Northern Studies Date

Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

Creation vs. Science

"My people, the Dene, believe that we have always lived in this place, the North. We don't accept the scientific stories about Aboriginal people coming across the Bering Strait land bridge from Siberia. We believe the Creator put us here when the world was new; he put us in this place that Canadians now call the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. It is our place." George Blondin, Rae-Edzo, 1997

How did Aboriginal people come to the North? In this activity you will compare creation stories told by Elders and scientific theories about Aboriginal people to answer this question in different ways. The stories told by Elders reveal a spiritual and moral worldview that supports the culture of many Northern people today. Scientists continue to investigate several hypotheses investigating the origin of Aboriginal peoples. In this lesson think about the value of both approaches to the question of origins.

Within the traditions of Aboriginal people, several stories have been transmitted orally from very early times to explain "how people came to be". In these stories the significance and special nature of human life is addressed. Creation stories are found in many cultures and all seek to provide a meaning and direction for human life in the universe. In this sense, they are "bigger" and offer more than just an explanation that describes what happened in the past. These stories attempt to tell us 'why' people have come to the North and not just how they arrived. Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

"It is said that when the world began, all things on earth were people. But the original people felt that they should know what their different roles and purposes were to be. A meeting was called and everyone attended. They set out to determine their future existence on earth. They began by creating a few essentials which they tied up into bundles. And they decided that everyone should abide by certain universal laws. Finally they decided that each person should choose the family to which they would belong. Those people who wanted to be part of the bird family declared their intentions. Those who did not want to be a part of the bird family made their intentions clear..."

The following section is taken from "Dene Kede - Education: A Dene Perspective" and discusses the role of creation stories.

"The Creation story is fundamental for the Dene, for in it, the order of our universe is laid out. The order enables us to see ourselves as a people in relationship to the world. This is our world view - our perspective, the perspective from which we see life and all things around us.

In the Creation story, people are the last to be made. The land and the animals made before us did not really need people and therefore people had no reason to exist. When Dene were created, they were the only people that relied upon everyone else for their survival. They were the weakest of all creatures: hence, the Dene perspective is that survival would be difficult and people, in their relationship to the land, would have to be humble and respectful. Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

As each of the animal people was being defined, a special spiritual relationship between these animal people and all others was defined. For example, as the spider was givin its special identity, it was decided that this creature would be the most powerful of people. It would have powers that transcend the earth. Its webs would create beautiful rainbows and be able to capture rain in the heavens enabling the Dene to survive: hence, the Dene perspective that the small, the unseen and the seemingly most insignificant all possess power and thus deserve respect.

As each animal people was being defined, a decision also had to be made as to the role it would play in life. Each animal person had to ensure its own survival without being in conflict with the survival of others, including the Dene. Although each was perfect in its own way, disagreements would arise among them about how they were to relate to each other. There were some that were greedy. Some wanted more power than others.

In order to survive they had to learn to cooperate and to think about the welfare of the group. It was agreed that they would use consensus to settle conflicts, and if consensus could not be reached, a contest would be held. It was also agreed that whatever decision was reached, it would not be final. Laws could be changed if they were not workable. These together became the basis for the Dene perspective on how to settle conflicts and make decisions.

The creation of the Raven is an important part of the Creation story. The Raven was created the leader among leaders. It was the most powerful and clever of persons and its knowledge and experience were sought by one and all. But it was also vain and selfish. When the birds were being painted, it insisted that it should be painted better than all the other birds. Its reward was of course to be painted black. The Raven's weakness was that it did not see itself in relationhip with others around it. It saw itself as complete and finished. From the Raven story we derive the Dene perspective that we must continually push ourselves to grow rather than remain complacent and smug in what we are or have become. " Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

Read the Creation story attached to this booklet by George Blondin. Examine the Creation story which you have read. 1. What lessons can you gather from the story? Try and use the analysis of Raven's story to guide your thinking. Every Creation story contains powerful information about the way the world is and how people should relate to that world.

2. What relationship with the world do Creation Stories show?

3. Do Creation Stories make claims about the place of Aboriginal in the North?

4. How long have Creation Stories been around? Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

Scientific research on human origins

Anthropological, geological, and archeological research on the earliest human habitation in the North is an ongoing project. Scientists do not agree on how or when people first came to North America. In fact, they may never know for certain. This page presents four possible theories regarding the peopling of North America: the Land Bridge (or Beringia) Theory, the Ice Skirt Theory, the Pacific Journey Theory, and the European Theory.

Over the past several decades, the most common scientific theory used to explain the appearance of First People in the North is called the "Land Bridge Theory" or the "Beringia" theory. This explanation contends that the continents of North America and Asia were linked by a land bridge when ocean levels dropped due to a thickening and expanding ice cap. Alternatives to Beringia

The National Geographic map which follows offers three alternative ways that scientists believe Aboriginal peoples could have come to North America. None of the theories relies on the existence of a 'Land Bridge' between Asia and North America.

Something to think About

 Do you think any of these theories could be correct?  How would you decide which alternative is most likely? Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

 Does it matter which one is correct? Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

5. What two continents did Beringia join?

6. Scientists believe that the Earth's temperature warmed up around 15000 years ago. How does this warming account for the flooding of Beringia?

7. According to this theory, when did the land bridge between the two continents become unusable? What would this mean to Aboriginal people on either side of the new strait?

8. The Dorset and Thule cultures (Inuit) moved between Asia and Alaska after Beringia had flooded. How could a group of people do this?

9. Using what you have learned about the Beringia theory, how or why do you think the land bridge formed in the first place? Can you think of any natural or man-made events that might cause the formation of Beringia again in the future? Northern Studies Date: Lesson 2 Due Date: ______

10. Until recently, the Beringia theory was considered to be the only scientific theory worth considering. Discuss at least one other scientific explanation that has recently been developed to explain the arrival of people in North America?

11. What is the difference between a Creation Story and a scientific account of the arrival of first people?