CANS 200: Understanding Canada Lecture Notes PDF

CANS 200: Understanding Canada Instructor: Dr Jodey Nurse McGill Institute for the Study of Canada Lecture: Changing Lifeworlds Wednesday, September 4, 2024 Lifeworld “…the sum total of physical surroundings and everyday experiences that make up an individual’s world.” – Merriam-Webster Dictiona...

CANS 200: Understanding Canada Instructor: Dr Jodey Nurse McGill Institute for the Study of Canada Lecture: Changing Lifeworlds Wednesday, September 4, 2024 Lifeworld “…the sum total of physical surroundings and everyday experiences that make up an individual’s world.” – Merriam-Webster Dictionary Word developed by German philosopher, Edmund Husserl (1859–1938) Concept employed among Indigenous Scholars to denote a more holistic understanding of life experiences Aaron Mills (McGill): “…the set of ontological, epistemological, axiological and cosmological understandings that situate Indigenous communities within creation.” Used in his work on Indigenous law and Canadian law “…efforts to articulate Indigenous law within dominant paradigms of liberal constitutionalism risk ignoring and trivializing the ongoing significance of Indigenous lifeworld to governing Indigenous peoples today.” Contemporary issue: Increasing understanding between Indigenous peoples and settlers in Canada and changing the often-violent dynamics of these relationships Susan Hill Haudenosaunee land philosophy “Land is the basis of life as we know it. It is a precious thing to be appreciated and protected.” Future Question: How do these thoughts compare with the liberal order framework that develops in Canada? This week, you will learn: Some central elements of Indigenous lifeworlds Important thoughts and philosophies, especially regarding land About the context of Indigenous life before European arrival The myths created after contact Indigenous perspectives A strong sense of spirituality Deeply rooted sense of place Recognition that everything is related An emphasis on reciprocity Haudenosaunee or Iroquois? Place The six physiographic regions in Canada: The Atlantic and Gulf The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands The Canadian Shield The Interior Plains The Western Cordillera The North Atlantic and Gulf Referred to as “Appalachia” Made up of ancient rounded hills and plateaus Home to several fertile land areas The sea and forest-based resources provided key food supplies and relative security Nations such as the Mi’kmaq were recognized for their relative egalitarianism and formal governance structures the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands Southern Quebec and Ontario Dominated by gently rolling hills and flatlands Home to fertile soil, relatively warm weather Great Lakes and rivers provide important transportation networks More populated Importance of peace agreements and ceremonies enacted to stem violence and create balance within a collective territory Canadian Shield 40 percent of Canada’s land mass Includes some of the Earth’s oldest and most stable land formations Harsh climate Area contained dispersed groups of Indigenous communities that were supported by abundant game The traditional territory of several Indigenous peoples: Innu, Cree, Anishinaabeg, (later Métis), Dene and Inuit Trade and travel was essential, and technologies developed to assist Interior Plains Characterized by low hills and valleys Generally excellent soil but in a harsher climate First Nations groups were attracted to this area by the wildlife, especially bison that were at one time so numerous The Siksika (Blackfoot) and other Plains peoples devised many ways of hunting and utilizing the resources of the land Western Cordillera Series of six mountain ranges through British Columbia and southwestern Alberta Contained an abundance of salmon and other animals, including mountain sheep, bear, and deer Temperate climate on the coast and in the southern interior that encouraged large populations Some of the most rigid social hierarchies found here, including among the Haida and Tsimshian peoples North Area north of 60 degrees latitude Artic region Small populations, primarily Inuit Dependent on hunting, fishing, and whaling for survival The Myths Myth #1: The Pristine Myth William Denevan (geographer) the “pristine myth” or the “wilderness” or Terra Nullius myth Associated with an undeveloped “natural” environment Naturalizes Indigenous populations Used by settlers to justify and celebrate imperial conquest Myth #2: Noble/Ignoble Savage Nobel: Also, the “Ecological Indian” or hunter-gatherer myth Long history, starting with the first accounts sent home from European explorers like Jacques Cartier Idea that Indigenous peoples lived peaceful, static lives – environmentally and socially Ignoble: Indigenous peoples seen as wild, uncivilized, less-advanced Like the “Nobel Savage” myth, outside the march of progress Portrays “Indians” as barbarous, dirty, cruel, corrupt Histories counter these myths Indigenous perspectives A strong sense of spirituality Deeply rooted sense of place Recognition that everything is related An emphasis on reciprocity Assigned reading: Susan M. Hill, “Chapter 1: Karihwa’onwe–The Original Matters,” in The Clay We Are Made Of: Haudenosaunee Land Tenure on the Grand River (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2017), 15–52. Four major epics: The Creation Story The Kayeri Niyorihwa:ke (Four Ceremonies) The Kayaneren’kowa (Great Law of Peace) The Karihwiyo (Good Message of Handsome Lake) Susan Hill: “…The four epics [discussed herein identity defining beliefs about land and the relationship intended to exist between the earth and the Onkwehonwe…” the earth meets our needs if protected and appreciated land is connected to identity land connects peoples (be that individual, familial groups, or nations) Collective rights and responsibilities to the land The Spiritual All North American societies felt a close communion with spirits, though each group’s spirituality was unique Shamans acted as intermediaries between individuals and spirits; they were also healers Hunters undertook vision quests to attract spirits Accounts of Creation differ among First Nations, but each story informs their lifeworlds Video: Tabling 150 Belonging and Mutual Aid | Aaron Mills | Walrus Talks Some Points to Consider: Canada’s six physiographic regions influenced the demography, economy, and mobility of human populations, therefore shaping the lives of the Indigenous peoples who lived in these lands Everywhere across the country, Indigenous peoples altered their environments to suit their needs Myths about pre-contact Indigenous peoples were created early on and sustained because they justified European imperialistic goals Indigenous groups’ ways of life were varied and complex, reflecting their different circumstances and beliefs Spiritual beliefs are central to Indigenous lifeworlds, and central shared stories are fundamental to thought and philosophy Next Week: Indigenous Peoples, Colonialism, and Canada AND Guest Lecture: Jenni Makahnouk, Introduction to the Indian Act