How was the culture of the First Occupants expressed?
Mr. Thompson – History 404
The First Occupants
What is the main difference between Western cultures (Europe) and the indigenous North American cultures?
How are we doing in this regard?
The main elements of Amerindian Culture: SpiritualityGenerosity DreamsSpoken word
Since 10 000 B.C.
The Circle of Life - immortality of the soul.
Burial ObjectsDreamsThe Shaman
Expressing Spirituality
Amerindian traditions that are still practiced today:
Music – heavily based on drums and singing
Dancing – specific dances for specific rituals
Food – changing with the seasonsThe “Sweat-Lodge” – communication
with the spiritshttp://www.kahnawakepowwow.com/
Expressing Spirituality
Generosity and the importance of trade.
The influence of gifts and trades.
Making Treaties:
Wampum Belts (Bead Belts)Smoking of Tobacco (Peace-Pipe)
Social Relationships
Education.
Social Pressure – a true communist society.
Wars and interdependence
Social Relationships
The Arrival of the French: the trading of goods copper pots, iron tools, knives, tissues, bread,
alcohol.Impact on the Amerindian way of life
The French believed…Missionaries and the sedentary
Huron-Wendat.
The French and Amerindians
The French Fur Traders and Amerindian cultureThe Traders started to adopt Amerindian ways
The Impact of the Fur Trade? Amerindian dependence on European goods
Conclusion?Thus, the relationship the Amerindians had
with their surroundings for almost 10 000 years, started to deteriorate.
The French and Amerindians
Far from the Mother Country… The French who lived in New France were
slowly transformed.
Amerindian objects that became a part of French Canadian culture: Canoes, toboggans, snowshoes, tobacco…
Conclusion?A new culture was born that was neither
Amerindian nor European.
The French and Amerindians
In either the Green or Red book- Find an Amerindian tradition that interests you and do some more research on it:Tell me more about your chosen tradition…Which nation/tribe does it come from?How does the tradition fit into the cultural
fabric of that tribe?Has it died? Or is it still around? Explain.DO NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR
SOURCES!
Activity #1
Thank-You.