WELCOME. Bienvenue Kii hakoolamaalsi Munsee Shekoli Oneida Ahnee Anishna Ojibwe
ONTARIO ABORIGINAL, MÉTIS AND INUIT
WHO ARE THEY???? SWIMMERS SHOE MAKERS CARPENTERS SISTERS GRANDMAS GOLD MEDALISTS STORY TELLERS TEACHERS FAMILY AUTHORS Y O U PLUMBERS DENTISTS
THEY ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
THEY ARE PEOPLE YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES: A term used in a general manner to refer to the descendents of the original inhabitants of North America that include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. These separate groups have unique heritages, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. It is imperative to realize and respect that Aboriginal peoples are unique in their beliefs, spirituality, customs, histories, and languages.
FIRST NATION(S): the original inhabitants of Canada, except the Inuit. In Northern Ontario, there are four major First Nations: Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Oji-Cree, Mushkegowuk Cree (formerly known as Swampy Cree) Métis Nation.
INUIT: Aboriginal peoples in northern Canada, living mainly in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, northern Quebec, and Labrador.
MÉTIS: People of mixed First Nation and European ancestry. The Métis history and culture draws on diverse ancestral origins.
SHARING WITH US The Europeans learned many new skills and knowledge from the First Nations, Métis and Inuit which continue to be shared today. For example, snow shoeing is a fantastic way to get around in the winter and canoeing in the summer. The health benefits of country foods is what helped get many communities established. If this knowledge had not been shared, it is debatable whether or not Europeans would ever have established themselves. Life would have been different without the contributions from First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
MISHOOMIS OKAKEQWAYWIN THE SEVEN GRANDFATHERS
The Seven Grandfathers are traditional teachings on Love, Humility, Honesty, Courage, Wisdom, Generosity and Respect. Seven Grandfathers can not be used in isolation
TO PRACTICE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER WOULD IS PRACTICING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT TEACHING To not love is to be fearful To not be humble is to be egotistical To not be honest is to be dishonest To not be courageous is to be cowardly
LOVE - EAGLE To feel true love is to know the Creator. Therefore, it is expected that one's first love is to be the Great Spirit. He is considered the father of all children, and the giver of human life. Love given to the Great Spirit is expressed through love of oneself, and it is understood that if one cannot love oneself, it is impossible to love anyone else.
RESPECT - BUFFALO The Buffalo, through giving it's life and sharing every part of its being, showed the deep respect it had for the people. No animal was more important to the existence of Indigenous families than this animal, and it's gift provided shelter, clothing and utensils for daily living. Native people believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, and developed a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a relationship that was a true expression of respect.
COURAGE - BEAR The Bear provides many lessons in the way it lives, but courage is the most important teaching it offers. Though gentle by nature, the ferociousness of a mother Bear when one of her cubs is approached is the true definition of courage.
HONESTY - SABE Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe. Kitch-sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honour that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying "There walks an honest man. He can be trusted."
WISDOM - BEAVER The building of a community is entirely dependent on gifts given to each member by the creator and how these gifts are used. The Beaver's example of using his sharp teeth for cutting trees and branches to build his dams and lodges expresses this teaching.
HUMILITY - WOLF Recognizing and acknowledging that there is a higher power than man and it is known as the Creator is to be deemed truly humble. To express deference or submission to the Creator through the acceptance that all beings are equal is to capture the spirit of humility.
TRUTH - TURTLE To know truth is to know and understand all of the original laws as given by the Creator- and to remain faithful to them. It is said that in the beginning, when the Creator made man and gave him the seven sacred laws, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. On the back of a Turtle are the 13 moon, each representing the truth of one cycle of the Earth's rotations around the sun.
CARRYING FIRE Carrying Fire illustrates how the fire of the Aboriginal peoples spirit is passed from one camp and one generation to the next. http://www.nfb.ca/film/vistas_carrying_fire/emb ed/player
APPRECIATE OUR DIFFERENCES