Aboriginal Issues Press - Book List Overviews

154 pages; Price $20.00

This exciting volume includes 35 refereed chapters written by Elders, poets, artists, scientists, politicians, and environmentalists. Chapters cover relationships to the land, Sacred places, traditional knowledge, Aboriginal imagination, therapeutic landscapes, identity and repatriation, ethics, Metis studies, historical interactions of Inuit, climate change, food webs,and literary works. 

The Inuit of Nunavik have always harvested the beluga whale for subsistence purposes; this harvest is of great social, cultural, and economic importance.  In the 1800s, the Hudson Bay Company ran a commercial Whaling post at the mouth of the Great Whale River, simultaneously, decreases in the eastern Hudson Bay beluga summer stock were observed.  By the 1980s, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans began suggesting that the Inuit subsistence harvest was too high for the beluga population to recover.  They implemented a management strategy, including harvest quotas and seasonal and regional closures.  Inuit of Nunavik have very little say in this designed management strategy and strongly recommend changes to the plan.

By December 2006, negotiations led to the signing of the Nunavik Inuit Land Clams Agreement, which created the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Management Board.  This is a co-management board that allows for management decision-making by both the Federal Government and the Inuit.  This report presents Inuit perspectives on co-management for the eastern Hudson Bay beluga summer stock.

This book is a refereed publication and includes papers written by over 50 community experts and scientists addressing theoretical concerns, knowledge transfer, adapting to climate change, implications of changing weather, water and ice conditions for northerners and wildlife, and the impact of climate change on tourism, fire, and industrial development. Northern communities, politicians, managers, policy makers, scientists, and schools will find valuable insights gained by exploring linkages between traditional and scientific knowledge in the north.


“Climate change is not an abstract ivory tower concept to the peoples of northern Canada; rather it is a very real and important part of their everyday lives. This book provides insights into how traditional and scientific knowledge can act as integrated pedestals supporting our quest to understand and predict the impacts of Arctic climate change.”

“Coat of Eider” describes the production process, environmental influences, and cultural significance of Eider skin clothing made by Inuit from Sanikiluaq located on the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay. In addition, a section by Dr. Thomas Stone from the Canadian Conservation Institute discusses bird skin clothing from a conservator’s perspective. This publication includes illustrations, photographs, text in Inuktitut, French and English, and references, including oral knowledge from Inuit seamstresses and relevant literature.

“Environmental Changes and Off-road Transportation in Churchill, Manitoba”by Justin Gilligan is a single authored, refereed community report.  This book links harvesters’ traditional and local knowledge observations with scientific knowledge on the implications of Environmental Change and Off-road Transportation in Churchill, MB.  Based on Justin Gilligan’s University of Manitoba Master of Arts thesis of the same name (2007), this community report was prepared for the community of Churchill and others who may find useful the observations on environmental change made by harvesters: hunters, trappers and fishers, in the Churchill region of Manitoba.  Hunters, trappers and fishers are experts on local environmental change; rather than testing or validating traditional and local knowledge against scientific knowledge, observations from both knowledge systems are presented here in parallel to gain a more holistic understanding of the impacts and opportunities that face harvesters in Churchill area.

This book is the first book to share perspectives from First Nations in northwestern Ontario. This community based report increases one's understanding of the issues, provides possible solutions, and makes recommendations based on first-hand insights. It includes participatory-action items, information for community newsletters, and answers to frequently asked questions that can be of use to individuals and families, Health Directors, Additions Workers, Recreation Officers and others interested in gambling issues. Participants found it useful to learn of experiences in recommendations similar to their own by reading this report. Participants said:

"These findings are very informative. They are a tool we can work with."

"... this is what was heard and this is what we can do."

"It really helped to hear other people's stories."

Introduction  

“Hudson Bay Regional Research”  This book provides an overview of research being conducted in the Hudson Bay region. Researchers sub- mitted summaries of their work creating this unique snapshot of what research is taking place in the region. Policy makers, non-government organizations, local communities and academia may find this useful in order to understand, coordinate and create linkages between research projects.

