PDF 1 - Course Themes Flashcards
Main Course Themes
- Resistance
- Empathy
Resistance Type
Civil Disobedience
Individuals intentionally break laws or rules to protest injustice. Think of peaceful sit-ins or refusing to comply with discriminatory
regulations.
E.g. Martin Luther King Jr.
Resistance Type
Cultural Resistance
Deliberate and creative ways in which individuals or groups challenge dominant norms, ideologies, and power structures through cultural expressions.
E.g. Told that you have a dress code, but you come wearing your cultural clothing
Resistance Type
Quiet Resistance
Subtle, often unobtrusive acts of defiance against oppressive systems or norms. Unlike overt protests or confrontations, quiet resistance operates discreetly, challenging the status quo through small, persistent actions.
E.g. A dress code says that you can’t wear jewelry, but you wear small pieces of jewelry anyway
Intransigence
Refusal to change one’s views or to agree about something
The Status Quo
- The existing state of affairs
- When people want to maintain the status quo, they are often resistant to progress
Subvert
- Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
- to overturn or overthrow from the foundation : ruin
Ideologies
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy
Persecution
Hostility and ill-treatment, especially on the basis of ethnicity and religion
Maltreatment
Cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal
Tyranny
Cruel and oppressive government or rule
Subjection
The action of subjecting a country or person to one’s control
“the country’s subjection to European colonialism”
Repression
The action of subduing someone or something by force
Prejudice
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Empathy Type
Cognitive Empathy
This involves understanding another person’s mental state. For example, accurately reading someone’s body language and tone of voice.
Empathy Type
Emotional Empathy
This refers to the ability to feel what someone else is feeling. When you see another person suffering, you can instantly envision yourself going through the same experience and feel what they are going through.
- put yourself in someone else’s shoes
Empathy Type
Compassionate Empathy
This type of empathy leads to action. It involves feeling concerned for another person’s well-being and often motivates you to help or support them.
E.g. best friend is studying for a test, you want to help them study
Clemency
Mercy; lenience
Forbearance
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance
Humanitarianism
A broad dedication to and belief in the fundamental value of human life
Altruism
The belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others
Goodwill
- Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude
- Company, nonprofit chain with a range of pre-owned stuff
Benevolence
The quality of being well meaning; kindness.
Magnanimity
Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
Commiseration
Sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others; compassion
Why were the course themes chosen?
Because contemporary Indigenous Literatures often work to deconstruct stereotypes that exist about Indigenous Peoples. As you read texts in this course, you should watch out for where texts resist against ideas and encourage empathy.
Stereotype and Myth Example
Indigenous People in Harmony with Nature
This stereotype portrays Native Americans as the “original environmentalists.” It suggests that Indigenous Peoples have an innate, harmonious connection with nature. However, it oversimplifies their complex relationships with the environment and mischaracterizes their actual experiences.
Sterotype and Myth Example
Indigenous Peoples are Migrants to North America like Europeans
The Oral Traditions of Indigenous Peoples in North America indicate that Indigenous Peoples have lived for millenia in the places they live, although some record ancient migrations within the Americas (not to the Americas).
Stereotype and Myth Example
Reserve Lands and Resources
Contrary to the stereotype, Indigenous Peoples do not have unlimited control over their reserve lands and resources. The federal government retains significant authority, and many Indigenous communities face challenges related to land management, economic development, and resource extraction.
Stereotype and Myth Example
“Free Ride” Myth
Some believe that Indigenous Peoples receive a “free ride” from the federal government. However, this oversimplification ignores the complexities of fiduciary duty and the responsibilities
the government has toward Indigenous communities.
Causes people to not support Indigenous peoples
Stereotype and Myth Example
Free Housing
The belief that Indigenous Peoples living on reserves receive free housing oversimplifies the reality. Housing conditions vary widely, and many Indigenous communities struggle with inadequate housing, overcrowding, and infrastructure deficits.
Stereotype and Myth Example
Homogeneity
Treating all Indigenous Peoples as the same perpetuates stereotypes. In reality, there are diverse cultures, languages, and histories among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.
Stereotype and Myth Example
Residential Schools
The impact of residential schools is not ancient history. The trauma and intergenerational effects continue to shape Indigenous communities today.
Stereotype and Myth Example
“Vanishing Indian” Myth
This myth assumes that Indigenous cultures are disappearing. However, Indigenous resilience, cultural revitalization, and activism challenge this notion.
Stereotype and Myth Example
Education
While there are educational opportunities available, claiming that Indigenous Peoples receive entirely free secondary education overlooks systemic barriers, underfunding, and disparities in educational outcomes.
Stereotype and Myth Example
All Indigenous People Live on Reserves
Indigenous Peoples can be found living on and off reserves and whether an Indigenous person lives on a reserve or not has no bearing on whether or not they are Indigenous and have a specific Indigenous identity.
Stereotype and Myth Example
Taxation
Indigenous Peoples do pay taxes in Canada. However, the myth persists that they do not contribute financially to the country.
