Aboriginal Spirituality

Aboriginal Spirituality

Works Cited

Works Cited

Important Figure:

n.p. "St. Kateri Tekakwitha." Catholic Online. Catholic.org. n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2016.

n.p. "St. Kateri Tekakwitha." Catholic News Agency. Catholicnewsagency.org. 14 July 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016

Symbols, Food, and Music:

"First Nations." First Nation in Canada. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, n.d. Web. <https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710/1307460872523>.

"Aboriginal Sound Recordings: Music and Song." First Nation Traditional Music. Library and Archives Canada, n.d. Web. <https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/aboriginal-music-song/028012-2100-e.html>

Rituals:

"Aboriginal Spirituality: Rituals:The Morning Dance." Aboriginal Spirituality: Rituals: The Morning Dance Web. 30 Dec. 2015

DesRivieres, Dennis, an Don Quinlan. "Aboriginal Spirituality." Exploring World Religions: The Canadian Perspective. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford UP, 2001. 39-40. Print

Origins:

n.p. "An Aboriginal Presence." Canadian Museum of History. History Museum, n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2016

n.p. "Inuit Myths and Legends." TCEblog. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 11 December 2012. Web. 11 Jan 2016

n.p. "Voices of Metis." Library and Archives Canada. Collections Canada. n.d. Web. 11 Jan 2016

Aboriginals in Canada and the World:

Desaulniers, Kristi. Canada. New York: Chelsea House, 2003. Infobase eBooks. Web. 3 Jan 2016.

Sydney Jones, J. "Inuit." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. Web. 10 Jan 2016.

Turner, Annie. "Aboriginal Peoples in Canada." Statistics Canada's Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division. Statistic Canada, 30 November 2015. Web. 3 Jan 2016.

By: Breanna C., Briana H., Jacqueline L., Kevin T., Meghan Y.

First Nations Origin Theory

- Sky Woman fell from the sky to the sea below

- She was caught by 2 swans and the animals of the earth placed her on the back of a turtle

- They placed some dirt on the turtles back and the dirt grew into a piece of land called "Turtle Island" a.k.a North America

- This was how the earth was created and how people began to inhabit the earth

First Nations Origin Theory: Video

Sweat Lodge

This ceremony is used to cleanse both the physical and spiritual body, directed by a Shaman. It is commonly practised by the Great Plans nations to renew the soul and regain focus. The participants buils a sauna-like construction which is a dome covered in animal skin, cedar, or a tarpaulin to make it dark and airtight. Next, stones are heated and placed in the centre and water is sprinkled over the stones. Everyone crouches and crowds around the hot stean therefore cleanising their bodies both physically ans spiritually.

The Morning Dance

The Shaking Tent

The morning dance is also known as the Wabeno. It is preformed every spring by the Ojibwa of southeren Ontario to pay homage to th "tree of the universe". All individuals participating in the dance must fast and cleanse themselves befourhand. Next, a drum is played and a male elder will lead the dance in a clearing around the chosen tree. As they pass the tree, the drummer will signal them to touch the trunk to give thanks. Everyone from children to the elderly dance from dawn to noon where a huge feast of meat and fish is served.

The shaking tent is commonly used by Aboriginal groups from the Subarctic to the Great Lakes region. It is a ritual that represents the beliefs and values of the supernatural world and its close relationship to the living that only takes place at night. The construction of the tent is built with approximately four to eight poles formed in a circle with a wooden hoop at the top. This creates a cylinder shape which opens towards the sky to allow the spirits to come in, wrapped in birch bark or hide. Next, the individuals who have requested the ceremony make a trade with the Shaman who intercedes with the spirits and asks them to solve problems.

-The First Nations, Inuit, and Metis vary widely

-The European settlers greatly influenced aboriginal beliefs

-There is not one definitive aboriginal belief, they all have thier own myths and theories as to how the world came to be

The Death of St. Kateri

• She had died 5 years later after the conversion to Catholicism of tuberculosis on April 17th, 1680
• Her final words were "Jesos konoronkwa" which means "Jesus I love you"
• Witness report the smallpox scars had vanished from her skin and she was cured of all things she wished for
• Today there are a number of locations dedicated to St. Kateri Tekakwitha in her honour

Thank you!

Canadas First People

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

• Born in 1656 in Mohawk village to an Alglonquin mother and Mohawk father
• First Native American to be recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church
• When she reached four years old both her parents and mother died from smallpox but she managed to survive the disease
• At the age of 10 years olf she was froced to move with her adopted parents

Catholic Influences

Her village was visited by the Jesuit missionaries, father fremin, Bruyas and Peirron from them she recieved her knowledge of Christianity. When Kateri turned 18 Father Jaques de Lamberville arrived and took over mission in her village. Her uncle allowed her to be baptized Catholic as long as she remaind in the village.

From there she recieved her first holy communion and also made a vow of perpetual virginity on the Feat of Annunciation.

Canada's native people are categorized into 3 fairly broad groups as stated by the Canadian Government and the Canadian Charter of Rights:

- The Inuit People

- The First Nations People

- The Metis People

Her Personal Beliefs

Kateri had been proposed someone to marry but because of her beliefs she had refused to marry under any circumstance and was strictly married to God. Her adopted parents did not agree with this belief.

At age 19 Kateri converted to Catholicism taking a vow of chastity. She was not supported therefore to avoid persecution she travelled to a Christian Native community south of Montreal.

She was known for dedication and devotion to what she believes is right and what she had promised herself and God.

Locations of Aboriginals

• Eight out of 10 ( 80%) Aboriginals live Ontario and the western provinces.

Aboriginals Around The World

• Indigenous people live in every part of the globe, not just the Americas.
• Asia with the most population of Aboriginals.
• Each area consists of various Aboriginal groups. Ex.) Maori of New Zealand, and Gaurani of Paraguay.

