Module 2 Second set of postings – Marie-France Hétu

Thorough archival searches were   conducted by the Faculty of Native Studies to gather material relevant to   Métis history. This website provides the general public and Métis users with   access to their ancestor’s documents. I believe this web site is a good way   to store collective memories, as it could facilitate the process of   re-connection with cultural identity. Educators and learners alike could also   be interested in this website as an educational tool, as well as the general   public.

Source # 2

This website is in French.  It appears to be more of an informative   site than one that is very interactive.    It appears destined as much for Huron-Wendat people than for visitors.   The historical information provided is very basic and again almost given as   if a tourist is looking for information.    Most information is conveyed in the third person, and the collective   ‘we’ or ‘nous’ is not often used. There is one element that appears more   interactive and is likely updated, that is the news and job segments.   Although again both jobs and events appear open to everyone. The site is   attractive and professional, althoughsSome areas of the Website remain empty   (perhaps it is still under construction), while the word of the chief Konrad   Sioui dates back to May 2012. The most elaborate part of the website is the   services segment.  I was particularly   impressed with their environmental vision based on ancestral notions, where   the ‘we’ as the Huron-Wendake nation is quite evident.

It also appears that this small   community has put into place community programs that help individuals become   autonomous, supporting their endeavors in the following domains: education,   socialization and qualifications. The community offers an impressive amount   of full-time and part-time educational programs, from reorientation courses   to courses leading to various certificates and degrees. This community also   has its own primary school with a mission based on the child’s intellectual,   social and cultural needs according to Huron-Wendat nation beliefs.

I also came across a link to   “Yakwennra”.  This takes you to the   Huron-Wendat local newspaper, which is so elaborate with community news that   it deserves a separate blog.

Source # 3

http://www.wendake.ca/docs/yakwennra/yakwennra-été-2012.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Yakwennra is a quarterly community newspaper that   is a relatively new endeavor. The newspaper is filled with community events   touching various socio-cultural happenings within the community.  School events, historical events and future   events seem to take up as much importance, which I felt somewhat demonstrated   the circular time line. I was impressed with the quality of this paper, both   in print and photo.

It appears here that the   Huron-Wendat people have managed to use the Internet to celebrate their   culture, reflecting on the past, outlining ongoing events and events to take   place in the near future. Yes print is used to tell the stories instead of   storytelling, but truly the stories depicted in this newspaper reveal a   community that is very much rooted with their culture and proud of it!  Various projects also show an interesting   collaboration with other entities within the provincial and federal   government, namely concerning health services, and the relocation of   ancestral remains. I also found it interesting that the newspaper covered   news, events and projects about the entire community, from the very young, to   the working force, political figures, local community services, the police   and the elderly. This newspaper is clearly out to proudly show where they   come from, what they have accomplished and how they envision the future.

It appears that this endeavor is   funded by some form of advertising, and that everyone in the community   contributes to covering or furnishing the stories and photos.

Source # 4

I now wanted to explore First   Nations communities in Ontario and fell upon this site:

http://firstnation.ca/   and then looking under the communities tab I found a complete repertoire of   First Nations communities, I had no idea there were that many – what an eye   opener.

So I decided to visit the Amjiwnaang   First Nation community website at the following link:

http://www.aamjiwnaang.ca/

By their first page this site   clearly welcomes visitors. After perusal, it appears to mainly offer a   repertoire of community services within the community.  I was surprised to see in the right-hand   column advertising that promotes girls guides and boy scouts?  This is very much a ‘Western’ tradition and   it seems this community has adopted this tradition. The website indicates “Let us share with   you the uniqueness that this community has developed within itself and to the   communities that surround us.” Yet, Even   the news segment contains little more information than who the band council   members are.  There is a login format,   so perhaps the other aspects of the website are for community members only.   There appears to be a blog, for it indicates there are 24 guests online, yet   the actual forum is not accessible to me. Perhaps this is an example where   the website discussions are almost exclusively for members of the community.

Site # 5

There was however a link to the Aamjiwnaang   First Nation environment and health committee, which I decided to explore   next:

http://www.aamjiwnaangenvironment.ca/

The Environment Committee   of Aamjiwnaang’s goal is to preserve the environment for present and future   generations, as well as to protect and promote the health, safety and   education of their people.

This site is open to   visitors, I was particularly interested in the segment about their history.   This page offers information about their more recent history concerning their   struggle to make their environmental rights known concerning pollution from   big Sarnia chemical companies.

Within their news   archive they provide various news bulletins mainly related to health and   environment issues from 2006 till now.    This page offers video footage and many PDF articles and essays that   document the Aamjiwnaang’s actions and efforts over the years to make their   voice heard concerning health and environment issues.

This website very much   promotes social and political involvement within a program that seems to be   well embedded within the community framework.