Unit 5 Chapter 1

Native Territories in Canada

A Portrait of Native Peoples

The ancestors of the Native people who live in Canada today arrived in America over 15 000 years ago. It is believed they came from Asia by way of Russia and Alaska. Much later, European explorers discovered these inhabitants who has occupied the territory for a very long time and had their own cultures. In Quebec, there are 2 Native peoples: the Inuit and Amerindians. Quebec Amerindians who are also referred to as First Nations are grouped into two linguistic and cultural families: the Algonquin and the Iroquois families. The Inuit population is dispersed amount 15 villages situated in the north of Quebec.

Canadas Native People in 2001

In Canada, the majority of Native persons are subject to the Indian Act. This law, which dates back to 1876, has undergone several changes. To obtain Indian status, a person must prove the existence, among his or her ancestors, of an Indian who was recognized as such by the government. Many Amerindians, however, do not have Indian status. In the majority of cases, they are descendants of Indian women who lost their status by marrying non-Indian men. In Quebec, since signing of recent agreements, the Quebec Cree, Naskapi and Inuit Indians are not subject to this law anymore.

Bands and Band Council

A person who obtains Indian status automatically becomes a member of a band. In traditional Amerindian societies a band was usually composed of several families of 20 to 50 people who lived and worked together. Today, the Canadian government uses this term to describe a Native Community. The bands usually live on reserves, which in some ways are like small municipalities. Some communities live on a single reserve, while others have several reserves available. Even though the government is the owner of these reserves, the bands are responsible for their management.

Life on the Reserve

Rights of Amerindians on Reserves

Amerindians living on reserves have different rights than other citizens of Canada. They do not, for ex. Pay taxes on income earned on the reserve or sales tax on goods and services that are purchased or delivered there. While many are provided free housing, an increasing number pay rent to the band councils. Amerindians living off the reserves have none of these rights and entitlements.

The Cultural Diversity of Native Groups

Over time, the various groups of Native people who migrated to North America thousands of years ago developed distinct ways of life adapted to the different territories climates, specific characteristics and resources. The diversity of their ways of life promoted trade among the different groups, but it also gave rise to a number of territorial wars.

Traditional and Modern Ways

Over the last 400 years, the arrival on non-Native people, the creation of reserves and urbanization have profoundly disrupted Native peoples values and way of life. As recently as 60 years ago, the Inuit and a large number of Amerindians led a nomadic life. Today, the majority of Native people live year-round in villages with basic infrastructures and social services. Despite this modern way of life, traditional hunting, fishing and trapping are still practiced by many Native people, who are at times able to supplement their incomes this way.

Native Art
Art has always been a significant part of Native life. Everyday or ceremonial objects were, among other things, painted, sculpted, engraved and embroidered. With the arrival of the Europeans, Native people lost some of their traditional modes of artistic expression, but created new styles from new materials. The importance and quality of todays Native art is evident in the areas of sculpture, painting, music, theatre and cinema. This are is at the same time a means for personal expression and a collective affirmation of a culture.

Social Life
For thousands of years, Native people have been gathering to pray, honor the dead, hunt, deliberate and trade. The names for such gatherings differ from one First Nation to another: sun dances, feasts, potlatches, powwows, etc From 1885 to 1952, the government banned these ceremonies, the Indians would celebrate in secret while risking imprisonment. Today, hundreds of powwows attract thousands of spectators in North America.

Indian Ceremonies banned

Great Linguistic Diversity

In Canada, of the 53 existing Native languages, only 3 are spoken widely enough not to be in danger of disappearing: Cree, Inukitut and Ojibway. Today, many First Nations have cultural organizations whose goal is to maintain and promote their language, since each communicates a unique reality and vision of the world.

Facts and Figures

Life Expectancy For native persons is less six years less than the national average Suicide Rate Among young Native people is 3 to 4 times higher than the Canadian average. Their alcoholism and drug addiction rates are also higher High School Dropouts Nearly 60% of Native persons never finish high school compared to 31% among the rest of Canada. Unemployment Rate The rate is very close to 20%, around 3 times higher than for the rest of Canada. Poverty Diabetes Rate The rate of Diabetes is 5 times higher among Native persons than in the Canadian population in general.

