First Nations in Saskatchewan formed in groups called "Bands", these were made of related families, the reason for this is to ensure that everyone was well looked after. Every person had a role that was essential to the survival of the People, from the babies, toddlers, adolescents, adults, to the Elderly, each had to do their part to make sure that the Band could sustain itself.
In each Band an appointed member, (usually recognized at birth,) was to learn from early childhood as to what their contribution would be and what was expected from them once they became adults. The teachings included the Knowledge passed down from the Elders. Different related bands united for ceremonies and during the hunting season which required collective effort.
Showing posts with label tradition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tradition. Show all posts
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Dakotas
"Dakotah" is the proper name for the first nations people who have occupied the Saskatchewan Plains since time immemorial. The name derives from the word "WaDakotah" which means "harmony", " a condition of being at peace with one another and with the Natural World.
According to Traditional Sacred Teachings of the Dakotas; Wakantanka, the Creator gave life to the Dakotas in the Paha Sapa , The Black Hills of South Dakota, from this birthplace the Dakotas have developed a nomadic Lifestyle on the plains of this continent.
The Dakotas believe that kinship is the True Value that keeps this culture alive, as well the gift of the Sacred Pipe from the White Buffalo Calf Woman and the Drum is always treated with respect, so sacred are these values there are ceremonies that are conducted to honour these values. Women do not touch the Pipe or the Drum because of the traditions and sacredness of these lifeways.
The Dakota have always depended on the gifts of Mother Earth and to give thanks for these gifts there are individual ceremonies that are conducted everyday and then there are the communal ceremonies such as Feasts and Giveaways.
In the 18th and early 19th centuries the Dakotas dominated a huge territory which included The Great Lakes in the east to the Missouri River in the West to as far north as the Churchill River to the Rocky Mountains and as far south as New Mexico.
Contact with the Europeans occurred in 1815 and as the years went by the Dakotas were severly impacted by settlers who continued to claim Dakota Traditional territory and the United States Government negotiated land cessions with armed forces and promises of cash and reservations, The Sisseton and Wahpeton Bands were forced to give up their nomadic life and settle onto tracts of Land and become farmers. They were also told to give up their Ceremonial practices, cut their hair and wear suitable farm clothing. Finally they were urged to banish their own spiritual leaders and medicine men and become christians.
In the late summer of 1862 the eastern bands of the Dakotas in Minnesota had not recieved their Treaty committed payments and gifts and the conditions resulting from the transition of a nomadic life to an agricultural life proved to be disasterous to a point of starvation, sickness and despair. The Dakotas became restless and in August 17, 1862, the discontent erupted into a violent revolt against the Americans, thereafter, many members of the bands were incarcerated at Fort Snelling and at Mankato, Minnisota. A Millitary court was convened and as a result 300 Dakota Leaders were sentenced to death by Hanging. President Abraham Lincoln reviewed the convictions and overturned the results and all except 38 , by the end of September the Dakotas were badly outnumbered and resulted in the loss of lives and the survivors began their journey into Canada.
According to Traditional Sacred Teachings of the Dakotas; Wakantanka, the Creator gave life to the Dakotas in the Paha Sapa , The Black Hills of South Dakota, from this birthplace the Dakotas have developed a nomadic Lifestyle on the plains of this continent.
The Dakotas believe that kinship is the True Value that keeps this culture alive, as well the gift of the Sacred Pipe from the White Buffalo Calf Woman and the Drum is always treated with respect, so sacred are these values there are ceremonies that are conducted to honour these values. Women do not touch the Pipe or the Drum because of the traditions and sacredness of these lifeways.
The Dakota have always depended on the gifts of Mother Earth and to give thanks for these gifts there are individual ceremonies that are conducted everyday and then there are the communal ceremonies such as Feasts and Giveaways.
In the 18th and early 19th centuries the Dakotas dominated a huge territory which included The Great Lakes in the east to the Missouri River in the West to as far north as the Churchill River to the Rocky Mountains and as far south as New Mexico.
Contact with the Europeans occurred in 1815 and as the years went by the Dakotas were severly impacted by settlers who continued to claim Dakota Traditional territory and the United States Government negotiated land cessions with armed forces and promises of cash and reservations, The Sisseton and Wahpeton Bands were forced to give up their nomadic life and settle onto tracts of Land and become farmers. They were also told to give up their Ceremonial practices, cut their hair and wear suitable farm clothing. Finally they were urged to banish their own spiritual leaders and medicine men and become christians.
