Study Guide 3 - Mi'kmaq

StudyBlue printing of Study Guide 3 - Mi'kmaq html, body, div, span, applet, object, iframe, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, p, blockquote, pre, a, abbr, acronym, address, big, cite, code, del, dfn, em, font, img, ins, kbd, q, s, samp, small, strike, strong, sub, sup, tt, var, b, u, i, center, fieldset, form, label, legend, table, caption, tbody, tfoot, thead, tr, th, td { margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0; outline: 0; font-size: 100%; background: transparent; } body { line-height: 1; } blockquote, q { quotes: none; } blockquote:before, blockquote:after, q:before, q:after { content: ''; content: none; } /* remember to define focus styles! */ :focus { outline: 0; } /* remember to highlight inserts somehow! */ ins { text-decoration: none; } del { text-decoration: line-through; } /* tables still need 'cellspacing="0"' in the markup */ table { border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; } /* end RESET */ .header { min-width:800px; } .logo { padding:6px 20px 2px 20px; margin:0; font-size:25px; font-weight:bold; color:#808285; position:relative; border-bottom: 1px solid #c5c5c5; } .logo-blue { color:#70adc4; } .logo-desc { font-weight:normal; font-size:19px; color:#cccccc; margin-top:50px; position:absolute; display: none; } .back-button { position:absolute; top:20px; right:20px; font-size:13px; line-height:25px; color:rgb(0,175,225); font-weight:normal; } .back-button a { color:rgb(0,175,225); } .instructions { padding:0; margin:0; width:100%; position:relative; color:rgb(100,100,100); } .step-holder { border-left:1px solid #ededed; margin-left:20px; } .steps { padding:15px 0; float:left; width:24%; border-right:1px solid #ededed; text-align:center; } .steps-01 { } .steps-02 { } .steps-03 { } .steps-04 { } .label { padding:5px 10px; } .print-button { } .print-button a { background-color:rgb(0,175,225); color:white; line-height: 19px; padding:9px 8px 5px 30px; font-size:14px; text-decoration:none; background-image: url(images/printer.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 7px 50%; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; } .print-button a:hover { background-color:black; } .theNote .content { width: 8.0in !important; margin: 5px auto; padding:20px; background-color:white; } .theNote .header { border-bottom: 1px dashed #C8C8C8; font-size: 17px; padding: 0 0 10px; line-height: 19px; color: #00ADE1; min-width:500px; } .theNote .body { font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 10px 0; } .theNote{ padding:6px 0; clear:both; background-color: rgb(200,200,200); } .theNote h3{ color: rgb(100,100,100); } .theNote h1, .theNote h3{ background-color:white; padding:2px 20px; width:8.0in !important; margin: 0 auto; font-size: 15px; } .theNote h1{ padding-top: 10px; font-size: 15px; } .theNote h1:first-child{ font-size: 20px; } .theNote h3 { font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; } #options { border: 3px double #ccc; padding: 5px 12px; margin: 10px 50px 10px 20px; float: left; } #info { border-top: 1px solid #ccc; padding-top: 5px; font-style: italic; } li { margin: 5px 10px 5px 25px; } ul li { list-style: disc; } ol li { list-style: decimal; } img { border: 0; } table { clear: both; width: 100%; border: 1px solid #c5c5c5; border-width: 1px 0; margin: 0; page-break-after: always; } table#page { page-break-after: auto; } td { text-align: center; font-size: 12px; border-bottom: 1px dashed #c5c5c5; height: 1.75in; width: 50%; padding-left: 15px; } .leftside { border-right: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 0 15px 0 0; } .bottom td { border-bottom: none; } .clearfix { clear:both; line-height:1px; height:1px; } img { max-width:80%; max-height:150px; margin:20px; } @media print {.header { display: none; } .content .header{ display:inherit; } table { border: 1px dashed #bbb; border-width: 1px 0; } .theNote{ background-color:white; } } THE MIKMAQ: STUDY & READING GUIDE I: Introduction 1. What is the Mi'kmaq population? Native tribe of N. Maine, among first Indians in N. America to encounter Europeans 2. Who are the Wabanaki? = cluster of European Algonquians (dawn land Indians). 3. To which language group does the Mi'kmaq belong? Algonquians 4. Where do they live? – NE America: Maine, Newfoundland, Quebec Canada: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick prince Edwards Island 5. How do the Mi’kmaq Indians traditionally refer to themselves? L’nu’k or Ulnoo “humans” or “people” 6. What does the name Mi'kmaq mean? My kin friends 7. How does Europe’s colonial ideology relate to history and was its impact on Mi'kmaq? = progressive development of humanity in stages of gradual growth. Europeans thought of Indians as inferior, pre-history that left the truth behind. 8. Why does Mi'kmaq need to become aware of the European in their consciousness? = Living Mi’kmaqs today depend on word of mouth, comprehend impact of written history on culture of their people. Must understand European ideology and its’ effect on their people if they want to find truth, otherwise they may be ill-informed II: Problems and Challenges 1. What is internal colonialism ? Forced into subordination which anthropologists’ labeled “internal colonialism”. A state where an independent country has, within its’ own boundaries, given special legal status to groups that differ culturally from the dominant group, and has created a distinct administrative machinery to handle such groups”. 