All My Relations

Canada’s Indigenous Peoples

Note:

• There are hundred of different Aboriginal cultural groups, each with their own unique history and traditions. The information presented here is a basic generalization to help you understand the background of the stories we will be reading.

Who are Canada’s Aboriginals?

• Before the Europeans came to North America, there were already hundreds of ancient tribes here

• Some people believe that the Aboriginals first came to Canada from Asia, thousands and thousands of years ago

Who are Canada’s Aboriginals?

• First Nations– The various Aboriginal cultures in southern Canada and the USA

• Inuit– Aboriginals in the Arctic (northern Canada)

• Métis– A cultural group with both Aboriginal and European ancestors

Remember: Canada andthe USA are European-made countries! This iswhat North America lookslike from an Aboriginal point of view.

Fun fact: the name “Canada” comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “village”

What was Traditional life like?

• Hunting and gathering– Some were nomadic (moving to follow food)– Others stayed in one place to harvest crops like corn

What was Traditional life like?

• Rich artistic & musical traditions blended with rituals (e.g. rain dances, Ojibwe dreamcatchers)

What was important in society?

• Honoring the wisdom of elders• Matrilineal society: women as leaders• “Seven Grandfather Teachings”: wisdom, love,

respect, bravery, honesty, humility, truth

The natural world

• “All my relations”: a common Aboriginal phrase that represents the connection between humans, animals, and all parts of nature

• Nature and animals play a key role in Aboriginal life– All the natural world has life that must be respected, not

just humans and animals

Mythology

• Origin stories to explain the symbolism of all the world’s phenomena and how humans connect to earth

• Animals are often the main figures in the story, and have common personalities through many Aboriginal cultures– Coyote and Raven are usually tricksters

Mythology

• Stories are set in a past time, before the world was as it is today

• Can include shape-shifters: creatures who can turn into any form they want

• Oral stories: they were not written down

The trickster

• A god/spirit/magic animal• Sometimes foolish, sometimes wise• Sometimes a hero, sometimes a villain• Causes mischief, but in the end order replaces chaos

Today’s trickster: Nanabush, the shape-shifter.Left: A pictograph of Nanabush from a provincial park in Ontario

“The Shivering Tree”: Vocabulary

• Conjurer: a person who can make something appear from nowhere, as if by magic

• Crystal: a precious stone 水晶• Juggler: throwing and catching 3 or more objects

while always keeping one in the air

“The Shivering Tree”

• What two natural phenomenon does the story provide an explanation for?

• What moral (lesson) does the story provide? • What qualities of this story are similar to the

story of Sky Woman?

Review: What are the 5 elements of literature?

• Plot• Character• Conflict• Theme• Setting

Plot• The sequence of events in a story

A. Introduction: The start of the story. It introduces the characters and setting.

B. Rising Action: A conflict starts to develop and the story gets more interesting.

C. Climax: The highest point of action in the story. The conflict reaches its maximum. This is a turning point for the protagonist.

D. Falling Action: The conflict is resolved; either the protagonist or the antagonist wins.

E. Resolution: “Loose ends” are tied up and the story finishes.

Character

• Protagonist: the main character• Antagonist: the person who opposes the main

character’s objectives– Often the “bad guy”, but: if the protagonist were evil, the

antagonist would be good!

• Static Character: a person who does not experience an inner change; he remains the same throughout the story

• Dynamic Character: someone who learns and grows throughout the story (protagonist is usually dynamic)

Conflict• A struggle or problem between a character and

another person or force

Person vs. Person: a person struggles with another character

Person vs. Society: a person struggles against traditions, laws, or culture

Person vs. Self: a person struggles with right and wrong, or has a difficult decision to make

Person vs. Environment: a person must fight against nature/the environment to survive

Theme

• The central idea or lesson that a story provides– The theme is an idea that is addressed frequently

and in different ways throughout the story—there may be more than one!

Setting

Where?• Physical

– Location• Cultural

– What society?When?• Temporal

– Time of day/year• Historical

– Time in history

September 12th, 2013

• Community circle• Creation Stories: Good news!• Shivering Tree, plot graph• Point of View• Drama, point of view

The Shivering Tree

Day 2: Exploring Elements of Literature

Character

• Who is the protagonist?– Nanabush

• Who is the antagonist?– The Juggler

• Do you think Nanabush is a static or dynamic character? Why?

Conflict

• Find an example for each theme:– Person vs. Person– Person vs. Self– Person vs. Environment

Theme

• What themes are important in “The Shivering Tree”?– Hint: we talked about this yesterday!

Setting• Physical: where does the story happen?

– In nature: there is a river, a forest, and they are close to the mountains

– “No human being has come this far” (first page)• Cultural: in what culture is the story set?

– Aboriginal (mythology)• Temporal: when does the story happen?

– Autumn & Spring• Historical: is this story in the distant past, recent past,

present, or future?– Likely the distant past, a time when humans had not yet

found every place in the world

Point of View• Author: the person who writes the story• Narrator: the character who tells the story

1st person: “I”- Narrator is the main character, describes his experiences2nd person: “You”- Narrator speaks directly to the reader3rd person (limited): “He/she”- The story describes characters actions as if the narrator is watching

them, but we can only see the thoughts of one character3rd person (omniscient): “He/she”- The story describes characters as if watching them, and the

narrator can go in and out of any character’s life and feelings