About 40% of Native families live below the poverty line.

High Suicide Rates among Native people

The Poor Quality of Life of Native People

Several factors explain Native peoples poor quality of life:
Isolation Lack of Education Nearly 60% of Native people do not have a high-school diploma, and it is difficult for them to access technical and university training. Employment Sector Twice as many Native persons as other Canadians work in the primary sector (forestry, hunting and trapping) and salaries are generally quite low. Lack of Employment on reserves There are few wellpaying specialized jobs on reserves, and obtaining business financing is problematic

The majority of Native communities are small and located far from commercial centers. Many of them are not connected to the road system.

Native Peoples main Claims for Rights

Claims for Rights

The claims for rights made by Canadian Native people have three basic objectives to maintain their identity and culture, to obtain larger territories and to enjoy greater autonomy. Some of their actions led to the passing of the Constitution Act, 1982 which upheld existing Native rights their ancestral rights and right that originated in earlier treaties. Today, all of the Atlantic regions Native peoples are allowed to fish and hunt off-season. Nevertheless, if the government can prove that a species of wildlife or fish is in need of protection, it could limit Native peoples hunting or fishing rights.

Unit 5 Chapter 2

Our World and Its Issues Native peoples of the World

Native Peoples of the World

The worlds Native peoples are facing pressure from all sides to become more modern. Until now, they have managed to preserve some of their distinctive social, cultural, economic and political characteristics. However, Native peoples, who differ greatly from one region of the world to another, encounter the same problems when it comes to protecting their rights. Native peoples, who are also called Aboriginal peoples, Indigenous peoples or Tribal peoples, lived on their land before outside settlers arrived, and before current country or state borders have been established. In some countries, Native peoples make up the majority of the population, while in other countries they are the minority.

Some of the Native Peoples of the World

Yanomami People Today, the Brazilian government recognizes the rights of the Yanomami people on their lands. However, these Native people face tremendous pressure from animal breeders, loggers and miners to exploit their lands Bushman People Known as the oldest inhabitants of Africa they used to focus mainly on hunting and gathering. Nowadays, the majority of Bushman work as herdspeople or farm labourers. Aborigines People The different tribes of huntergatherers who live in Australia. Nowadays, Aborigines lead a sedentary life and make up less than 2% of Australias population. Bedouin People The Bedouin are a nomadic desert people. They constantly move from one place to another with their herds of camels. Today, the authorities are trying to force the Bedouin to become sedentary. Sami People The Sami people, who used to be called Lapps, live in the artic and subarctic regions of Northern Europe. Traditionally, the Sami people were hunters and fishers, but they began to breed reindeer. Today their land have been taken over by industry, while their environment has become overrun with tourists.

The Global Reality of Native Peoples

Traditional Knowledge Native peoples have been developing knowledge based on ecological and environment al principles. In fact, their expertise is recognized outside their community. Agricultural Practices Native peoples have a close relationship with their environment. Over time, they have accumulated vast knowledge about climates, soils, plants, etc Language & Native Culture Children Nearly 3000 of the 6000 languages spoken in the world are in danger of disappearing The great majority of these endangered languages are Native Languages. Native children are extremely vulnerable. The vaccination rate among Native peoples, particularly those living in developing countries, is among the lowest in the world. Uprooted Natives Many Native peoples are uprooted, meaning they have been forced off their ancestral lands because of armed conflicts, or exploitation of land. Natives Vanishing According to the World Health Organizatio n, life expectancy for Native peoples is lower than the world average. Foreign contacts result in native diseases.

The Modern Indian

Native People's Main Claims for Rights

Land Claims Owning land is extremely important to Native Peoples, as land is the foundation of their spiritual, cultural identity, as well as the means to ensure their livelihood. In general, Native land claims are dealt with through a legal process but, on occasion, they result in confrontation. Economic Claims Most of the lands inhabited by Native peoples is rich in natural resources and biodiversity, which represent significant potential for economic development. However, this economic potential is of little benefit to Native peoples. Increasingly, Native people are protesting this type of situation. Cultural Claims Today, throughout the world, Native groups are trying hard to reassert the value of their language and culture. Over the past few years, Native peoples have done everything possible to make international organizations aware of their cause: debates, news reports, conferences, demonstrations, etc Fighting for years to assert these rights has enabled the international community to better understand their demands. Native people are determined to not have another way of life imposed on them.

