‘The Three Nations’
Aboriginal Peoples in Canada consist of three Aboriginal groups:
'Aboriginal Peoples' is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants. According to the 2006 Census of Canada, more than one million people in Canada identify themselves as an Aboriginal person.*
First Nations
First Nations are the 'original peoples' of North America.
First Nations people identify themselves by the tribe they belong to. The Mowhawk, Cree, Huron, Ojibwa and Iroquois are some of the more commonly-known First Nations tribes in Ontario.
Most First Nations live in First Nations communities also known as ‘reserves.' There are 614 First Nations communities in Canada including 134 in Ontario.
First Nations in Peel
- Peel Region is in the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit.
- Peel does not have a First Nations community. The closest is Six Nations, located near Brantford Ontario.
- First Nations make up 62 per cent of the Aboriginal population in Peel.
First Nations aspects at A Gathering
Drumming
The drum is a sacred item for First Nations because:
- It’s the centre of the circle.
- Its resonating sound represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth
- It symbolizes ancestral teachings, respect for all living creatures and the connection between different Aboriginal cultures.
Drums come in many sizes for different purposes. At Aboriginal Gatherings and Pow Wows, the ‘Big Drum’ is usually large enough for several men to sit around and play together. The drum evokes the spirit of coming together to share ideas and responsibilities in an atmosphere of mutual recognition and respect.
Dancing
First Nations dances include:
Traditional Dance
The Traditional Dance is one of the oldest known First Nation dances. Men perform traditional dance to tell a story about an act of bravery and spirit or a hunting adventure. Women use traditional dance to portray their honour in the community and their role as a life-givers and keepers of the home.
The Grass Dance
The Grass Dance represents a connection with the Earth and the Creator. One of the most widely used dances, it is an expression of the harmony with the universe and Mother Earth.
Fancy Shawl Dance
The Fancy Shawl Dance is an expression of renewal, giving thanks for new seasons, new life and new beginnings.
Jingle Dress Dance
The jingles used in the Jingle Dress Dance not only represent the sound of crashing waves and thunder, but also ward off bad spirits and welcome the good spirits into the dance.
Inuit
The word Inuit comes from Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit peoples. For many centuries, the Inuit were called Eskimos. (The term Eskimo is not an Inuit word and is no longer acceptable when referring to Inuit peoples.)
The Inuit have used their knowledge and skills to live in and survive harsh weather and environmental conditions that are common in Northern Canada. They have lived across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Labrador and Northern Quebec for more than 4,000 years.
Some Inuit celebrate the coming of spring with an annual Spring Festival called Hamlet Days. During Hamlet Days Inuit children take a break from school to celebrate the arrival of sunshine and warm weather.
The Inuit in Peel
Inuit make up 1 per cent of the Aboriginal population in Peel.
Inuit aspects at A Gathering
Qulliq
The Qulliq is a traditional seal-oil lamp the Inuit used to heat and light their igloos. The Qulliq was the only available source of light during the long northern winters. Today the Qulliq is a symbol of guidance, friendship and survival.
Inuit Throat Singing
Inuit Throat Singing is a unique Inuit musical performance where two Inuit women sit or stand face-to-face and create rhythmic patterns, using each other’s mouths as resonators in a contest to see who can outlast the other.
Métis
The Métis are descendants of European fur traders and settlers who married First Nations peoples. Fiercely independent, the Métis were instrumental in the development of Western Canada.
The Métis have their own unique culture, traditions and way of life. Some Métis speak Michif, a blend of French and other Aboriginal languages.
Métis living in Ontario celebrate Louis Riel Day each year on November 16. Louis Riel Day not only commemorates the life of Louis Riel — the leader of the Métis and the founder of the province of Manitoba — but also celebrates the Métis culture, language, heritage and ancestral homeland.
The Métis in Peel
The Métis make up 30 per cent of Peel’s Aboriginal population. They were the fastest- growing Aboriginal group in Peel from 2001 to 2006.
Métis aspects at A Gathering
Fiddling and Jigging
Similar to the Scottish-Irish step dance, the Métis Jig’s unique style of rapid foot work is performed to fiddle music.
Many Métis legends are recorded in fiddle tunes: the fiddle plays the melody and tells the story. Today’s Métis still enjoy jigging and have local, provincial and national dance teams.
Métis Sash
The Métis Sash is a finger-woven belt made of wool that’s approximately three metres long. A Métis can wear a Métis Sash either over the shoulder, or in the more traditional way of around the waist and tied in the middle, with the fringes hanging down.
Metis Sashes come in various symbolic colours:
- Red, the historical colour for the Métis Sash
- Blue and white, symbolizing the colours of the Métis Nation flag
- Green, signifying fertility, growth and prosperity
- Black, symbolizing the dark period when the Métis had to endure dispossession and repression.
*(Source: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Website: www.inac-ainc.gc.ca)