In the late summer of 1862 the eastern bands of the Dakotas in Minnesota had not recieved their Treaty committed payments and gifts and the conditions resulting from the transition of a nomadic life to an agricultural life proved to be disasterous to a point of starvation, sickness and despair. The Dakotas became restless and in August 17, 1862, the discontent erupted into a violent revolt against the Americans, thereafter, many members of the bands were incarcerated at Fort Snelling and at Mankato, Minnisota. A Millitary court was convened and as a result 300 Dakota Leaders were sentenced to death by Hanging. President Abraham Lincoln reviewed the convictions and overturned the results and all except 38 , by the end of September the Dakotas were badly outnumbered and resulted in the loss of lives and the survivors began their journey into Canada.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Treaty Status Card Black Market
There is a lot of talk when it comes to benefits for First Nations people who hold a status card, especially from people who benefit the most from treaty cards, many people talk about "...How Indians dont pay taxes and that thier tax dollars are being used by the Indians..." .
Well this is what I see as a Treaty Card Holder:
1. First Nations People pay Taxes just as much as the non-treaty card holder - and the tax dollars that Treaty Card holders pay goes right into the pockets of the Government, because Treaty Card Holders will probably never see Tax- Back Dollars every fiscal period. Treaty Card holders cannot under Law claim any GST or PST, unless every receipt of purchase is collected throughout the year, and is not possible for a number of reasons.
2. There a few names for Treaty Card Holders that are used:
"Indian": When people have to pay money to First Nations people, for example
when they have to pay for equity status
"Aboriginal ": When people talk about all Native people and would like to create
jobs especially when applying for grants
"First Nations": When People need something from the reserves or native business
....There are more names but I cant write them here.
3. Non-Treaty people will pick up Treaty Indians anywhere and take them to a Band
controlled store, give the Treaty Indian money and ask him to buy Cigarettes and Gas at a cheaper price and often times the Treaty Indian will be asked to find his way home with nothing.
4. There is a family of White people on my reserve who have always worked for the band as far back as I can remember, one of them was working at the Band Office as a Band Membership Clerk and she made Treaty Cards for herself and some of her relatives, this is to get tax breaks.
5. The treaty card comes with a number assigned to native people.
Around the country non -status people are beginning to claim Aboriginal Heritage as a way to get equity money from the government - some people are calling themselves "Metis" or "non-status" just to dip into the Education Dollars, housing or other benefits allotted for Aboriginal People.
The Treaty Card is fast dissappearing into history and now it is worth just about the same as the paper it is written on, pretty soon it will end up in a museum display case with the words " ...as long as the Sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow..."
Well this is what I see as a Treaty Card Holder:
1. First Nations People pay Taxes just as much as the non-treaty card holder - and the tax dollars that Treaty Card holders pay goes right into the pockets of the Government, because Treaty Card Holders will probably never see Tax- Back Dollars every fiscal period. Treaty Card holders cannot under Law claim any GST or PST, unless every receipt of purchase is collected throughout the year, and is not possible for a number of reasons.
2. There a few names for Treaty Card Holders that are used:
"Indian": When people have to pay money to First Nations people, for example
when they have to pay for equity status
"Aboriginal ": When people talk about all Native people and would like to create
jobs especially when applying for grants
"First Nations": When People need something from the reserves or native business
....There are more names but I cant write them here.
3. Non-Treaty people will pick up Treaty Indians anywhere and take them to a Band
controlled store, give the Treaty Indian money and ask him to buy Cigarettes and Gas at a cheaper price and often times the Treaty Indian will be asked to find his way home with nothing.
4. There is a family of White people on my reserve who have always worked for the band as far back as I can remember, one of them was working at the Band Office as a Band Membership Clerk and she made Treaty Cards for herself and some of her relatives, this is to get tax breaks.
5. The treaty card comes with a number assigned to native people.
Around the country non -status people are beginning to claim Aboriginal Heritage as a way to get equity money from the government - some people are calling themselves "Metis" or "non-status" just to dip into the Education Dollars, housing or other benefits allotted for Aboriginal People.