Unit 5 B

Native Territories and Their Issues

Unit 5 B

Sharing and Developing the Naskapi Territory

Native Territories and Their Issues

When Jacques Cartier set foot in North America in 1534, Canada was far from being a deserted place. For centuries, different peoples with their own traditions and ways of life had inhabited the land. As the descendants of the founding peoples, known as First Nations, Native peoples today share their territories with non-Natives and have claimed the right to develop it in harmony with their way of life.

Sharing and Developing the Naskapi Territory

Quebec has only one Naskapi village, Kawawachikamach, which means winding river. The Naskapi Nation shares this territory with members of the Montagnais Nation and nonNatives who live in Schefferville.

Preserving the Naskapi Language

The Naskapi has its own language. Although the Naskapi have written and read their language for a century, it has only been taught since the late 1970s. Naskapi and English are the two languages of instruction in Kawawachikamachs one and only school.

From a Nomadic to a Sedentary way of Life

The Naskapi way of life is largely rooted in traditional activities. According to the season, Naskapi families leave to hunt caribou, or to gather wild berries. However, Naskapi who work or study sometimes have trouble finding time for such activities. This is why the Council of the Naskapi Nation compensates some hunters financially for the time they spend hunting.

A way of Life rooted in Nature

When the Europeans arrived, the Naskapi people were nomads who hunted caribou, which provided them with food clothing and tools. To survive, they tracked caribou herds. Around 1952, the Naskapi left Fort Chimo, owing to the decline in trapping. They left on foot or by canoe, along with the Montagnais, settling 500 km south near Lac-John, in the hope of finding work at a mine that had just opened in Schefferville.

The Creation of a new Native territory and the Challenges it Faces

In 1975, the Cree and the Inuit signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement with the Canadian and Quebec governments. In 1978, the Naskapi in their turn signed the Northeastern Quebec Agreement, under which they gave up their territorial rights in return for financial compensation. These funds were then used to develop their economy and preserve their culture.

The Village of Kawawachikamach

The Northwestern Quebec Agreement also provided for the creation of a Naskapi village north of Schefferville. In 1983, the Naskapi undertook the construction of Kawawachikamach, a village they settled in 1984. Most jobs are seasonal in nature and mainly revolve around tourism, construction, the trapping of fur-bearing animals and crafts. These jobs are not sufficient to meet the needs of the population, which includes many young people.

Unit 5 B

Sharing and Developing the Quebec Cree Territory

The Quebec Cree Territory

The Cree who have settled in the southern area of this territory live near villages inhabited by non-Natives. Around the 1950s, the construction of permanent housing by the federal government, the institution of mandatory schooling and the decline of the fur trade encouraged the Cree to change their way of life. This rapid shift from a nomadic to a sedentary way of life, with its permanent homes, jobs and wages, greatly disrupted Cree communities.

A Way of Life Rooted in Nature

Although the Cree live in villages, their identity is still strongly rooted in traditional activities related to hunting, fishing and trapping. Furthermore, over 30% of Cree earn their living by engaging in these type of activities. The great majority of Cree speak Cree at home and within their communities. From kindergarten to third grade, a portion of curriculum is taught in Cree. Teaching programs also take into account the communitys culture, customs and values.

The James Bay Project

The Creation of a new Native territory and the Challenges it Faces

In 1975, the Cree and the Inuit signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement with the Canadian and Quebec governments. In addition to the payment of significant compensation in exchange for their rights, these agreements provided for the establishment of hunting and fishing territories for the Cree. Native people also obtained assurance that any Northern development would, from that point on, be done with the agreement of the First Nations concerned.

A Socio-Economic Profile of Quebec Native People

The Cree make up approximately 16% of Quebecs Native population. Their territory is home to many natural resources. Hydro-Quebec produces over half of its electricity on Cree land, and logging and mining are also very important. Recreational Tourism, a relatively new activity in this region, is booming. Many nature enthusiasts go there to fish, hunt, camp, etc