdf

May 2002 issue of Bioscience

“Traditional ecological knowledge can be a source of new biological insights and potential models for conservation biology and sustainable development.”

This article calls for traditional ecological knowledge to be incorporated into curriculum to encourage participation from aboriginal people and increase collaborative relationships. It helps to recognize the contribution of traditional ecological knowledge on today’s society and educational system.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Raising awareness of indigenous knowledge in science and technology education

http://www.scidev.net/en/policy-briefs/raising-awareness-of-indigenous-knowledge-in-scien.html

“Over recent years, a greater awareness of indigenous knowledge has increasingly been linked to global sustainability.” This article highlights indigenous knowledge amongst science and technology education and recognizes indigenous knowledge within a scientific context. It highlights the impact of Western education on indigenous knowledge, and lobbies for a collaborative educational relationship.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Indigenous Environmental Network

http://www.ienearth.org/cits.html

“A network of Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the Sacred Fire of our traditions.” This site promotes education and awareness and mobilizes individual’s consciousness surrounding environmental issues. It has international support and recognition as it rallies behind environment and global issues.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Aboriginal Healing Foundation

Aboriginal Healing Foundation

I found the Aboriginal Healing Foundation while reading several research articles by Dr. William Mussell, one titled “Cultural Pathways for Decolonization” and another called “Warrior-caregivers: Understanding the challenges and healing of First Nations men.” The title of the latter reminded me about the Fraser River Journey film and Skyler’s father’s discussion about the importance of First Nations warriors and the warrior’s transition in modern culture. Several of Dr. Mussell’s articles are housed at AHF.ca.

The AHF has a very comprehensive and diverse board of directors and has received quite a significant amount of funding since its creation in 1998. More than $350 million in fact. Now it’s not exactly a $350 million website in terms of design and usability 😉 but the resources related to residential schools are particularly good and I recommend that anybody who is looking at residential schooling in more detail review the “residential school bibliography”in the publications section.

It is also interesting to note how important a role holism plays in mission statement of this organization. I must admit I hadn’t given much thought to the idea of holism before the start of this course but now find the idea playing a central role in my own everyday life.

Unfortunately, the foundation will be closed permanently in September 2012. Hopefully they will find a place to maintain these resources and keep them available to the general public.

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Canadian Residential Schools

While researching You Tube videos around the topic of Indigenous property rights, I came across a set of videos describing the Canadian Residential School experience. Although not directly related to this module’s topic, I had to include a couple of them. The second video poignantly illustrates the power of the technology. It is a devastating video to view.

Canadian Residential School Propaganda Video 1955:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_V4d7sXoqU&feature=related

Canadian Holocaust -Try Not to Cry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqPIh-267fg&feature=related

November 7, 2010   No Comments

Haisla.ca

The power of the Internet is undeniably strong and tends to be a first point of reference when trying to learn about anything. Whether or not that’s a good thing I don’t know but it’s a fact. I have been looking at many band websites over the course of this course and I’m happy to say that I think Haisla.ca is definitely on the right track. Like many websites it’s difficult to maintain especially when you’re first starting out but I think this site has great bones. You can see there’s multimedia capabilities, forum capabilities, a newsletter etc. There are also links to local artists and their work, the local Haisla-run radio station and its archives, as well as links to important documents pertaining to things like treaty negotiations. The news and events are kept up-to-date and there are specific calls to action such as youth events and Council meetings etc. It’s not perfect by any stretch but I myself think it’s wonderful to see the Haisla maintaining authority over this space in cyberspace.

November 7, 2010   No Comments