BEAVER INDIANS IN CANADA - PART 2

THE MOTHER'S BROTHER MIGHT TAKE A STRONG ROLE IN A BOY'S TRAINING WHILE GIRL'S LOOKED TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S FOR INSTRUCTION. KINSHIP NETWORKS CONTINUE TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSES AND ARE SUPPLEMENTAL WITH FORMAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOL.

IN 19TH CENTURY THE MISSION SCHOOLS WERE INTENDED FOR THE CHILDREN OF TRADERS AND ORPHANS, LATER CATHOLICS AND OTHER FOLKS OPERATED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS0 FOR NATIVE POPULATIONS. MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN LONG DISTANCES FROM THEIR HOMES AND CONFINED FOR YEARS WITHOUT USING TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES.

UP UNTIL THE 70'S THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS WHEN THEY WERE CLOSED AND NATIVES ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE TERRITORIAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE LEVEL OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF NA DENE STUDENTS IS BELOW THE NATIONAL NORMS.

THE 'T SET SAUT' IS A SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS ORIGINALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF THE TAHLTAN IN NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN NA DENE LANGUAGES HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE. ENGLISH IS IN SCHOOLS, NATIVE LANGUAGES ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SOME SECONDARY AND COLLEGE LEVELS. THE ONLY COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE FLUENT ARE THOSE WHERE THE NATIVE LANGUAGE IS STILL SPOKEN OF. THERE IS A SLOW RATE OF NATIVE LANGUAGE LITERACY. MANY MISSIONARIES USED NATIVE LANGUAGES IN THE CHURCH SERVICES.

THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HAS DECLARED THE 5 ATHAPASKAN LANGUAGES TO BE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ON AN EQUAL STANDING WITH ENGLISH AND FRENCH.

THE TREND TOWARD THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF ENGLISH HAS NOT BEEN REVERSED. THE DOMINANCE OF ENGLISH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT IS USED TO HAVE ALL CONSPIRED TO WEAKEN THE NATURAL LANGUAGE. THEIR RELIGION IF THE NADENE BEAVER INDIANS RECOGNIZE OR SPIRITS OF NATURAL FORCES, ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND FORMS, AND INANIMATE OBJECTS. THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS INSURED THAT ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF FOOD, ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND INANIMATE OBJECTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE SPIRIT OF POWERS WERE WERE DIRECTED TO THE INJURED OR SICK. SOME NA DENE BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION.

TODAY THEY HAVE REVERENCE FOR THE LAND AND NATURAL WORLD EVEN IF THEY DO NOT MAKE OFFERINGS TO THE SPIRITS. NATIVE SPIRITUAL LEADERS SUCH AS SLAVE DOGRIB PRACTICE TRADITIONAL HEALING FORMS. SOME NA DENE ACCEPT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. IN 1844 A MUSEUM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE BEAVER TRIBES. THEY STILL ORGANIZE POTLATCHES AND ARE REGULAR CHURCH GOERS.

WAYBACKARCHIVE.ORG