Members of this society must have scientific knowledge of the behavior of the Buffalo, they would have to know the migratory routes of the herd, the calving of the cows, the Ceremonies, songs, celebrations and other information that would help the Band succeed in the hunting of the Buffalo.
The Buffalo provided a livelihood for the Plains People, as a source for Food, Shelter, and clothing, as well as numerous other uses.
The Buffalo Society membership required the Knowledge of Ceremonial procedures that had to be done exactly as they had been practised since time immemorial, so that the Buffalo Spirit would be appeased and not be angry and stop providing.
Children were identified for mentorship for the Buffalo Society by Elders in the Band, the child or children (often a boy and a girl) would than be taught by members of the society. As a survival tactic, two students would be chosen every year for study just in case one student could not complete training.
The members of the Buffalo Society managed the Buffalo Hunt according to traditional laws as governed by the Creator, the time for the hunt was scheduled around the migrations of the Buffalo, usually during the fall. Band members knew their role in the hunt and obeyed direction of the society. To disobey laws could endanger the whole band and the hunt could be disastrous, there were of course Tribal Police that would ensure that all band members followed rules.
The Buffalo Society have a very important role in the band, this position required yearly ceremonies and yearly sacrifices have to be made. The survival of the Band was dependant on the expertise of the Buffalo Society, the transfer of knowledge to a prospective member was a lifelong learning process.
The Buffalo Society members would have headdresses made from Weasel tails and Buffalo Horns, the hat was worn on special occasions, to own a headdress is equivalent in today's standards to a Doctorate Degree. The Band allowed only one or two people from the band to make the Headdresses - if a person made a headdress without protocol chances are they would be severely punished or in severe instances would be banished from the band.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
First Nations Family Groups
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
My Moshum and the wagon hunts
In the days gone by, when I was younger about the age of ten , I would go with my Moshum to check the traps. In those days the way we travelled a lot of the time was with a wagon and horses, so my brothers and I would be asked to chase the horses into the corral and we would put the harness on them. Somehow when we mixed up the lines than that would cause trouble for everyone because the lines would tangle up and spook the horses, sometimes they would run. My Moshum used to hunt for a living and did not waste anything from his hunt. My moshum was a great trapper and hunter, my Kohkum was very skilled at cooking and could sew beautiful designs from beads on clothing and pouches. I learned that a person has to learn and do different things for survival and not to concentrate on one thing.
Friday, August 24, 2007
"The Free Spirit People" - Assinboine First Nations
There is so much to talk about when there is an opportunity to visit My Parents , first of all there is the play by play events of the day, than it leads to discussions about the week, the month,and then the events of the years. Eventually the visits become vehicles for travelling through time and back to the days when Mother Earth was able to tend to Her duties in a carefree manner, with the stories you could see that it was what the Western World called a "Paradise".
My Parents are of the fourth generation of the " Free Spirit People", they belong to the Assiniboine of the Eagle Hills. The "Free Spirit People" are a people that did not make contact with the Western World, even though they knew long before contact that there were other inhabitants on Mother Earth. Then there were the people who witnessed Contact and this was the Meeting of Nations, these people were helpful, perhaps too helpful because the First Nations People paid with their lives ; nine out of ten First Nations People would succumb to foreign diseases. Then there were the First Nations People who were being hunted and captured and forced into assimilation by being taken onto reserves and this period was full of hardships, sorrow and sadness, as "Freedom" was taken away. My parents are both Seventy Years Old they are the last of the connection to a past where Language was the most Important tool to survival, they both remember a time when they would meet the Very Old People- the ones that travelled the Plains without any sign of the Western People. My Father, William Starchief can still sing history through ancient songs, while my Mother Mary Jane Spyglass can tell stories of the different geographical markers within the Eagle Hills, as well as most of the Plains, She can tell a story about people travelling through the territory and show you evidence such as Teepee Rings that there was occupation.
It is such an educational time when you travel through time just by listening and eating and drinking Tea, the teachings you are privilaged to hear stay with you forever andwhen you live by these teachings than life becomes a little easier to live.
My Parents are of the fourth generation of the " Free Spirit People", they belong to the Assiniboine of the Eagle Hills. The "Free Spirit People" are a people that did not make contact with the Western World, even though they knew long before contact that there were other inhabitants on Mother Earth. Then there were the people who witnessed Contact and this was the Meeting of Nations, these people were helpful, perhaps too helpful because the First Nations People paid with their lives ; nine out of ten First Nations People would succumb to foreign diseases. Then there were the First Nations People who were being hunted and captured and forced into assimilation by being taken onto reserves and this period was full of hardships, sorrow and sadness, as "Freedom" was taken away. My parents are both Seventy Years Old they are the last of the connection to a past where Language was the most Important tool to survival, they both remember a time when they would meet the Very Old People- the ones that travelled the Plains without any sign of the Western People. My Father, William Starchief can still sing history through ancient songs, while my Mother Mary Jane Spyglass can tell stories of the different geographical markers within the Eagle Hills, as well as most of the Plains, She can tell a story about people travelling through the territory and show you evidence such as Teepee Rings that there was occupation.
It is such an educational time when you travel through time just by listening and eating and drinking Tea, the teachings you are privilaged to hear stay with you forever andwhen you live by these teachings than life becomes a little easier to live.
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..."
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
First Nations Language Groups in Saskatchewan - The Denesuline
Saskatchewan is a province geographically located in the central part of North America, the southern part of the province is made up of the Grassland Plains while the northern region is comprised of forests, lakes and rivers, the central area is the tree belt and the transgression of the plains. The First Nations people of Saskatchewan have occupied this area since time immemorial and will continue to live off the land, however the diverse geographical makeup of the land offers diverse cultural traditions. The Northern part of the province is densely forested with plenty of lakes and waterways, the Denesuline have been in this area for generations and have understood how to live with Mother Earth. The Denesuline have a Language that is unique and tells of the history, traditions and culture that have been developed, practised and passed on from generations to generations. The Denesuline live in the forests and waterways which provide Food, Shelter and Clothing, and the people give thanks through ceremonies, songs and prayers so that there will always be an abundance. Mother Earth has always provided the gifts of life and with this understanding the Denesuline take care that they harvest only what they can use and take care not to disturb nature by overharvesting and cultivating. Camping areas are well maintained and when it is time to move they leave the land in its natural state.
The Denesuline are a small group of people in Saskatchewan but are part of the larger group that make thier homes in different regions of North America, for example they are part of the Apache and Navajo in the Southern United States as well there are large groups found in British Columbia and Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Alaska.
The Denesuline are a small group of people in Saskatchewan but are part of the larger group that make thier homes in different regions of North America, for example they are part of the Apache and Navajo in the Southern United States as well there are large groups found in British Columbia and Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Alaska.
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