 

Indigenous Education and International Academic Exchange addresses challenges and achievements in education for Indigenous people within the contest of international academic exchange. This comparative analysis of Indigenous education in Canada, China, and Thailand furthers our understanding of specific education needs for Indigenous people, and how those needs are being met.

Indigenous Voices and Spirit Memory explores the meaning and importance of traditional knowledge passed from generation to generation. It is the core that unites Mindscape and Landscape. Powerful examples of the significance of voices and spirit memory are drawn from Indigenous film, documentaries, literature, mapping, humour and genealogy.

Inviting Hope: An Exposé on Suicide Among First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples creates awareness, develops allies and inspires change, to better the social, health, and political conditions impacting Aboriginal Peoples. It is essential for allies to stand with Aboriginal Peoples in the face of social injustice to assist in making change for a more equitable and just Canada. Inviting Hope...provides valuable insights on the role social injustices and systemic discrimination have in producing inequitable health conditions, which lead to suicide among Aboriginal Peoples nation-wide. To prevent this, contextual understanding of concepts of suicide, systemic discrimination, and oppression are integral to the treatment and health promotion of Canadian Aboriginal Peoples.

"Poetry has become an extension of my advocacy for fairness and justice." - Ovide Mercredi

Louis Fortier, Canada Research Chair on the Response of Arctic Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change: "The Arctic in on its way to a new climatic equilibrium. Perennial sea ice, permafrost and glaciers are vanishing at unexpected rates. Combined with rampant modernization, warming has profound impacts on the geopolitics, economy, health, and societies of the Canadian Arctic. The Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES) represents the largest single effort ever to understand the response of the Arctic Ocean biota to climatic change. Over a complete annual cycle, 210 scientists from 8 countries studied all aspects of the Beaufort Sea ecosystem. This compendium summarizes their findings in a form relevant to policy makers, community members, and managers."

“Opaskwayak Cree Nation Guide to the Wetlands of the Saskatchewan River Delta” is funded by Ducks Unlimited through contributions made by Manitoba Hydro. Information and perspectives presented in this book are the sole opinions of the authors and not those of the Funding agencies, corporations, University of Manitoba, or Aboriginal Issues Press, its employees, editors and volunteers. All profits from the sale of this book are used to support the refereed publication of Aboriginal scholarship and the Aboriginal Issues Press Scholarship Endowment Fund at the University of Manitoba.

“The vision of Pikangikum people for research in support of the Whitefeather Forest Initiative is that it will enhance their ability to take care of the land and resources in the Traditional Territories of Pikangikum First Nation… This vision honours the teachings and wisdom of Pikangikum Elders that support the effective care and protection of the diversity of life on the land. This vision supports dialogue and working together to carry out research on the basis of respect and in a manner that will bring together the best of different knowledge traditions.”

(Excerpt from the Whitefeather Forest Research Cooperative agreement)

The lower Churchill River was and still is a very important part of the psyche of Churchill residents, being used for recreational purposes, such as fishing and boating and transportation routes for hunting and trapping. Residents’ spatial orientation is based on the river, “upriver” and “across the river” are terms used in everyday language.

The overall purpose of this book is to share Churchill residents’ perspectives on the importance of the lower Churchill River. The specific objectives include:
• Increase understanding and awareness of the importance of the lower Churchill River to local residents,
• Enhance knowledge of how the lower Churchill River was and currently is used by local residents,
• Obtain insights into issues concerning the social impact of changes to residents as a result of changes to the lower Churchill River,
• Obtain local perspectives on ways of addressing concerns related to the lower Churchill River,
• Provide a forum for sharing local resident’s perspectives with future generations of Churchill residents.

Sacred Landscapes provides the reader with an opportunity to explore the sanctity of our environment, illustrating the connection between landscapes and mindscapes.  First Nations perspectives are presented, as well as perspectives from non-Aboriginal authors working with the Inuit, Métis, and the First Nations as co-researchers, through the stories told by ancient artifacts, and with literature and videos produced by Aboriginal authors.  Papers explore four perspectives of Sacred Landscapes: sanctity of resources, the meaning of ancient sites and ceremonies today, theoretical examination of landscapes and mindscapes, and examples of protecting and coping with change.  Authors discuss the importance of ancient cultural, spiritual and physical meaning of landscapes and mindscapes to Indigenous populations.

