Towards a Better Understanding of Canada’s History Aboriginal Peoples Towards a Better Understanding of Canada’s History

For centuries there have been major misunderstandings about Aboriginal Peoples’ cultures and histories by most non-Aboriginal Europeans and later, by Canadians. These misunderstandings and lack of knowledge create negative feelings and actions by non-Aboriginal Canadians towards Aboriginal peoples even today. In the hopes of creating a better understanding through knowledge, the following are some important points to learn.

Before First Contact, (before Canada was “discovered”) there were over 60 Aboriginal nations (like small countries) living here with their own languages and cultures. Although each nation had their own unique customs, their basic beliefs were similar. Some beliefs were:

The Creator had given the land to the Aboriginal Peoples to share and to take care of. They did not own it; they had an obligation to share it, take care of it, and not abuse it. The land, the Earth, was so sacred to Aboriginal Peoples it was called and treated as Mother.

It was believed that animals had decided to sacrifice themselves so Aboriginal Peoples could eat. Animals were killed only when needed, and after killing it, thanks was given to every animal for its sacrifice.

3. Tobacco was a sacred herb that Creator had given to Aboriginal Peoples to use. It was most often used as smoke in pipes to let prayers rise to the Creator. Tobacco was not inhaled. It was a way of communicating with the Creator and the spiritual world. The sharing and passing of the pipe was done to create a spiritual connection within the group of people that shared it. It was a symbol of peace and community when language was a barrier between nations.

4. Tobacco was used also as a sacred herb left as (a symbol of) thanks after killing an animal for food or clothes, or after finding special herbs as medicine.

5. Aboriginal Peoples were taught to live their lives by the Seven Sacred Teachings: Respect, Humility, Love, Truth, Honesty, Courage, Wisdom - Europeans did not see the same kinds of churches as they had and believed Aboriginal Peoples had no true spiritual beliefs or teachings.

6. Aboriginal Peoples had no visible government buildings, but they had government. In fact, the United States government is based on concepts of Iroquois government. Aboriginal Peoples believed in peace and unity within a community. Problems were discussed in a circle as a community and decisions were made only when everyone was happy with the projected outcome.

7. Women were respected and considered equals as humans 7. Women were respected and considered equals as humans. Chiefs (leaders) were people who wanted to serve and take care of their community. They were respected for their kindness and wisdom. They were chosen by the community. Often women made the decisions at home as to who should govern and men declared the decision publicly.

8. Aboriginal Peoples had no written language but had such detailed and developed oral language levels that it took years for non-Aboriginal people to even begin to comprehend the intricacies of one language. Europeans and early Canadians were not able to comprehend the vast multitude of extremely complicated languages to clearly communicate with each Aboriginal nation.