2. What is bureaucratic ethnocide ? P. 9 = 1876 Canada’s federal govt. issued the Indian act which set course for form of bureaucratic ethnocide or “civilized” destruction of an indigenous culture. 3. What is the function of Mikmaq myths and legends? Reflect the nation’s struggle to deal with the dramatic changes it faced, as well as its determination to survive as a people. Gave sense of what it meant to be a Mi’kmaq, make sense of complex processes of changing power relations. 4. Who is Kluskap? Mi’kmaq cultural hero, giant magician who came to be when no one else was on Earth. (Their God). Abandoned people right before European invasion. Believed he would return & save them from oppression (Indian messiah) 5. What are some of the key elements in Mi'kmaq ethnicity? Shared history & recognize an ancestral range or territory. A kin-ordered culture, they historically formed a tribal network of related bands. Defined by livelihoods that are particularly common to the group (steel const. splint basketry, migrant work in potato fields or blueberry barrens). Uses ethnicity to distinguish themselves from others – especially non-Indians. 6. What is the difference between primitive and primitivism? Primitivism = “postulated people dwelling in nature according to nature, existing free of history’s burdens and social complexity felt by Europeans in the modern period, and offering hope to mankind at the same time that they constituted a powerful counter-example to existing European civilization” (p12). Primitive - how Indians are described as ignoble savages representing the crude backwardness of a brute in the wilderness. 7. What are the conflicting images Europeans had of Mikmaq since early 16 th century? = Indians very happy and innocent, others say savages and wild brutes (Good v. bad) 8. What is significance of court cases described in this chapter? = tribes ignored, lied to & forgotten. Judges & white jurors don’t care about/understand traditions, tribe got little in return for their losses 9. What role does history play in the struggle for native rights? They know the past to secure a more satisfying future for their people. They have reclaimed alienated lands, regained lost hunting & fishing rights, protected free trade & border-crossing rights, restored self-government, and secured federal recognition of their Indian status. TURNED HISTORY AROUND 10. What is the danger of revisionist history ? If unchecked, it could have subjective interpretation and its’ application would rob the native rights struggle of its source of moral energy. III: Aboriginal Baseline 1 What is a culture hero? A prominent figure in the oral tradition of Mi’kmaqs. Klu’skap “divine being, though in the form of a man”. 2. Which are the three major pre-European contact periods? - Paleo-Indian Period: 10,000 - 20,000 yrs ago - Archaic Period: 10,000-2,000 yrs ago - Woodland Period: 2,000 years ago – 1500’s 3. What is the Mi’kmaqs basic cultural pattern and when was it established? Used coastal and interior resources with seasonal movement specific to hunting, fishing, & gathering sites. Established in final phase of archaic (3500-2000 yrs ago) 4 What was their population at the time of first contact? At least 10,000 (some guess between 3,500 and 35,000). 5. What was their mode of subsistence? = migratory foragers. Hunt/fish/gather, Organized, highly mobile bands that were loosely structured 6. How important were maritime resources? = oriented their economy to this 10/12 months. 90% of diet from here, fish important to livelihood 7. What was the significance of birch-bark in their material culture? = light, waterproof, easy to transport, best for houses & canoes. Nature resource 8 What was the basic social unit? = Residential Kin-group Headman (saqmaw, nuclear family, & son of married sons/daughters and their families). Extended families part of larger kin-groups came together when resources abundant. 9 What role did the saqmaw play in their political organizations? Head of a residential kin-group. Used to express measure of respect for anyone who held status as a leader or who had “a command of men”. Provided dogs, canoes, provisions, and reserves 10 Where is the Mikmaq head district? Cape Breton 11 What is the significance of mntu in Mikmaq worldview? Spirit earth would grant them good deeds or create bad luck. Earth = God whom they worshipped daily, feared survival w/o this. Everything has magical/natural purpose. 12 How could someone become a puowin ? Someone born as the 7 th son or 7 th daughter was destined to possess supernatural powers. Could be passed on through generations or could have metaphysical experience such as vision or revelation in dream and become a puowin “mystery person” or “magic-doing person”. 