HRT 3M1
UNIT 2
ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITIES
1. Why might a Christian disagree with the idea of Animism? Support your answers by
comparing animism to Catholicism.
Christian might disagree with the idea of Animism due to the fact that Christians believe that
only humans have a soul. There are many differences between Christian and Animism, Animism
believes that God and spirits are found in all things such as plants, animals, rocks. Where as
Chrisitian believes there is one God. The Animists believe that God will bring sickness or bad
luck if they do them wrong. Another reason why Christian might disagree with the idea of
Animism is because Animists believe in witchcraft, they believe that witch doctors provide a
special understanding of the spirit world. Witchcraft is not acceptable to God, Chrisitian believes
that God knows what is best for his children.
2. In your own opinion, is Animism a spiritual belief or a religious belief?
In my opinion Anism is a spiritual belief because Animism does not have an entity that is higher
than all of us, they don’t worship a god but spiritually believe there are spirits in all things.
Animism is a spiritual belief because it does not have aspects of religion for example; one
specific place of worship, ritual, and a belief of one God.
3. Describe the six cultural groups in Canada and their connection to their environment.
Refer to Exploring World Religions, pp. 32-33 for further reference.
The six cultural groups in Canada is: the Northwest Pacific Coast, the Plateau, the Great Plains,
the Arctic and the Northeast Woodlands.
Northwest Pacific Coast: The Haida, Tingit, and Salish nations are part of the Northwest Pacific
Coast. Their connection to the environment is they depended on the sea and water, they all were
situated near the water and made cedar plank houses where they lived in. They used cedar as a
material to make their houses, canoes, and baskets. The environment of the Northwest Coast was
diverse, it included; Wide and narrow beaches, Deep fjords, Mountains, Many islands, Spruce,
cedar, and fir forests.
The Plateau: The aboriginal people of the Plateau lived in the Rocky Mountains and the valleys.
The Plateau were hunters who use to hunt elk, bears, and caribou. The Plateau included many of
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forests, and lakes. Boreal forests, and mostly coniferous trees, surrounded the land of the Plateau
region.
The Subarctic: This region included thick forests and mountains in the East. The Subarctic is
surrounded by boreal forest, and an ecosystem of coniferous forest. The Innu, Montagaignais, Dene,
Cree, Ojibwa, Atikamekw, and Beothuk were some of the subarctic groups living there.
The Great Plains: There are seven different languages and over thirty nations in the Great Plains.
The buffalo is commonly located all around the Great Plains. In the East, it is high grass that
covers the prairies, and in the West, short grasses, sage and cacti are covered there. The buffalo
was commonly used for the nations of the Great plains, to make moccasin soles, for shielding,
and for their homes.
The Arctic: The Iniut people live in this region, the nations hunted and depended on seal for
food. The environment of the Inuit was diverse because it change seasonally, it included the
Three oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic), Mountains (Northern Rockies), and the Arctic plains
(tundra). The temperature there is cold, and summer was short only lasting a few months every
year. There winter are so long that the Inuit had to live with ice and snow throughout the year.
Northeast Woodlands: The Iroquois live along the St. Lawrence River and the Great lakes. The
The Eastern Woodlands was diverse in their geography, it included Deciduous forests of southern
Ontario, The St. Lawrence lowlands, The coastal Atlantic region, Deciduous-coniferous forests of the
Canadian Shield (in the west), and The Appalachian uplands (in the east). The Iroquois lived in
longhouses and farmed on many crops such as corn, squash, and beans.
Sources:
https://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/index.html
Exploring world religions pp. 32-33
4. Explain the importance of totems in Aboriginal Spiritualities.
The importance of totems in Aboriginals Spiritualities is because it represents the bond of unity
within a tribe or a clan. THe totemic animal or plant is the object of taboo: may be forbidden to
kill or eat the sacred animal, symbol may be tattooed on the body, engraved on weapons,
pictured in masks, or carved on totem poles.
5. Explain why you agree or disagree with the ban on the Potlach ceremony?
I disagree with the ban on the Potlach ceremony because it was ceremony/ feast celebrating a
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variety of important milestones and occasions in West Coast tribes and customs. The ban had
lasting effects, it caused the ceremony to only have males. The Potlatch included marriage,
transferring of rights and chieftainships, the naming of children, coming of age for young people
are all significant milestones and reason to celebrate.
6. What is the role of purification in preparing for a vision quest?
The role of purification in preparing for a vision quest is it to help set free the individual’s mind
and to be free of the uncleanliness, negative energy and thoughts of one’s self and to make
themselves closer to their spirit in an animal, object, or other natural form.
7. After reading “when I was 18 I went on a Vision Quest that Changed My Life”, how is a
Vision Quest, or coming of age test, an important step moving into adulthood?
The Vision Quest is an important step on moving into adulthood because it provides a closer
connection to themselves, nature, their ancestors, and their culture. This is also an important step
because it allows you to reflect upon yourself and it provides revelation and clarity and
throughout all this you gain maturity to survive alone and maintain your health physically and
mentally by yourself.
8. How are Elders and Shamans important to Aboriginal Spiritualities?
Elders and Shamans are important to Aboriginal spiritualties because the aboriginal people saw
them as mediators who could intercede with their spirit, and viewed them in touch with the
sacred. The Shaman provide help in time of sickness and trouble and connected them spiritually
to heal them.
9. How are elders important in your own social group?
Elders are important in your own social group because they are seen as wise and know the most
knowledge and information throughout their lives. They can be leaders, educators, emotionalspiritual guidance, and even a close friend. They are also the delicate members of the family but
most influential and supportive.
10. Choose two laws from the Code of Handsome Lake and discuss why you think they are
important in creating a better world?
The first laws from the Code of Handsome Lake is condemnation of neglect and abuse of
children and the elderly. I think this law is important in creating a better world because the
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children are the future and should be treated with love, respect, and be taught the ways of the
community. The ederly have taken care of parents and in most cases, their grandchildren. They
have gone through far more struggles than the generation therefore should not be neglected. The
second law from the Code of Handsome Lake is condemnation of alcohol because it is a form of
a drug that causes an individual to act in mainly harmful, irresponsible, and abusive. This can
also lead to health issues and can be extremely addictive when consuming a lot.
11. Apart from formally apologizing to the Aboriginal community, what can the Canadian
government do to genuinely reconcile and heal relations with the Aboriginal
Communities?
What the Canadian government can do to genuinely reconcile and heal relations with the
Aboriginal communities is by helping them reconnect people who don’t know their past or there
aboriginal culture, and providing financially. They can also help them hear their stories out and
making a sincere apology to the people of the Aboriginal communities who lost touch in their
culture and to support them along the way of their journey.
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