Seeing the World with Aboriginal Eyes - this four directional perspective on human and non-human values, cultures and relationships on Turtle Island provides a comprehensive presentation of various North American Aboriginal world views and spiritual understandings. Including:

The Seeing Path: Cosmology, vision, sound, beliefs and values evolving from the spirit world.

Ways of Relating: Cycles of life, time, mathematics, relationships between people the Earth Spirit and Sky Worlds.

Coming to Knowing: Elders, modern quest for the Sacred, Sacrifice, Aboriginal knowledge.

Ways of Doing:Ethical and moral issues, ceremonies, Spiritual Teachers, healing, prayer, and life ways.

A group of university students defined ‘sacred land’ as ‘a way of life’, all encompassing the spiritual, cultural, historical, and contemporary aspects. Therefore, a particular sacred site or object is the tangible that tells the story of a way of life. It is a beautiful sentiment that 24 people from all over the world had the opportunity to come together and use an Inuit-style mitten pattern as the impetus to gain an understanding of sacred lands. We learn from one another through discussion and the process of creating. We share our personal stories and our knowledge. We offer personalized ways of life through cultural differences.
Each individual pair of mittens was crafted from recycled materials, giving respect to fabrics that have lost their meaning or have become banal over time, and giving honour to the methods of Inuit fashion by utilizing what we have. We draw connections between the process of construction and the act of wearing and using our hand-sewn projects. The purpose of this collection of chapters is to honour each author’s narrative and describe the symbolic meaning of their mittens. The chapters are organized into the following themes: Materials and Process, Cultural Connections, Environmental Harmony, and Motherhood and Family.

Qualicum Beach School was created in 1935 by Ivan and George Knight with financial support from England. After instructing boys from a wide range of circumstances and locales, the school closed in 1970. Alumni, staff, family, photographs and archival collections provide unique insights on the boarding school experience, including the staff, curriculum, discipline, sports, cadets, theatre, heart wrenching loneliness and mischievous pranks.

This Book is a reprint of “Working with Aboriginal Elders”. The content is exactly the same except for the word “Aboriginal” has been changed to ”Indigenous” in the title and throughout the book. Based on the teachings and experience of a select group of local Elders and Cultural Teachers, this manual addresses common and widespread areas of institutional conflict and concern in a manner that identifies solutions and provides information necessary for researchers, students, consultants, health care professionals and program administrators to work effectively with Elders.

The first section addresses questions such as:

· Who is an Elder?
· How is an Elder trained?
· What does an Elder do?
· What is the appropriate protcol when working with an Elder?

The second section addresses administrative issues involving Elders, such as: the hiring process, payment, teamwork, confidentiality and time commitments

Written in Mitten
Mittens keep your hands roasty toasty warm in the winter. What people are not aware of are the many aspects that are embedded within its linings.

Written in Mitten provides personal examples of how the cultural, spiritual, structural, social, emotional, historical, and environmental values of the designer are stitched into mittens. From one pattern, no two pairs of mitts look alike - they each have their own story to tell!

“After the Mill: From confrontation to cooperation” is a collection of current affairs occurring within Treaty 3 between 2003 and 2010. The collection is clustered into the following sub-sections: ‘struggle for cooperation’, ‘forestry in crisis’, ‘sharing the forest’, ‘change in governance’, ‘building new relation- ships’, and concludes with ‘investing in the future’. Each section highlights an important shift towards developing cooperative agreements between First Nations and non-Aboriginal governing bodies.

"Contemplating Sacred Space: From the Tangible to the Conceptual": perspectives presented in this book are the sole opinions of the authors and not those of the University of Manitoba, Aboriginal Issues Press, its employees, editors and volunteers. All profits from the sale of this book are used to support the refereed publication of Aboriginal scholarship and the Aboriginal Issues Press Scholarship Endowment Fund at the University of Manitoba.