Connecting to the Past
In any community, a food bank should be seen as a symbol of hope, where community members reach out to help each other. At Good Neighbours Food Centre, this hope is even more important as we implement classes for youth, community gardening, offering a community market place and in non-covid times, an indoor space for people to gather.
Good Neighbours Food Centre is intended to be used by our community in a variety of ways. The staff and Board of Directors are committed to working towards better understanding of the people who use the facility and to implementing the Calls to Action as set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We feel education is one of the vehicles that will assist our country in moving forward in terms of Truth and Reconciliation. Our hope is to provide the information necessary for all members of society to become fully aware of the history of Canada and Turtle Island in regard to its Indigenous peoples.
This is not intended to be a fully comprehensive guide or resource. We encourage you to seek further resources to help you in this journey to understanding the complex relationship between Canada and its Indigenous peoples. All of the information provided in the history section is from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s (OTC) Treaty Education Kit.
Good Neighbours Food Centre is intended to be used by our community in a variety of ways. The staff and Board of Directors are committed to working towards better understanding of the people who use the facility and to implementing the Calls to Action as set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We feel education is one of the vehicles that will assist our country in moving forward in terms of Truth and Reconciliation. Our hope is to provide the information necessary for all members of society to become fully aware of the history of Canada and Turtle Island in regard to its Indigenous peoples.
This is not intended to be a fully comprehensive guide or resource. We encourage you to seek further resources to help you in this journey to understanding the complex relationship between Canada and its Indigenous peoples. All of the information provided in the history section is from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s (OTC) Treaty Education Kit.
In the Beginning
Many Indigenous peoples lived throughout North America for thousands of years. Many Indigenous tribes believe they have been here since time immemorial. They co-existed with one another for thousands of years before the arrival of the newcomers. Many Indigenous peoples lived in what is now Canada. The words “Canada” and “North America” were not used by the Indigenous people long ago because those words were given to these lands by the newcomers when they arrived and settled here. The Indigenous peoples called this land “Turtle Island.” Many Indigenous peoples today still refer to North America as “Turtle Island.” All Indigenous peoples has a creation story that tells how Mother Earth or “Turtle Island” was created.
European cultures record their cultural beliefs and values through the use of the written word. As these worldviews are passed on from generation to generation using the written word, the European cultures thrive and carry on into the future. Oral tradition was used by Indigenous peoples to pass their cultures on from generation to generation, preserving their cultural worldviews.
Oral history is a way to store knowledge and pass it along by word of mouth. Legends and stories are part of the oral history of the Indigenous peoples. These stories have many themes: the creation, trickster and animal stories that teach about the beliefs and values of these cultures. They are entertaining, humorous and easy to understand. They tell about the world of animals, plants, the sky and the universe. Stories differ from nation to nation but have similarities, too. Indigenous cultures have their own languages, traditions and customs that are learned through storytelling and ceremonies.
The Elders in Indigenous cultures are usually the ones who tell these stories. Elders are very important in Indigenous cultures because they are wise and knowledgeable about their teachings and spiritual ceremonies. They taught children how to live in balance and harmony with the environment. The Elders told stories to the children so they could learn the beliefs and values of their cultures.
European cultures record their cultural beliefs and values through the use of the written word. As these worldviews are passed on from generation to generation using the written word, the European cultures thrive and carry on into the future. Oral tradition was used by Indigenous peoples to pass their cultures on from generation to generation, preserving their cultural worldviews.
Oral history is a way to store knowledge and pass it along by word of mouth. Legends and stories are part of the oral history of the Indigenous peoples. These stories have many themes: the creation, trickster and animal stories that teach about the beliefs and values of these cultures. They are entertaining, humorous and easy to understand. They tell about the world of animals, plants, the sky and the universe. Stories differ from nation to nation but have similarities, too. Indigenous cultures have their own languages, traditions and customs that are learned through storytelling and ceremonies.
