Mi’kmaq Sun Dance
By
Jeff Ward
3275637
Professor G. Tucker English 1103
31 July 2007
The Sun Dance is a sacred ceremony that connects the First Nations people directly to the Great Spirit: The Creator. This ceremony is one of the most scared ceremonies known to First Nation peoples across Turtle Island (North America). Up until the last decade the Sundance was rarely performed, if at all, for the last 400 years. However, there are numerous theories and legends about its origin. Some believe that this ceremony had originated with the Minans or Aztecs. While the Plains Indians have oral teachings which say that the White Buffalo Calf Women came from the south to teach their people. However, according to the Mi’kmaq teachings this Sun Dance was known and practised since the creation of time. Now, by using the great resources of oral history, personal accounts, and pictographs the Mi’kmaq people are reclaiming the Mi’kmaq Sun Dance.
According to an old First Nation saying that has been passed down for centuries, one must walk a mile in another person’s moccasins before you understand their history. One must remember that the Mi’kmaq was one of the first tribes that came into contact with Europeans and other nations as they arrived and started to settle on Turtle Island ( North America) This was the beginning of assimilation and oppression. Therefore, a lot of the Mi’kmaq ways and traditions were lost, hidden or right out banned. For example:
Missionaries and government agents in the United States and Canada eventually condemned the Sun Dance, and it was officially banned in both countries. Subject to arrest, practitioners were forced to discontinued the ceremony or to practise it in secret. …Other pressures by the same individuals in the 1890s included holding an officially sponsored sports day to compete with the ceremony, threatening to deny employment to a traditional religious leaders and invoking the CANADIAN INDIAN ACT before it actually applied to the sun dance. ( Hirschfeld,A., Molin, p. 1992.)
Tragically this is one of many reasons why the Mi’kmaq Sun Dance ceremony was not practised up until the past decade since it has returned.
Today, as First Nation People become aware, the Sundance has been reclaimed in the hearts of the Mi’kmaq. This Sun Dance has a home is all our hearts. Like the returning to your grandmother’s home and smelling her home cooking. That inner feeling of peace and security. Or like being on a long road trip and arriving at your house with the feeling I am home again. This feeling is echoed by many Mi’kmaq people once they step into the Sun Dance grounds. In order to understand the true feelings one must understand the nature of the ceremony and its meaning. But the closest thread that can describe that can describe that feeling would also explain why one participates. Lawrence (2007) states:
“Sun dance participants strive to obtain supernatural aid and personal power through their sacrifice which will not only assure the accomplishment of desired outcomes but which will bring them a richer and more meaningful life as a member of their society. The sacred ritual reaffirms tribal membership and cultural identity and ensures that the people will prosper for another year. Following the sun dance, there is a renewed feeling of social harmony. And because of a world view that includes nature and all living beings within the realm of kinship that sense of harmony extends beyond human relationships to include the entire creation. ( Society & Animals Journal of Human-Animals Studies ) (2007,p3).
The Mi’kmaq Sun Dance is close to people’s heart because it brings a true sense of belonging. Like that picture at grandparents place that can be seen time and time again. That picture gives a sense of security and belonging.
Now that your home at your grandparents place and see a family picture on the wall you have seen over a thousand times but never really took the time to look at it and you notice that is picture has a significant meaning in my life. That is my family and that’s where I come from. This is similar to the awakening of the Sun Dancer when looks at the pictographs from Fairy Lake, New Grafton, Nova Scotia. One of the Authors of The American Naturalist stated that following after seeing one of these pictographs and stated that following:
The interpretation which has suggested itself is as follows : The likeness to a dance-mask or dance-tablet is so close that the possibility of its being a representation of some of the paraphernalia of the dances occurred to me…We may have here a presentation of an old dance figure wearing on the head a mask not like the masks still carried by the tribes which have preserved to the present day their ancient religious rites. If this interpretation of the head dress of the pictographs from Nova Scotia is a correct one, as seems plausible, it may give us an insight into the character of the dress of the dancers in ancient Micmac ceremonials. (Fewkes 1890.p997)
After reading this and seeing the picture of the pictograph, I can only see my own shadow. The head dress he spoke about represent the same type and style of head dress that I wore for four days. The dress that is spoken about represents a sun dance skirt or dress that I wore for four days. That pictograph is a of a young warrior dancing. He is not only Sun Dancing for himself, but all living things and non living things, his people, and his Nation.
It was through 400 years of oppression, assimilation, secrecy, hidden ceremonies, and the power of the Creator, that saved our Sacred Ceremonies. For the last decade the Sun Dance has returned to the Mi’kmaq people, Through pictographs, stories, oral history and personal experiences. Strong evidence suggests that the Mi’kmaq people conducted this sacred ceremony. Now it time for healing for all Nations.