Inuit Peoples Origin Theory

Origins

Symbols

Fire: Symbolizes the heart of the people and it is used to cleanse the spirit

Drum: A powerful and resonant symbol of native identity and spirituality

Symbols

Rattle: a soft calm and gentle rythem to call up various sacred spirits.

Dream Catcher: protects from the negative dreams and only allows for positive ones

Turtle: Symbolizes mother earth and is the symbol for north america.

Tree of Peace: Is believed to connect earth to heaven

Eagle: Symbolizes the protecter of peace that sits ontop of the Tree of Peace.

Eagle Feather: Symbolizes truth, power and freedom

Aboriginal Music

- Raven is a half man half bird creature, that created the world with the beats of its wings

- He filled the world with pea pods and one day a pea pod popped open and the first man to walk on the Ravens earth came out of it

- Raven continued to fill the world with all types of different plants and animals, until he noticed one day that man was lonely

- Raven created woman to keep man company and man and woman filled the earth with their children

Aboriginal Symbols

Music for Aboriginals is a big part of their cuture and music is used in many diffrent ways

• Aboriginal symbols have special meaning to there culture

With music they also incooperate different types of dance to further experience the music

• They are used in dreamtime stories to each generation in order to keep the stories in our culture alive and to educate our people about our place on earth. Stories are told about the stars, planets, the land, animals, bush tucker, hunting and ancestors, through paintings, carvings, dance and song. Aboriginal symbols are used on all forms of Aboriginal life to help tell the stories of their history and culture.

The Purpose of Song

Song is traditionally the chief way of communicating with supernatural powers. Music is seldom performed for its own sake

The songs and dance come from nature or from dreams. It expresses our appreciation of life and nature

There are songs for every activites of daily life like hunting, planting and gathering. Prayers and ceremonies range from the simplest gesture to large and highly complex gatherings, carefully organized and highly evolved.

Instruments

There are also three types of song:

Drum: represents the voice of the Creator. It speaks of a balance with the natural world, often told in song. The drum and songs are used for prayer in every element of the ceremony, from opening to closing

Types of Song

Traditional: it is handed down from generation after generation, owned by families, clans, or nations

Rattle: used in tradititonal songs to call upon spirits and ancestors

Ceremonial and Medicine: Supoosed to be recieved in dreams and it is for healing and purification

Aboriginal Food

Flutes: Used in most types of songs and dance

Modern: Influence of european culture

All First Nations across the country hunted and gathered plants for both food and medicinal purposes. The actual percentage of meat, fish and plants in any First Nation's diet depended on what was available in the local environment

The traditional diet of Aboriginal people was made up of the animals and plants found on the land and in the sea around them. Seal, whale, buffalo, caribou, walrus, polar bear, arctic hare, fish and many species of bird. Raw blubber was enjoyed or mixed with meat or berries. Every part of the animal was consumed or used to make clothing or shelter.

Potlachs

Aboriginal peoples held ceremonial parties called potlatches to celebrate

The Inuit

First Nations:

2 Theories: One of the most popular theories of Aboriginal origin, from a scientific perspective, is that hunters from Serbia and Mongolia emigrated from Asia via the Bering Strait, during an ice age when the strait froze over forming a land bridge. Another theory is that Aboriginal people “came from the ground” and they believe they were there on North American land before any record. In addition to these 2 origin theories, the different aboriginal groups of Canada have their own traditional creation stories that share how they believe earth and its came to be.

• known as Eskimos, and "The People."
• inhabited the Arctic region
• the most widely dispersed people in the world.
• arrived 4000 years ago to NA.

The traditional feasts held by Aboriginal peoples usually revolved around a harvest, or seasonal excess of food. if there was a large salmon catch, a feast would be held. When a youth killed his first seal or caribou, a celebration feast might be held

Metis

• Aboriginal peoples who are a mixture of First Nations people and Europeans.
• lived in Ontario and the Great Lakes, until the fur trade moved.

Food

Arctic: They mostly eat and hunt for Seals for food and seal oil for heat, cooking.

Subarctic: They eat and hunt for Deer and Caribou

• A wide range of Aborigial peoples, who are neither Inuit or Metis.
• The First Nations are categorized in six cultural groups:

-Northeast Woodlands, Great Plains, Northwest Pacific Coast, Plateau, Subarctic, and Arctic.

• each cultural group is contained of several nations within them
• similar aspects in beliefs, but differ in practices.

Northwest Pacific Coast: Depends on the sea for food. They eat and hunt for Whale and Salmon

Plateau: They eat and hunt for Elk, Bear and Caribou

Great Plains: They depend on Buffalo for food and supplies

Northeast Woodlands: They depended on farms of Corn, Squash beans. They also depended on rivers and seas for Fish

Aboriginal Spirituality in Canada

The Iroquois & The Algonquin

• Iroquois: belief in a Great Spirit who is responsible for all living things, indirectly guides the lives of ordinary people.

• Algonquin: belief in a Great Spirit ("Kitchie Manitou") who is present in all living and non-living things.

• There is no definitive "Aboriginal religion."
• 3 main groups:

-First Nations

-Metis

-Inuit

• These three groups' religions differ from one another.

Bering Strait Theory

Aboriginal Distribution in Canada

• the theory of Aboriginals migrating from Asia to the Americas, by crossing a land bridge, known as Beringia, over the Bering Strait. (4000 years ago)

Metis Peoples Origin Theory

- "Metis" is an old french word meaning "mixed"

- The Metis people come from aboriginal and european descent

- There is not one creation story that they follow, they combine aboriginal spiritual traditions with Christianity

- They believe in connectedness with nature, spirits and the combination of aboriginal and catholic customs