13 How did Mikmaq view war and why did they engage in warfare? Very sacred and not lightly undertaken. Try to settle things civilly but if not, then war arises. IV: First Contact 1. How would you characterize European culture on the eve of invading America? Stimulated by intellectual revolutions & mercantile expansionism, Europeans were in search of riches, land, and commodities. 2. How did the Mikmaq view the wenuj on their coasts? Wenuj = Frenchmen, realized trading abilities, significant newcomers came from the East (sun rises that way, sign from God) Mix of awe, admiration, and disdain 3. What happened to the first European colony in Mikmaq country? Cape Breton, raided by Spaniards, natives killed all those who came there after that. Decimated by cold and bad season so they abandoned their settlement. 4. Why did European fishermen frequent Mikmaq waters? = bountiful with fish, especially cod. Wanted to exploit this and would come in spring and leave in the fall 5. Why were Europeans interested in furs? = popular for coats, new craze of beaver hats, money to be made 6. When did Mikmaq become involved in the fur trade? 1520- Received hatchets, knives, & other metal tools. Involved early as people realized they could make use of one another’s items. 7. What was the significance of shallops in their role as middlemen? Allowed Mi’kmaqs to take European commodities down river to more secluded tribe and trade for more furs they took back to Europeans & traded for more items. Gave them advantage in fur trading. 8. When did Mikmaq discover Europe and what was their reaction? 1534 9. How did Mikmaq view the Europeans? = thought of them as inferior, weak, unfit, ugly. Especially ugly due to amount of hair on their bodies. Mi’kmaq thought they were better because Europeans were always arguing and fighting 10. What was the “Great Dying,” the percentage of deaths, and its various side effects? = introduced by alien pathogens that attacked Indians with no immunity. Killed 75% of population. Caused death and loss of faith. V: Moving In 1. Which European powers competed for control over Mikmaq country? France and England 2. What was the symbiotic relationship Mikmaq developed with the French? = allied with French, built villages, military, trade partnerships, support with them. Fictive kinships through marriage/baptism built. Used each other’s weaknesses to build strength. 3. How did the European fur trade, in contrast to the fisheries, impact on the Mikmaq? = fishers depended on man power, not on Indians. Fur trading pit Indians against each other, caused them to stop using cultural customs for trading purpos 4. What is the Doctrine of First Discovery? = Nation that first discovers unknown land claims ownership of that land. (Other European Christian nations, not Indian lands) Ex. = Australia 5. What was the Seigneurial system? – distributed land to colonist. Gave a person rights to use & profit from particular space they didn’t own. Interrupted way they moved, lives, etc. 6. Why did the French not recognize aboriginal title? Because the Mi’kmaqs and other indigenous peoples existed outside of the Christian world order. 7. How did French and English sexual attitudes differ toward the Native American? = French didn’t look down on having sexual relations w/ Indians, many marriages spawned by love, lust, convenience, and alliance building. English frowned on and thought poorly of sexual relations w/ Indians VI: Christianizing the Mikmaq 1. Why did shamans lose faith in their own guardian spirits? = powerless over foreign diseases such as measles, smallpox, and other epidemics. Saw Europeans survive (though they had better immune systems) and lost traditional faith. 2. What was the relationship between French mission posts and the fur trade? French priests established Headquarters near trading stations, allowed them to reach out to hundreds of tribes people who met there and hold communal celebrations. Missions provided access to trade goods & protection in return hunters brought furs & offered armed services in return. 3. How did Black Robes and Bare Feet differ in their dealings with the Mikmaq? Black robes lived among them & liked them, taught them about their beliefs. Bare feet educated them w/ European language & writing, ripping away their tradition & replacing it with their own 4. What was the difference between Mikmaq and French interpretations of baptism? French saw this as cleansing from sin & renewing relationship with god. Indians didn’t make that connection and instead saw it as a kin-making custom. Way to make alliances w/ French 5. What was the religious syncretism developed by Mikmaq? = Combined their religious beliefs of the shaman with new Christian beliefs. Blending the two they looked at the sun as God (faith in heaven). 6. How did French missionaries subvert traditional Mikmaq spiritual beliefs? = called them witches, charlatans, frauds, jugglers and ridiculed them as sorcerers 7. Who was St. Anne? (Compare her changing role in the Mikmaq culture with Ch. 13). Mother of the Virgin Mary. Later became important to bring cultures together and had feasts in her honor VII: Accommodation and Resistance 1. Why was cod important and where were its markets? Important for money and cheap source of animal protein, sold to southern Europe & Caribbean where poor quality cod & mackerel were sold as food for plantation slaves. 