Bibliography
Fewkes.W.(1890).A pictrograph from Nova Scotia. The American Naturalist.287, 998.
Hirschfeld, A. & Molin, P.(1992) The Encyclopaedia of Native American Religions. NY: Fast on File.
Lawerence, E. (2007) Sun Dance. Society and Animals Journal of Human-Animal Studies. Retrieved: 10/01/2007. from http://www.psyeta.org/sa/sa1.1/lawerance.htm/
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Chapter 4
Read Chapter 4 - Wikis: Easy Collaboration For All; Pages 59-74Answer the following questions on your personal blog.If blogs are about conversation and wikis are about collaboration/content, which of the following student projects would you use each tool for? Why?
Novel study with author participation
I would suggest a wikis for this, For the reason that it has the ability to go to the masses. It is quick and easy to reach millions of people. Also the Author would have the ability to share his/hers point of view.
Students at two first nations schools in New Brunswick and British Columbia recording and
sharing native stories and music.
I think a Wiki space would be idea for this. A prime example for this is our current wiki space for this class, there is 57 students and we are located all over NB and Que. It also allows us to put on videos, links, and all kinds of goodies.
Daily science journal.
This is definitely a blog type of deal. This will allow you to keep take of your progress of your journal. It will allow others to comment on your progress as well as make suggestions. Blogs are fairly short.
Student creative writing with peer review.
This is also would be a blog. Because you can always edit post that you have already created. It also will allow other to criticize your work.
Novel study with author participation
I would suggest a wikis for this, For the reason that it has the ability to go to the masses. It is quick and easy to reach millions of people. Also the Author would have the ability to share his/hers point of view.
Students at two first nations schools in New Brunswick and British Columbia recording and
sharing native stories and music.
I think a Wiki space would be idea for this. A prime example for this is our current wiki space for this class, there is 57 students and we are located all over NB and Que. It also allows us to put on videos, links, and all kinds of goodies.
Daily science journal.
This is definitely a blog type of deal. This will allow you to keep take of your progress of your journal. It will allow others to comment on your progress as well as make suggestions. Blogs are fairly short.
Student creative writing with peer review.
This is also would be a blog. Because you can always edit post that you have already created. It also will allow other to criticize your work.
Responds to RICHARDSON
What types of issues would you worry about in terms of students producing content for sharing with the world via the web?
Hate propaganda, rumors, dangerous actions, how to make dangerous weapons or bombs and how to cheat on tests, that would be the negative of sharing with the world by web. Anything that is morally wrong and that would hurt or harm another. Taking fictitious stories or untrue facts and pass it on to others, Many times it will tend to create a life of its own, and uneducated people will believe it s true. People tend to want to believe everything that is written. Another example on how harmful the web can be is, in the media last year, there was a kid that working on a project for school. He filmed myself doing a display for Star wars with the light saver, Another kid received a copy of it, tagged it and sent it out on the web. It got over a million hits and a million laughs. However it was not intended to be funny and dramatically hurt that child.
Identify three practices or "rules" that you believe would be good practice in protecting students on the web. Elaborate on why you have chosen each.
1. Create your own web tours before hand.
2.Make sure that students parents, and even administrators are clear about the expectations and the reasoning's for the blog and make sure everyone has the proper permission.
3.Read what they write and become the administer.
Hate propaganda, rumors, dangerous actions, how to make dangerous weapons or bombs and how to cheat on tests, that would be the negative of sharing with the world by web. Anything that is morally wrong and that would hurt or harm another. Taking fictitious stories or untrue facts and pass it on to others, Many times it will tend to create a life of its own, and uneducated people will believe it s true. People tend to want to believe everything that is written. Another example on how harmful the web can be is, in the media last year, there was a kid that working on a project for school. He filmed myself doing a display for Star wars with the light saver, Another kid received a copy of it, tagged it and sent it out on the web. It got over a million hits and a million laughs. However it was not intended to be funny and dramatically hurt that child.
Identify three practices or "rules" that you believe would be good practice in protecting students on the web. Elaborate on why you have chosen each.
1. Create your own web tours before hand.
2.Make sure that students parents, and even administrators are clear about the expectations and the reasoning's for the blog and make sure everyone has the proper permission.
3.Read what they write and become the administer.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Responds Paper for this term
Responds Paper
by
Jeff Ward
ED 4862 (Information and Communications Technology II) February 15th 2008
Instructor Jeff Whipple
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of time.”, Is a quote that can clearly describe the challenges that we as individuals, parents, schools, business people and society are truly facing with respect to the futuristic ideas on how the nature of information will continue to change. Technology is evolving so quickly at times that in many situations many forms are becoming obsolete while they are still on the market shelves. What can we do as the masses to keep up with the changes? I believe that we need to focus on the following; education, updates of programs, keeping up with companies buying other companies, hybrid learning approaches, investing on technology smart, and most importantly stick to traditional learning skills.
