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Aboriginalism Definition
Aboriginalism is the fight for rights and lands of the aboriginal peoples. It is the protests made and governments created in order to prevent the Whites from taking over the lands of the first habitants. This is a struggle for preserving lands as well by preventing exploitation. -
Event #1 - Indian Act
“The Indian Department became a federal office in 1868 and has continued under various titles until the present day. Legislation governing Aboriginal people was consolidated into one INDIAN ACT in 1876” -
Cultural Expression - Indian Act
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Current of thought #1 - Indian Act
- This image shows clearly how the Native Americans did not trust the Canadian government since they did not keep the side of their deal. The fact that they did not believe or trust the government could have caused the native people to begin to have a rejection toward those people and seek to be isolated and far from them. To have them not trust them could have also caused them to not have as many economical deals and work with the non-native people.
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Other Event #3 - Indian Act
- American Indian Act showed how the natives were not happy with how the relationship between them and the country leaders was. All problems that were fought in the American Indian act were from lack of trust.
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Event #2 - Provisional Government
Louis Riel, a Metis leader, set up a provisional government in 1885. This was done in order to protect the Metis people’s rights and culture since they were not respected by Canada. The lands of the Metis were at risk of being taken over and after several failed attempts to be heard, the start of a government seemed necessary. -
Power Relations #1 - Potlashes
- “According to Canadian historian Constance Backhouse, the Aboriginal "Give Away Dances" were ceremonies more commonly known as Potlatches that connected entire communities politically, economically and socially.[17] These Dances affirmed kinship ties, provided elders with opportunities to pass on insight, legends and history to the next generation, and were a core part of Aboriginal resistance to assimilation.[17] It is estimated that between 1900 and 1904, fifty Aboriginal people were..."
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Relationship
- Their relationship with the government of Canada was very rough since there was no trust from the natives towards the government and the government did not always follow through with laws and treaty. This rough and distant relationship was shown in the art of both groups of people.
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Cultural expression - NIB
The National Indian Brotherhood, set up to protect the rights and culture of Aboriginal peoples, represented all the indigenous peoples in Canada in political & federal affairs. -
Power Relations #2 - NIB
The NIB allowed Aboriginal peoples who were living lives under difficult circumstances to hold more power. They were finally able to reject a plan of assimilation by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau government in 1969 with this organization. -
Current of Thought #2 - NIB
This Brotherhood was very important since it encouraged Aboriginal peoples to move from rebelling to arguing in court. This meant that they would have more of a say and start winning victories for themselves. For example, in 1982, Aboriginal peoples were able to argue their land claims in court and in the 1990s started standing up to the army. -
Other Event #4 - Deadly confrontations
- They had several fights over land either to keep or protect their land. In 1980 the natives got so frustrated due to their rights and laws being ignored that they took place in deadly confrontation in Alberta.
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Other Event #1 - Court rights
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Other Event #2 - Standing up to army
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Influence #1 - Relationships
- Their relationship with the government of Canada was very rough since there was no trust from the natives towards the government and the government did not always follow through with laws and treaty. This rough and distant relationship was shown in the art of both groups of people.
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Cultural expression
Susan Aglukark is an Artist. Through her personal lyrics and story, Susan sings and speaks of her Inuk heritage while giving voice to the social state of the Canadian Aboriginal community.
With the release of her latest album “White Sahara”, Susan highlights songs such as “Where Do We Go From Here” a question asked on behalf of many Aboriginal youth to it’s leaders, while songs like “Revolution Road” reminds listeners that warriors and heroes exist among every day people. -
Influence #2 - Treaty
From the NIB, Aborginial peoples gained more courage to stand up for their rights. Especially since native group came together to join forces, as Chief Big Bear once suggested. This event changed cultures since new alliances were being formed to fight. In 2002, a treaty was signed which declared a deal with Hydro-Quebec and the Cree.
