Whose Face Anyway?

WHOSE FACE ANYWAY? IMAGES OF FIRST MONSPROTEST AND RESISTANCE IN KAHNAWAKE AND KANESATAKE, KANIEI\PmTERRITORY 1990; A STUDY IN THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF VOICE AND IMAGE bv George H. Doyle-Bedwell Submitted in partial fuifihent of the requirernents for the degree of Master of Arts Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia September, 1998 Copyright O 1998 by George H. Doyle-Bedweli National Library Bibiiiuenationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie SeMces seMces bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Weltington OtiawaON KtAON4 OtCawaûN K1AW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Iicence non exclusive licence aIlowing the excfusive permettant à la National Lïbrary of Canada to Bhliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disbi-bute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, di,~%uer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être impriniés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication ....................................................... vii Acknowledgements ................................................ viii Preface .......................................................... x Chapter One: An Introduction to the Research Questions. Thesis Design. Key Concepfs (Image.Resistance. Voice). Topic Choice. Rules of Engagement. andFirstNationsTerms ........................................ 1 Research Questions ........................................... 1 Figure One: Research Process & Destinations .................. 3 ThesiçDesign ................................................ 5 KeyConcepts ................................................ 6 Image ............................................ 6 Resistance ............................................ 10 VoicePartOne ........................................ 12 Topic Choice ............................................... 15 Rules of Engagement ......................................... 18 A Note on the Use of First Nations Terms ......................... 20 Chapter Two: Litemture Review .. The 'Where of Research' ................ 21 Methodological Demarcation ................................... 22 Environmental Studies ........................................ 25 Mediastudies .............................................. 27 Social Constnictionism ........................................ 28 Cultural Appropriation ........................................ 29 NativeStudies ............................................. 32 IdentiQ .................................................... 37 Pivotal Studies of First Nations Peoples and the Media ............... 39 The Work of Milier. 1993 ................................ 39 The Work of Baylor. 1996 ............................... 45 First Nations Health Issues ..................................... 51 Chapter Three: History in the First Nations Context ....................... 53 First Nations Resistance: A 500 Year Overview ..................... 53 First Nations Resistance: The Kanien'kehaka at 'Oka' ................ 59 Chapter Four: Theoreticai Corniderations .. The 'Ço What' of Research ....... 67 The Social Construction of Re* ............................... 74 Politid Economy of the Media ................................. 76 Nature of Identity ............................................ 78 Summation ............................................ 83 Chapter Fie: Methodological Considerations .The 'How' of Research ....... 84 QuaiittativeMethods .......................................... 84 Content Analysis ............................................ 86 Research Design ............................................. 89 Research Quaiity ............................................ 92 Figure Two: Code Scheme for Visual and Textual Analysis ...... 93 VoiceandBiases ............................................ 95 Voice Part Two ........................................ 95 Surnmation ............................................... 100 Chapter Six: Results .The World of Image ............................ 101 NewsSources ............................................. 101 e Micmac Newg .................................... 101 Windmeaker ......................................... 103 Maclean's .......................................... 107 News Source Cornparisons ................................... 115 Table One: Cover Photographs .......................... 117 Table Two: Non-Cover Photogmphs ...................... 118 Table Three: Wamot' Word Counts ...................... 119 Table Four: Mohawk' Word Counts ...................... 119 Table Five: Thematic HeadIine Analysis Summary ........... 120 Summation and Cornparison with Baylor (1996)and Milier (1993) .... 125 Chapter Seven: Conclusion and ImpIications for Future Research ........... 127 Concluding Rem& ........................................ 127 Individual Voice ............................................ 128 Implications for Future Research ............................... 130 Appendix One: List of Headiines and Captions From The News Joumak ..... 132 References Cited ................................................. 145 Many images are presented in the mas media coverage of an event. In the case of print media, those images are found both in print and in photographs. 1 argue that, foiiowing the ideas presented by Berger and Luckmann (1966)and Herrnan and Chomsky (1988), the images are neither made by nor are thq representative of the persons being reported on. ïhis is especially true of images of First Nations protest. Although other writers, Baylor (1996)and Müier (1993)for example, have presented a similar theme, nwer, has this topic been written frorn a perspective that honours a mixed blood Mi'kmaw perspective while exploring the subject in a Canadian context Furthemore, I use personal experïence methods in the design and writing of this thesis in conjunction with my mixed blood Mihaw voice. That combination means that my thesis is aiso a personal story. Therefore, I wrote it in a story-tehg manner. I compared the images via a content analysis design, both in text and photogmp h, of the resistance to colonial oppression by the Kanien'kehaka (Mohawk) at Kahnawake and Kanesatake (cornmonly known as the 'Oka Crisis') in the Surnmer of 1990 as presented in the Micmac News, Windspeaker, and Maclean's magazine. My research was designed as a case study, therefore, it provides an understanding in depth rather than in breadth. My rdtssupport the Berger and Luckmann and Herman and Chomsky theses, that there was a definite difference in the reporting of content and cultural context in the three periodicals. Furthemore, the Maclean's covemge presented a stereotypidy violent image of First Nations people. The Micmacand Windspeaker expressed information from a personal experience perspective as would be expected from Frst Nations Traditions. Since the Maclean's images represent stereotypical views of First Nations people, 1 suggest, folowing Baylor and Miller, that those images act as a detrimental agent in Fust Nations and Eurocanadian relations. Stereotypical images, after Miiier (1993)and Seigal (l989),may, if intemalized (as I did) have a detrimental effect on health. Therefore, I invite future researchers to explore the role of media images as an issue of Fvst Nations peoples' health. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my Creator, to my Motber Earth, to my partner Patricia Doyle-Bedweii, to our son Mike, to Our chiidren who died during the writing of this thesis: Jessica, Brian, and Amy, and to our extended family, especially our parents. For love, peace, hope, and the knowledge of who we are. vii As the path of writing this thesis took many yeaa to wander, there are many people to thank. First and most prirnarily I achowledge my Creator, Kisulk, in gratitude for my Me and the Mekwe'k A;vh (Red Road) , Wela'lin. 1 need to thank rny farnily not only for their patience, emotional support and 'pep talks', but also numerous financial contributions. They are: my partner Patricia Doyle-Bedweli, my stepson Mike Doyle, my two daughters, Jesçica and Amy, and one son, Brian, who awsed to the Spirit World during the writing of this thesis, my mother Ruth Bedwell, my father Dr. Stephen kdweli, my mother-in-law Mrs. Harriet Doyle, rny sister-in-law Helen Doyle, my nieces and nephews eçpecialy Joshua Doyle, my adopted brothea David Gehue, Basil Johnson, Bert Knockwood, and Glenn Knockwood, my adopted sister in law Melissa, my adopted nieces Miranda and Logan, my adopted uncles Harris Richardson and Doug Knockwood, and my adopted auntie Jeannette Porrier. Many th& to the various Elders who have aided me in this joumey: Nte'pitem aqq Professor Patncia Doyle-Bedwell, Professor Patricia Monture-Angus, Dennis Angus, Henry Lickea. nmis Philippa Pictou, Tem Sabatis, Peggy Thayer, Judge Mary Elien Turpel, Kinap aqq mis David Gehue, Dr. Marie Batoste, Dr. Sakej Hendenon, nklamuksis Doug Knockwood, nmis Carol Knockwood, nsukwis Rose Morris, nsukwis Isabel Knockwood, nukurnij Amy Arthur, niskarnij Harold Arthur, Auntie Jeannette Pomer, Jackie MacQueen, David Porter, -1 Joe,

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