WEEK 2 - Changing Lifeworlds Flashcards
Lifeworld
“The sum total of physical surroundings and everyday experiences that make up an individual’s world”
Concept employed among Indigenous Scholars to denote a more holistic understanding of life experiences
critical for this: spirituality and their independent connections with spirits.
Aaron Mills and Life World
The set of ontological epistemological, axiological and cosmological understanding that situate Indigenous communities within creation
offers a more holistic approach to understanding the nature of things
contemporary issue…
Increasing understanding between Indigenous ppls and settlers in Canada and changing the often-violent dynamics of these relationships
importance of land
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”
Indigenous perspectives
A strong sense of spirituality
Deeply rooted sense of place
Recognition that everything is related
An emphasis on reciprocity
places of Canada
The Atlantic and Gulf
The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence lowlands
Canadina Shield
The interior plains
Western cordillera
The north
MYTH (1) used by colonial bodies
Myth 1: The Pristine Myth
- labelled land as terra nullius. makes Canada seem like a totally uninhibited natural environment that had not yet been touched ==> naturalizes indigenous populations
terra nullius
translates to uninhabited, contributes to the pristine myth used by settlers to justify colonization.
AIM = naturalize indigenous population
this myth led to a common misconception that the americas were undeveloped wilderness.
undeveloped and NATURAL environment.
Myth 2 used by colonizers
Noble Savage Myth
“ecological indian”
Idea that indigenous people are NOT notble ppl, rather they are wild, uncivilized, less advanced etc they are the noble savage.
they are potrayed as dirty and corrupt
indigenous values
emphasis on reciprocity
strong sense of spirituality
deeply rooted sense of place
recognition that everything is related
indig ppl and land….
have knowledge on how to manage land, they have knowledge on the interactions and methods of management.
EX: buffalo, they know how the plains effectively allowed buffalo populations to thrive.
Susan Hill, 4 major epics…what are they and what do they represent?
The Creation Story
The Kayeri Niyorihwa:ke (Four Ceremonies)
The Kayaneren’kowa (Great Law of Peace)
The Karihwiyo (Good Message of Handsome Lake)
“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 ppl
Collective rights and resposibnilities to land
pristine demonstration of the relationship between indigenous ppl and land
loss of land = loss of identity
SpiritualityAll North American Societies felt a close communication with spirits, though each groups spirituality was unique
Sharmans acted as intermediaries between individuals and spirits; they were also healers
Hunters undertook vision quests to attract spirits
Accounts of Creation of differ among FN, but each story informs their lifeworlds
example connecting tradition, spirituality and land
Turtle Island Story.
Territory is connected to identity and Kinship. Haudensaunee beleif is that the life force of the earth gave life to humans and explains whats behind the ‘skyholder’/the creator name