The Elders in Indigenous cultures are usually the ones who tell these stories. Elders are very important in Indigenous cultures because they are wise and knowledgeable about their teachings and spiritual ceremonies. They taught children how to live in balance and harmony with the environment. The Elders told stories to the children so they could learn the beliefs and values of their cultures.
The Creation Story – Turtle Island
https://ied.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2019/02/Ojibway-Anishinabe_Creation_Story.pdf
https://ied.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2019/02/Ojibway-Anishinabe_Creation_Story.pdf
Mother Earth
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Indigenous peoples believe that everyone is responsible for treating the earth, animals and plants with great respect and honour because these entities provide humans with the food and shelter they need to live. Many things in nature occur in circular patterns and are comprised of four elements. Indigenous peoples believe the number four is sacred because of the four elements found in the entities of the Circle of Life or the Medicine Wheel. They believe everything has a spirit, from the tiniest insect to the largest rock. All creation is included in the circle. Nothing or no one is excluded.
Indigenous peoples believe that all things were given to them by the Creator. Many things have a circular pattern and are part of the Circle of Life. The number four shows up in many natural elements that we live with every day. Indigenous peoples believe the Creator blessed them with this sacred number because many gifts given to them occur in fours: The four elements of the universe: fire, water, air, and the earth The four directions: east, south, west, and north The four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter The four entities above the earth: the sun, moon, sky, and stars The four kinds of plants: grasses, vegetables, trees, and flowers The four kinds of animals: insect life, water and sky life, two-legged and four-legged land life, and humanity The four stages of life: infancy, childhood, adulthood, and old age |
The identity of Indigenous peoples was embedded in the natural environment where they depended upon nature for their existence; this produced their cultures and lifestyles. They lived by the “natural laws” set out by the Creator. These laws ensured that all creation would live in balance and harmony as long as humans take only what they need to live. This would ensure the survival of humans. The historical Indigenous lifestyle was wholly dependent upon the land for every aspect of their existence. This closeness to the land shaped the identity and character of the nation, communities, families, and individuals.
Indigenous peoples believe in the teachings given through the Circle of Life. The circle represents a harmonious relationship with nature and with all living things. All things are connected and equal because there is no beginning and no end. The Circle of Life teaches that all life moves in a circle. The teachings reflect the importance of harmony and balance and the interconnection of all creation, using the sacred number four.
Mother Earth has other life forms apart from humans, such as animals, birds, and other creatures, which are part of the “family of creation.” Indigenous peoples deeply respect these living forms because the Creator made everything equal and there is a connection between all of creation. Indigenous peoples consider the life forms on Mother Earth to be sacred. They value and respect animals, considering them to be equal members of the created earth. They call animals “brother” because both humans and animals are part of the “family of creation.”
Indigenous peoples believe the Creator provided them with many gifts so they could live happy and fulfilled lives. One of these gifts is children. They believe that children are loaned to them for a short period of time, usually until the children are grown and are able to on their own as adults. Throughout their childhood and into adolescence, children are to be loved and cared for according to the cultural beliefs and values of their nations. These children are the future of their respective nations.
In the traditional Indigenous family composition, babies and toddlers spent their first years with the extended families, consisting of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings, who all shared the responsibility of protecting, caring for and teaching them. Indigenous peoples believed that the rearing of children was a most important and integral part of their Indigenous way of life. The entire community provided a holistic learning environment for children so they would receive a solid foundation that would help them to live and exist in a full and productive lifestyle. With minimal adult interference, children were allowed to exert their wills in order to develop independence through their learned life experiences. These learned skills allowed for a natural integration into the rhythm of daily life in the family and community.
Traditional Indigenous peoples lived and practiced the values of love, caring, respect and kinship. Children were taught these traditional beliefs and values through storytelling, ceremonies and other oral traditions. Children were taught the values of the community through stories with moral messages that were intertwined with their spiritual beliefs. Children developed a healthy sense of self-worth, which built their self-confidence and self-esteem. Children grew up to be independent and self-sufficient.
