Native Conception of the World

Conception of the World A particular way of conceiving of and interpreting the environment and society. This conception contributes to the establishment of values, spirituality and the cultural foundations of a society.

Circle of life Circle of life: Contains all the elements of the universe including living and non-living. Together, the elements form a sacred whole. The forces of the universe behave in the form of a circle. Humans are equal to other elements.

First Nations peoples believed that life was circular. A circle of birth, life, death and return to the spirit world. And, then it starts over again. The circle of life was used to show the inter- connections of all things.

Connections with the environment - We should take only what we need from the environment -We should be grateful for living things - Natives did not try to dominate nature, rather they took only what they needed to survive. -Natives have always been aware that the natural environment provides their subsistence and they must respect it.

Animism was part of their culture. Animism is the belief that elements of nature have a soul. Therefore, it was believed that humans did not kill an animal by chance: it was the animal that gave itself to the hunter.

Social Behaviour -Believed in sharing goods with all members of the community. -There was no idea of private property. They had no desire to accumulate goods. -No relationship of power between members. There was equality between men and women.

Native Spirituality Dreams: believed that there was a profound connection between the world of the living and that of the dead and the spirits.

Beliefs Death is thought of as a part of the circle of life, so it is not perceived in a negative manner. Natives believed in both a god as a creator and in a superior force. Called the Great Spirit or Great Manitou, this god embodied the mystery that directed life and the movements of the universe.

Dream Catchers Dream catchers are one of the most fascinating traditions of Native Americans. The traditional dream catcher was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The negative dreams would get caught up in the web, and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.

Shaman: healer, prophet, truth seer, guardian of mythology. Ceremonies were the principle means of expressing spirituality. They established contact with the creator and the spirit world To avoid illness To obtain a good harvest To avoid famine.

Wampum: Belts woven with beads carved from shells, were exchanged at treaty ceremonies

Traditions and culture were passed on orally from generation to generation. Elders were the guardians of the collective memory; they are the ones who pass on the traditions and stories. A sacred object was the PEACE PIPE. Aboriginals thought that the smoke that was released from the pipe took their requests to the spirit world.

Myths: a way to transmit religious values and social customs. All myths have a moral dimension that condemn or prohibit a certain behaviour. Among the unique features of First Nations culture are the creation legends. Rainbow serpent. Controls water for Australian Aboriginals

Creation legends are intended to explain how the world was created. These legends are usually passed down orally from generation to generation.

The Aboriginal conception of the world differed a great deal from the Europeans they would soon come in contact with.