Aboriginal Spirituality HRT3M World Religions – Unit 1

Aboriginal Populations - World Approximately 300 000 million Aboriginal Peoples inhabit the earth 1, 172,790 people identify themselves as Aboriginal in Canada (2006 census)

Aboriginal Populations - World Aboriginal spirituality is most common in Asia. The lowest population of aboriginal people is in Europe. The Inuit, located in Canada’s north (Nunavut) share their culture and traditions with Alaska and Greenland. There are 100 000 Inuit, but a lot of that population practices Christianity. There is a resurgence of Aboriginal culture throughout the world.

Aboriginal People – World Common Beliefs Animism: my adherents of Aboriginal spirituality believe that everything in the world is alive. All things, human and non-human, have spirits or souls, and that the person or animal lives on after death through the presence of that spirit. Some observers claim aboriginal spirituality is polytheistic – many believe in a supreme Creator however, power in the universe is also given to other personified spirits who are less powerful. Examples: Inuit “Sea Woman”; Iroquois “Sky Woman”; and the Algonquin “Grandfather” (sky)

Aboriginal People – World Common Beliefs and Practices Aboriginal people exercise their beliefs through storytelling, prayer, art and ritual. These may consist of drumming, chanting, carving, painting and dancing. Aboriginal Spirituality has no founder, or creator of the religion. During a crisis, an elder or significant person will rise and renew the faith. Canada declared June 21st to be National Aboriginal Day, in 1996

Aboriginal Peoples – Americas Origins Indigenous People believe they are the original inhabitants of an area “they came from that ground” Archeological evidence suggests the aboriginal inhabitants of the Americas migrated from Asia to the Americas by crossing a land bridge over the Bering Strait between 35 000 and 10 000 years ago.

Canada’s Aboriginal People Aboriginal Spirituality is logical – a cultural extension of survival interaction with their physical environment. The geographical environment in which they lived defined them Canada has 6 distinct cultural groups

Canada’s Aboriginal Cultural Groups 6 cultural groups in Canada –defined by how they developed in response to their distinct geography Arctic Subarctic The Plateau The Northwest Pacific Coast Great Plains Northeast Woodlands

Creation Most tribes have their own unique creation story Oral stories Turtle Island Raven and the Clamshell Animals came from humans- strong link Creator controls humans, but not other animals

Ceremonies The Potlatch Ceremony - Give away things to gain status The Sweat Lodge - like a sauna--> made of saplings - led by an elder - heals them spiritually and physically The Shaking Tent -used by many tribes -goal is to communicate to spirits

Totems Represent their animal/spirit guide For a clan or individual Same totem= close relatives Sometimes used to tell stories about supernatural Carved for Potlatch Ceremony

Rituals The Sun Dance - circle = sun--> centre of life - cottonwood pole is called “Tree of the Universe” - Piercing Dance Morning Dance - dance to give thanks - feast of fish and meat

Symbols/ Images Traditional symbols and images are an essential part of the Aboriginal culture. Dream Catcher: If you hang a dream catcher over your bed, your bad dreams will go through the web and into the Universe and your good dreams will be caught in the web. Eagle: Alerts the Aboriginals of what is to come. Fire: Symbolizes the heart of The People and is used to cleanse the spirit.

Symbols/ Images Continued Inuksuk: Used for navigation, gives warnings for any danger in open water, and it marks sacred space. Medicine Shield: Made by warriors as a symbol of protection and strength when hunting and battling. Tree of Peace: In some Aboriginal religions, the tree is believed to connect Earth to Heaven.

Number of Adherents in the World/ Influences in the 21st Century Just under 1.2 million Canadians reported having at least some Aboriginal ancestry in 2006, representing 4.4 % of the total population in Canada. Between 1996 and 2006, the Aboriginal population grew by 45%.