Introduction
English 470A is a course whose primary focus is to encourage the study and reflection on the oral and print traditions of the Aboriginal and Settler (European) peoples. By looking at novels, articles, youtube videos etc, the class engaged in discussions about the power of voice, the power of the written word versus the oral, and the conflicts which arise when a meshing of societies/cultures occurs. Finally, the course encouraged its students to reflect on how much of the Canadian “voice” in our history is weighted against Aboriginal traditions and favours the traditions of the Settlers.
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Thomas King’s ‘The Truth About Stories’ had a powerful impact on our group – it was through this text we all encountered an Aboriginal creation story for the first time. Fascinated by the story of Charm, we decided to explore creation stories from four different First Nation Tribes in Canada for our conference.
Creation stories are quite often cultural touchstones. They provide insight into people’s beliefs, worldview and ways of knowing. Although they are not always accessible to outsiders, we believe they are an essential starting point to further our understanding of Aboriginal culture. In our project, we look at creation stories from four First Nation Tribes.
By exploring First Nation creation stories, we hope to gain new insights into their worldview and ways of knowing as well as how we might include this knowledge in the Canadian educational system, which will hopefully lead to a more inclusive Canada.