The Treaty Card is fast dissappearing into history and now it is worth just about the same as the paper it is written on, pretty soon it will end up in a museum display case with the words " ...as long as the Sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow..."
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Childrens Toys in First Nations Culture
In First Nations Culture , children are held in high regard and are known to be pure and have a special place on Mother Earth, children are sacred and are respected as such. The Old People have always said that " the children are only on loan from the Creator and if we do not look after them properly and teach them right the Creator will take them away from you...".
Childrens love to play with toys and in First Nations Culture, toys were made in exact replica of the things that adults would use with intricate Craftsmanship and was often fully functional except smaller and easier to handle. The Toys made also served a purpose as a teaching tool for respecting property and how to share with others. The toys would also be a tool to teach children how to use tools properly, for example a toy cradle board would show how a baby fitted properly in the safety seat. (the toys than were teaching methods on survival) .
Boys and girls were allowed to play with each others toys untill they were told that they were too old perhaps at about age 10, at this time teachings of the Adult world would take over from the carefree days of childhood.
Childrens love to play with toys and in First Nations Culture, toys were made in exact replica of the things that adults would use with intricate Craftsmanship and was often fully functional except smaller and easier to handle. The Toys made also served a purpose as a teaching tool for respecting property and how to share with others. The toys would also be a tool to teach children how to use tools properly, for example a toy cradle board would show how a baby fitted properly in the safety seat. (the toys than were teaching methods on survival) .
Boys and girls were allowed to play with each others toys untill they were told that they were too old perhaps at about age 10, at this time teachings of the Adult world would take over from the carefree days of childhood.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Medicine Hat Society
When a child is born into a family that is well known for a specific role in the community, it is understood that the child would learn the those particular skills from his family.
Within the Medicine Hat Society members are recognized and groomed from childhood and are taught all kinds of medicine. The teachings include the origin of the plant, the proper protocol of harvesting the plant, the ceremonies that come with the plant and its medicines. The songs, chants and ceremonies that come with the medicines must be learned in the way that they had been practised since time immemorial.
The Medicine Hat is made of feathers of all kinds of Birds which may include the Eagle, Crow, Magpies, and other birds; as the knowledge is transferred from one person to the other it is signified by adding a feather onto the bonnet. The hat becomes rounder and rounder as feathers are added. Each of the Feathers represent a knowledge or a medicine.
The owner of the Medicine Hat would have their own individual ceremonies for the Hat itself, during the summer months there would be a gathering of Medicine Men and this gives the opportunity to have a Community feast and celebration, this also gives a chance to hold workshops on new technologies and healing methods.
To be the owner of the Medicine Hat is equivalent to owning a doctorate degree in todays standards, there are both male and female Medicine Hat Owners.
Within the Medicine Hat Society members are recognized and groomed from childhood and are taught all kinds of medicine. The teachings include the origin of the plant, the proper protocol of harvesting the plant, the ceremonies that come with the plant and its medicines. The songs, chants and ceremonies that come with the medicines must be learned in the way that they had been practised since time immemorial.
The Medicine Hat is made of feathers of all kinds of Birds which may include the Eagle, Crow, Magpies, and other birds; as the knowledge is transferred from one person to the other it is signified by adding a feather onto the bonnet. The hat becomes rounder and rounder as feathers are added. Each of the Feathers represent a knowledge or a medicine.
The owner of the Medicine Hat would have their own individual ceremonies for the Hat itself, during the summer months there would be a gathering of Medicine Men and this gives the opportunity to have a Community feast and celebration, this also gives a chance to hold workshops on new technologies and healing methods.
To be the owner of the Medicine Hat is equivalent to owning a doctorate degree in todays standards, there are both male and female Medicine Hat Owners.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The truth about Traditional culture
In todays world there is faster communication and a faster way of doing things, sometimes we bypass certain steps to gaining knowledge. The way that I acquired my knowledge is through the Traditional way: Offering of tobacco, blanket and monetary gift, these gifts to my teachers would give me accurate knowledge and passed down from generation to generation. The reason we give gifts is a way that Cultural Keepers can manage the Knowledge and the environment. Be careful out there when we seek to find culture, sometimes the teacher is just in the process of learning, when you are not sure - find your family Elder and take their advice, if you dont have a family Elder than find one who is a ' Language Traditional Elder' ( One who grew up with the Language and lived the culture since birth)
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