2. When did Mikmaq reach their demographic nadir? = end of 1600’s, down to 2000 3. How did Mikmaq value European commodities? European artifacts & technology helped them in hunting, fishing, and fowling by making canoes, clothing, footgear from fur & skin, using of native plans for food/herbal remedies/dyes. 4. Why did Mikmaq turn into market hunters? = pelts provided income for them to purchase firearms & other goods they were dependent on now, Mi’kmaqs no longer self-sufficient 5. What was their understanding of the international market economy? Understood quality varied the prices & beavers worth more than muskrats. Didn’t understand price fluctuations and the idea of supply & demand 6. How well could the French merchants compete against their English rivals? England had edge over France in transatlantic commerce – more efficient manufacture structures, possessed world’s largest shipping fleet, and an expansive trade network. Offered more $ to Indians for furs than French, had higher quality merchandise and better/cheaper alcohol. 7. Why did the French Crown subsidize the Indian trade? To counter-balance the price of the Indian article and since France’s gunpowder was better than England’s they would be the obvious choice to buy from. Wanted to master Indians by forcing them to trade with them and gaining an advantage. 8. Why did commercial seal and walrus hunting become important for Mikmaq? = fur animals has been depleted, no longer a money market. Seals/walrus popular for amt of $ produced. Lots of oil, skin useful 9. What were some of the negative attitudes of the Mikmaq toward the French? = angry b/c they became sick and died after French came over. Mocked their makeup and yet the French wore black makeup VIII: Cultural Stress 1. What was the impact of European alcohol on Mikmaq? = fueled by social, economic, and spiritual upheaval. Induced fights, homicides, parricides, suicides. Used to coerce them into selling items at low rates 2. How did Mikmaq dependency on the fur trade affect their relationship with animals? = devastating to animal population, once thought of animals as nature, now profit/commodities. Eventually saw their scarcity as Gods way of punishing abuse of resource 3. What was the cause and result of Beaver Wars? = competition over game rich territories, esp. after depletion. Began to fight against each other for rights to hunting grounds, led to death/breaking of more culture 4. When did Mikmaq first acquire firearms and what were the effects? 1607 – Led to violence fueled by alcohol and aggression. Each killing called for revenge and triggered a cycle of bloody warfare. 5. How did Mikmaq treat their enemies? Cruelly, always clashing with neighboring groups from mid-1500’s onward 6. What was the relationship between Mikmaq and the Iroquois? Competed for the same game & hunting territories. Iroquois enemies were allies of Mi’kmaq which eventually led to the Mi’kmaq-Iroquois Wars. IX: Colonial Wars I 1. Why did Mikmaq become involved in ethnic soldiering? With population low for French & Mi’kmaq they became involved in this to help revive population & have a secure defense. Ended 2. What was the Wabanaki Confederation? An alliance “convention council” that allied nations and called upon each “brother” in the Wabanaki “family” for aid against outside enemies. Also a cultural agency, ritually bonding different and even formerly hostile groups. 3. What is significant about wampum? = used during political transactions. Same belts marked allied tribes. Worn during times when making allies. 4. What did brother and father mean in the political rhetoric of colonial diplomacy? “Brother” was a kin-term used to refer to the French. Allowed for some ranking difference between an older & younger “brother” generally expressed equal status. “Father” became important concept in political rhetoric of colonial diplomacy. Used to refer to a feudal lord or king: In exchange for the protecting care of his lord (“father”), a vassal (“son”) pledged obedience. 5. How successful were French warrior-priests as power brokers? = successful in taking over Indians. Replaced & enraged shamans 6. How does traditional scalping differ from its commercial version? Traditionally was gruesome evidence of defeat against enemy. Commercially Englishmen paid Indians to kill other tribes & scalp them 7. What was the cause of most Anglo-Wabanaki wars? Directly connected to dynamic power struggle in Europe 8. What was the role of Mikmaq warriors in the French navy? Recruited and deployed on French warships to raid English fishing settlements at Newfoundland (1705 – 1709). Promised awards based on merit paid to them by the French after looting English the ships. 9. What happened at the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht? French Crown surrendered the lands of its Wabanaki allies. X. Colonial Wars II 1. What was Mikmaq reaction to the French Crown = s surrender of their territory? = angry they gave away land that didn’t belong to them, felt deceived/betrayed 2. Why did the French Crown change its colonial policy regarding aboriginal title after 1713? T annoy the English and get the aboriginals to, in the future, take part in a war and defend the country. 