Aboriginal Spirituality Flashcards
“Aboriginal Peoples”
a collective name for the original peoples of North American and their descendants
What are the three recognized groups of aboriginal peoples
Indian (First Nations), Métis, and Inuit
Where are aboriginal communities located
in urban, rural, and remote locations across canada
define Anishabee
meaning “the people” or “good people”
Canadian Aboriginal Totems
-link aboriginal peoples to their mythical ancestors
-are protective entities of a clan or individual
-Objibwe identifies totems by the name of a bird, fish, animal, or reptiles
-persons of the same totem are close relatives and may not marry
What is a Potlatch
important cultural and spiritual practice used to name children, announce marriages, transfer titles from father to son, and to mount the dead
why was the potlatch banned
because the canadian government saw it as destructive and distracting from productive work
how are spiritual traditions passed down
orally through elders
What did european contact with aboriginals cause
-assimilation and conformity, they took over the land, banned aboriginal ceremonies c and allowed residential schools
smudging
burning herbs and washing the smoke over a person’s eyes, mouth, ears, hands, heart, and whole being
sacred pipe ceremony
smoking the pipe symbolizes returning unity, peace, and harmony to the world
the sweat lodge
water is poured on hot rocks and the stream purifies the participants
birth and naming
the name of a child is given by a name-giver (an elder)
puberty
an elder sends a child on a vision quest and when they return they are accepted as an adult
hair
long hair connects aboriginals to their culture
death
Objibwe- the deceased becomes a spirit and a death feast is held in their honour, every autumn the feast of the dead occurs and any family who lost a loved one attends
cree- spirit joins its ancestors in another realm and can reveal themselves in dreams
harvest feast
thanksgiving, celebrates the harvest
powwow
a dance of renewal for restoration, performed in a circle
sun dance
celebrated in june or july during a full moon, symbolizes dedication
What happened in the turtle island story
-creator flooded the earth, many animals tried to retrieve mud but failed, a muskrat succeeded but lost his life, the mud was placed on the turtles back and the turtle grew into turtle island
assimilate
the process by which groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of society
elder
a person older than you who is very respected
indigenous
distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to lands and natural resources where they live
north
white, sweetgrass, winter, elder
