Unit 1Unit 1THE FIRST OCCUPANTSTHE FIRST OCCUPANTS , p.37 , p.37

Designated focusDesignated focus

• THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FIRST OCCUPANT’S CONCEPTION FIRST OCCUPANT’S CONCEPTION OF THE WORLD AND THEIR OF THE WORLD AND THEIR SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONSOCIAL ORGANIZATION

• Central concept:Central concept: Conception of the Conception of the worldworld

• Common conceptsCommon concepts: Circle of life: Circle of life

EnvironmentEnvironment

Elders Elders

SpiritualitySpirituality

Oral traditionOral tradition

*Culture*Culture

What does it mean What does it mean ……’conception of the world’’conception of the world’ ? ?

• It constitutes an agreed set It constitutes an agreed set of principles that brings of principles that brings stability in a society. The stability in a society. The acceptance of the same acceptance of the same conception of the world conception of the world becomes effective only if becomes effective only if based on harmonized based on harmonized efforts on the part of the efforts on the part of the elements of the society. elements of the society.

The case of …The case of …

Nature was a bountiful giverNature was a bountiful giver

FORESTSFORESTS birch, maple, oak, pine, spruce, fir treesbirch, maple, oak, pine, spruce, fir trees bear, moose, passenger pigeon bear, moose, passenger pigeon extinctextinct

RIVERS AND LAKESRIVERS AND LAKES beaver, muskrat, raccoon, otter, salmon, eels, geese and ducksbeaver, muskrat, raccoon, otter, salmon, eels, geese and ducks

SEASEAShallow water:Shallow water: shellfish shellfish (mussels, clams, whelks, periwinkels,(mussels, clams, whelks, periwinkels, squid, squid,

rabs,lobsters) rabs,lobsters) fish (fish (flounder, smelt, shad, skate, salmon, eels)flounder, smelt, shad, skate, salmon, eels)Deep waterDeep water: : porpoise, sturgeon, swordfish, smaller whalesporpoise, sturgeon, swordfish, smaller whales

NATURAL MEADOWSNATURAL MEADOWS ground nuts, cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, ground nuts, cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, strawberrystrawberry

Jacques Cartier’s evaluation of Jacques Cartier’s evaluation of the St. Lawrence River ±1535the St. Lawrence River ±1535 The land is everywhere The land is everywhere covered with timbercovered with timber of several sorts of several sorts

and also with vines… There are a and also with vines… There are a large numberlarge number of big stags, of big stags, does, bears, and other does, bears, and other animalsanimals. There are many otters, . There are many otters, beavers, martens, foxes, wild-cats, hares, rabbits, and beavers, martens, foxes, wild-cats, hares, rabbits, and squirrels. There are a squirrels. There are a great number ofgreat number of birdsbirds: cranes, : cranes, bustards, swans, wild geese, ducks, drakes, blackbirds, bustards, swans, wild geese, ducks, drakes, blackbirds, thrushes, turtle-doves, wood pigeons, and other birds the thrushes, turtle-doves, wood pigeons, and other birds the same as in France. The St. Lawrence River is the same as in France. The St. Lawrence River is the richest in richest in everyevery kind of fishkind of fish… In the summer great numbers of … In the summer great numbers of mackerel, mullets, maigres, tunnies, eels, and mackerel, mullets, maigres, tunnies, eels, and other fish other fish aboundabound. In the autumn there are good smelts. In the spring . In the autumn there are good smelts. In the spring there are there are quantities ofquantities of lampreys, and salmon. Above lampreys, and salmon. Above Stadacona are many pike, trout, carp, and other fresh water Stadacona are many pike, trout, carp, and other fresh water fish.fish.

This bounty from nature led the Aboriginals This bounty from nature led the Aboriginals to…to…

• develop a close relationship with naturedevelop a close relationship with nature• easily learn about animals and plantseasily learn about animals and plants• have profound respect for life itselfhave profound respect for life itself• believe that there is a superior natural power that believe that there is a superior natural power that

organizes and animates the material world.organizes and animates the material world. They were They were animisticanimistic (attributed a living soul to (attributed a living soul to

animals, plants and sometimes to inanimate objects)animals, plants and sometimes to inanimate objects)

They avoided wasting natural resources and They avoided wasting natural resources and developed a barter economy.developed a barter economy.

They perceived themselves as one of many kinds of They perceived themselves as one of many kinds of persons who lived in harmony in the same persons who lived in harmony in the same environment. Therefore, they viewed themselves as environment. Therefore, they viewed themselves as part of the ecological fabric, not its tailors.part of the ecological fabric, not its tailors.

CIRCLE OF LIFECIRCLE OF LIFE

• For many Aboriginal peoples, the For many Aboriginal peoples, the circle is a powerful symbol of circle is a powerful symbol of connectivity and completeness. connectivity and completeness. The circle is the earth, the sky, The circle is the earth, the sky, the sun, the moon, the tipi, the the sun, the moon, the tipi, the seasons, the cycle of life.seasons, the cycle of life.

• For example, ‘talking circle’ has For example, ‘talking circle’ has long been a place where long been a place where everyone is equal, where all can everyone is equal, where all can have a say. It can also be used have a say. It can also be used for emotional healing purposes. for emotional healing purposes.

College of Nursing, Aboriginal Health, University of College of Nursing, Aboriginal Health, University of SaskatchewanSaskatchewan

Animism had a direct implication on…Animism had a direct implication on…

• hunting habitshunting habits

• ritualsrituals

• spiritualityspirituality

• medicinemedicine

• oral traditionoral tradition

• transporttransport

• dwellingsdwellings

• clothingclothing

• eating habitseating habits

• their whole culture their whole culture which revolved around which revolved around their profound belief in their profound belief in animal persons, plant animal persons, plant persons and Mother persons and Mother Earth belonging to Earth belonging to every one.every one.

SpiritualitySpirituality• Friends could be human or Friends could be human or

non-human. The latter were non-human. The latter were known as ‘spirit –helpers’. known as ‘spirit –helpers’.

• This man’s spirit-helper is a This man’s spirit-helper is a bear. The bond between a bear. The bond between a person and his spirit-helper person and his spirit-helper was very strong. It was said was very strong. It was said that powerful people could that powerful people could even take the shape of a spirit-even take the shape of a spirit-helper. helper.

The Micmac, How Their Ancestors Lived Five The Micmac, How Their Ancestors Lived Five Hundred Years Ago, (1998) R. Holmes, H. Hundred Years Ago, (1998) R. Holmes, H. McGee. McGee.

MedicineMedicine

• From childhood people From childhood people heard the stories of how heard the stories of how various plant medicines various plant medicines came to be known. A came to be known. A stranger came to a stranger came to a settlement where there was settlement where there was some disease. He would some disease. He would reveal that he was really a reveal that he was really a plant person disguised as a plant person disguised as a human. He then would human. He then would change form and show change form and show people how the plant looked people how the plant looked at each season. at each season.

They had special remedies for They had special remedies for certain ailmentscertain ailments

RheumatismRheumatism – – Paste of blueberry Paste of blueberry leavesleaves

Fever Fever – – alder bark teaalder bark teaMild burnsMild burns – – ointment of pine resinointment of pine resinCutsCuts – – Juniper resinJuniper resinDiarrheaDiarrhea – – Boiled strawberry roots Boiled strawberry roots

and and leaves leaves

To have or not to have the right to a territory To have or not to have the right to a territory ……