3. Why did French recruit Mikmaq as proxy warriors? Offered rewards to defend what was left of France’s colonial holdings in NE America. Freedom fighters trying to liberate their homeland from the British intruders. Their French “father” was standing by them & showing them friendship by supporting them with gifts. 4. What is the significance of the 1725/1726 Dummer’s Treaty? Definitive relationship between Indians & whites defined in treaty. British agreed not to molest or interfere with Indians way of life and Indians “submit” and recognize King George I as rightful possessor of the province. 5. Why was there factionalism among the Wabanaki? = Yes, many in the tribes, bands, and confederacy, could not agree with these “accommodations” made in Dummer’s Treaty. 6. What consequences did French military defeat have on the Mikmaq? = left French relationship. To be controlled by British. Lost more land and became poor. Lost way to get tools/food XI: Broken Promises 1. What was basic difference between French & British colonial regimes for Mi’kmaq? Mi’kmaq maintained autonomy w/ French. British put them into political subordination. No longer had symbiotic reciprocity. Became completely controlled 2. Why do Mikmaq view the 1763 Royal Proclamation as important? Effort to centralize the management of Indian affairs. Promised Indians in British N America that they would not be disturbed in territories ceded to or purchased by Great Britain. Set up reserves for the aboriginal population. 3. How did Mikmaq become poverty-stricken beggars? = Land given away until none left, begged for place to live, hunt, etc. Given no compensation for lands lost, pushed out of area by white man 4. Why did Mikmaq side with the rebels during the American Revolution? Didn’t want to stay under British rule and rebels promised them liberty, land, and to stop taking what they had left. 5. What was the significance of the 1776 Treaty of Watertown? = gave tribes a sense of brotherhood to new country. 1 st Indian treaty made on behalf of new republic of US, American citizenship 6. What is importance of the 1794 Jay Treaty? = allowed Mi’kmaq border crossing w/o trouble (between US and Canada) XII/XIII: Cultural Survival 1. What are reserves and why did Mikmaq need them? Small fraction of land (owned by crown) gave Indian complete right to that area. Needed to keep culture alive & have a place to live and survive 2. What role did the Catholic Church play in Mikmaq struggle against assimilation? = didn’t want to be completed changed by British. Allowed them to keep some of shaman past. 3. What is significant about St. Anne's Day in Mikmaq culture? (Compare to ch. 12 and 13) = time where all the tribes came together as a family & remembered culture. Elected chiefs arranged marriages for the children and enjoyed spirituality during this time. Blessed her for good health 4. How did the British indirect rule impact Mikmaq political organization? = tribes no longer elect chiefs w/o British approval, British ruled over everything 5. What were major changes in 19 th century Mikmaq subsistence strategies? = some became cultivators, part time labor, living in one place all the time. Made $$ selling baskets, broomsticks, quillwork. Changed their way of life drastically 6. Why did Mikmaq give up their traditional dress? = didn’t want to let go of their culture, needed to “fit in” to get jobs, took many years 7. What was the role of Indian Agents on Mi'kmaq reserves? Agents took care of Mi’kmaq affairs since they were seen as children or mental incompetents and had to get approval for every official transaction from their Indian agent. Provided provincial authorities with information about Mi’kmaqs, made notes of their grievances, and handles relief efforts. 8. Why did Mi’kmaq need psychological breathing space and how did they get it? = needed it for culture to survive. Kept by keeping portion of past & revitalizing traditions. Used stories of kusas & things of other cultural significance to do this 9. Why do Mi’kmaqs consider Indian status important? They have a legal position different from all other Canadian citizens. Entitlements, rooted in agreements and treaties that guarantees the survival and protection of native groups in exchange for their surrender of control over their territories. In return, they get to live on a reserve, special benefits & services, some financial support, economical development, and cultural programs. 10. What is the role of the Grand Council today? Governing body for the entire Mi’kmaq nation and that the kji saqmaw at Cape Breton is its sovereign head. It lodges complaints against Canada and asserts itself politically in the international arena. 11. What are native rights and why are they important for Mi’kmaq cultural survival? = rights to land, money, fishing, etc. important to keeping traditions alive. TRIBES = Mi’kmaq, St. Francis Abnaki, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot