Post a summary of the cultural knowledge of a Canadian Aboriginal culture/community of your choice.
Identify the source(s) which you used in your research.
In your summary, discuss the following:
• the community - location, size, resources, challenges (access, services, etc.)
• the culture - cultural roles and responsibilities of community members, e.g. family, adults, children, youth, elders
• communication (tribal language, use of silence and body language)
• personal space (very important has no boundaries)and time orientation
• cultural customs and celebrations
• spiritual beliefs and/or religious affiliation(s)
• cultural practices related to health and healing
Compare one similarity and one difference between your own cultural heritage and that of your above findings. What approach might you take to demonstrate cultural competence in working with a person from this cultural heritage?
Post a response to at least one class member's post, comparing a similarity or difference in your findings and your suggested culturally competent approach.
For 2 Threads any comments each - each one half page
1. Dene Nation
Dene nation, also known as the Athabaskan peoples, occupy a large geographical area - including Alaska and Saskatchewan. This nation has existed for more than 30,000 years, and although they only have one language, there are many dialects. In order to be sustainable within their daily lives, they harness all that their land has to offer. The Dene people use drums for their musical needs, and they also believe that the steady beat allows for medicinal healing. They would often burn sage, a type of plant, and allow for the smoke from this plant to bless the drums in order to channel spirit animals into their music. These spiritual activities were extremely important for the Dene nation. Extended families would often travel, hunt, and live together - and each member from these families would help aid in survival. For example, the men would often hunt for the food, and the women would often help prepare the food while also taking care of the children. These families would then gather at traditional locations during warmer weathers and they would often accomplish many things during these gatherings such as: marriages, trade, and even resolving pressing issues. They would then end these gatherings with games and dances. The Dene languages were never written languages; rather, they were strictly spoken languages; therefore, storytelling was very important to the Dene people. These stories often exemplified the importance of the history of the people, and also important issues such as that of the creation of humans. However; in the recent past, there has been a deployment of written forms of the language.
One similarity between the culture of the Dene Nation and that of Pakistan is that women often play the role as the house carer. In both cultures, they often are viewed as the ones that take care of the children, prepare the food, and maintain the household. One main difference between these two groups is that the Dene believe in spiritual animals and the importance of them in their daily lives; however, in Pakistan, the majority of individuals residing there believe in a single God and do not look any further than that. In order to be cultural competent towards an individual from the Dene in a workplace, I would need to be accepting and respectful towards their cultural traditions and differences. Specifically, due to the nature of the women being viewed the primary home maker, I would need to be respectful of the fact that they may need more time working from home as that is the nature of their culture and values.
2. The origin of the Metis people goes back to the fur trade when the French settlers began mixing with the local Indigenous people became known as the people of mixed blood. They were linked to the fur trade and were buffalo hunters and eventually settled in the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and currently are also located in B.C , Northern Canada and Ontario
There have been many struggles for the Metis to be recognized as people, due to their mixed blood and not being fully accepted by either side. They have established many educational, historical , financial and healthcare resources for themselves
Culturally they mixed both sides of their heritage and speak Michif, Cree, English, French. Saulteaux and wear a distinctive red sash. Metis music is a blend of fiddling and jigging, and use it in many celebrations. They have mixed traditional Indigenous beadwork with European flower patterns to create their own distinct artwork.
The Metis practice a mix of Aboriginal spiritualism and Christianity combining different elements of each. Paying respect to the planet and elements as well as abiding by Catholic and Protestant holidays and traditions.
Family life generally means the mixing of multiple generations within the household, paying respect to elders is very important. They are a very close-knit people and take family relationships very seriously.
The traditional folk medicine of mixing herbs for ingestion and application to the body, as well as animal products are still used today, although mixed with the use of modern medicine and treatments where required.
I can relate to this culture on the basis of the family life being multi generational and very important to them, also the mixing of cultures and trying to keep both traditions alive, as my family is also of mixed background and we try to maintain the history of both sides.