By Despina Ikik, Jamie Liddell, Zack Lopez, Tamkin Naghshbandi , Rachel Tam

Aboriginal Spirituality

Timeline

35,000 - 15,000 BCE

Scientists theorize that people migrated from Asia to North America over the Bering land bridge

1000 CE

The first recorded meeting between Europeans (Norse) and Aboriginal peoples in Newfoundland

1784 CE

the leadership of Joseph Brant, Mohawks settle on the Grand River after being displaced following the American Revolution

1800 CE

The code of Handsome Lake is developed

1815 CE

Handsome Lake dies, Aug 10

1830’s CE

Creation of residential school system

1884 CE

Potlatch ceremonies are banned by the federal government

1876 CE

Indian Act is passed

A residential school is turned into the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario

1970 CE

1990 CE

Elijah Harper stops Meech Lake Accord

The Oka Crisis explodes when plans for a golf course clash with Aboriginal sacred burial grounds

1998 CE

Canadian Government expresses profound regret to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples for past mistreatment and issues Statement of Reconciliation

1999 CE

The new territory of Nunavut is created

OriginCannot pinpoint an

origin/founder of Aboriginal spirituality

Origins are ancient beyond record, theory says they “came out of this ground”

Archaeological evidence supports that Aboriginal people migrated from Asia to North and South America by land bridge over Bering Strait (between Alaska & Russia), approx. 35,000 years ago

Origin80% of the world’s

Aboriginal peoples live in Asia

13% live in North/South America

Currently, 800,000 Aboriginal people live in Canada, some in every province

Key BeliefsMany Aboriginal’s

believe that everything in the world is alive

All things human & non-human have spirits or souls

Known as Animism.

Key BeliefsSome say this belief is

polytheistic, believing in many gods

Believe in a supreme Creator

Black Elk, born 1863, Sioux holy man from the Great Plains

His theory was that every living thing was related and we were at one with all of them

Symbols

Totem PolesLink Aboriginal

people to their mythical ancestors

They are protective entities (plant, animal or mythological being of a clean individual)

People of the same totem are considered to be close relatives and may not marry

The Tree of PeaceConnects earth to

heavenIntegral to the sun

danceThe white pine is key

for Iroquois because they gather around it to offer thanks to the earth

Dream CatchersWith this device the

Aboriginals believe that bad dreams are filtered through the web and displaced into the universe and good dreams are held onto the web for you to hold on to

Medicine Wheel• Made by laying many

stones in a particular pattern

• Symbol of healing and connection with the elements

• All over North America• Manifestation of spiritual energy• Usually, there are four sections

Key PracticesRituals and Ceremonies

Morning Dance/ Wabeno• southern Ontario• cleanse• Male elders lead • Dance around a cotton

wood tree• Gives respect to the

Tree of the Universe• This lasts from dawn

to noon • A huge feast of meat

and fish follows

• in the Great Plains• 8 to 16 days• Summer• Banned in the 1880s

but is practised now

What they do:• Prayer• Promises• Dance

Sun Dance

Northwest Pacific coastBanned in 1884, ban lifted in 1951Celebration of

important eventsSongs and dance are

performed to the Great Spirit

Host distributes wealthThe more they give away,

the more prestigious the host becomes.

Potlatch Ceremony

Great Plains nationsRenews the soul and

helps to regain focusCleanses bodiesA sauna like dome is built and

participants go insidePrayers and sacred pipes are

also shared

Sweat Lodge

Shaking TentSub Arctic to Great

Lakes regionRepresents the values

and beliefs of the supernatural world

Communicate with spirits

Build a cylindrical tent

This is ceremony always at night

SmudgingPractised all over Cleansing,

purificationBurns sweet grass

and Tobacco

Prayers are passed down through generations by telling and retelling stories and events

Elders and Shamans memorise the stories and become “keeper” who then pass them on to younger generations

Oral Teachings

Ancestry: 2001: 1.3 million report Aboriginal ancestry [4.4%/ total population]

2001: 1 million identified as being AboriginalAboriginal fertility > above overall Canadian

birth rate

Adherence and Influence on 21st Century

Medicine: “medicine men” (rarely women)Medicine men > only people to pronounce

illness/disease Use plants + magicMethods/ Plants used in 21st Century :Lemongrass, tamarind, red ash

Adherence and Influence on 21st Century

Religion changeable, absorbs elements of other beliefs

“Feeling of oneness and belonging”Spiritual connection to landCeremonies (corroborees): totems,

community gathering, story telling, dreaming, storytelling

Religious Significance