Now there are many partnership that are currently out there that everyone must keep in mind. Major players such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple are just a few examples. One great partnership that just ended was between Microsoft and M.I.T., who are two major giants in the technology world. In an article written by Seely Brown, he stated the following “The conference was organized to mark the end next year of an eight-year partnership between Microsoft and M.I.T. explore the use of technology in learning.” Martin LaMonica 2006. It is about these partnerships that Seely Brown argues in following statement.
“ education is going through a large-scale transformation toward a more participatory form of learning. Rather than treat pedagogy as the transfer of knowledge from teachers who are experts to students who are receptacles, educators should consider more hands-on and informal types of learning. These methods are closer to an apprenticeship, a farther-reaching, more multilayered approach than traditional formal education, he said.” Martin LaMonica 2006.
In the article by Seely Brown, He argues a point on how education is enhanced by technology. He stated
“Some universities are using the Web-community approach as well. A Web site set up at Brown University called the Decamarom Web brings together experts on a novel by Boccaccio… Online communities are forming around a wide variety of topics. Amateur astronomers, for example, are sharing information among themselves and even with professionals….As you work shoulder to shoulder with other kids, all the work you do and work in progress is done in public. So others understand what you're thinking," Martin LaMonica 2006.
I agree with Browns point of view. For example of this course is a great example on how 57 students from 9 different First Nations, Two Different provinces, all to reach a common goal of further education. This is also great way to create partnerships in the business world. Many small companies could not afford to travel to make partnerships that would allow them to be successful. Another note for students this form of technology “gives undergraduate students "an apprenticeship platform" for learning the practice of scholarly debate,” Martin LaMonica 2006.
However one can look at the total opposite side of the scale. There are many arguments from researches that the following;
“Technology changes faster than educational researchers can study it. Although many researchers insist computers are valuable in schools, they readily admit they can't yet say whether technology actually helps kids achieve educational goals. Have schools jumped onto the technology bandwagon too soon? In this story, Education World focuses on some of the research that makes a strong case against the way technology is currently used in schools.” Glori Chaika 1997
This statement has truly created a shadow of a doubt. Also to add to the argument the article goes on to say,
“Educational psychologist and long time teacher and administrator Jane M. Healy, once an advocate of technology in the schools, sees many problems with the way educational technology is used today. It's become an idea that has taken over the public consciousness, helped, of course, by the mass promoting of these products to kids as young as a year-and-a-half." Glori Chaika 1997
Which also goes on saying “…the sparse objective evidence indicates that computers have thus far contributed nothing of note to the learning process.... There is no question that computers are 'motivating' to children -- but are they motivated to learn or just to play with the computer?" Glori Chaika 1997 . One would question that most programs are for sell and not for education. This is a easy fact to believe, considering the big companies are out there to make money.
In conclusion I believe that we need to focus on the following; education, updates of programs, keeping up with companies buying other companies, hybrid learning approaches, investing on technology smart, and most importantly stick to traditional learning skills. And like what was seen in the video in regards to the future, it can go any directions and we as society will all be a part of it, If we like it or not.
Reference:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6140175.html Futurist: To fix education, think Web 2.0. By Martin LaMonica, News.com Posted on ZDNet News: Dec 1, 2006 9:07:00 PM
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin121.shtml Technology in Schools: Some Say It Doesn't Compute!. Article by Glori Chaika 1997Education World® Copyright © 2006 Education World. 06/23/1997
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/epic. Epic 2015by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson
by
Jeff Ward
ED 4862 (Information and Communications Technology II) February 15th 2008
Instructor Jeff Whipple
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of time.”, Is a quote that can clearly describe the challenges that we as individuals, parents, schools, business people and society are truly facing with respect to the futuristic ideas on how the nature of information will continue to change. Technology is evolving so quickly at times that in many situations many forms are becoming obsolete while they are still on the market shelves. What can we do as the masses to keep up with the changes? I believe that we need to focus on the following; education, updates of programs, keeping up with companies buying other companies, hybrid learning approaches, investing on technology smart, and most importantly stick to traditional learning skills.
Now there are many partnership that are currently out there that everyone must keep in mind. Major players such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple are just a few examples. One great partnership that just ended was between Microsoft and M.I.T., who are two major giants in the technology world. In an article written by Seely Brown, he stated the following “The conference was organized to mark the end next year of an eight-year partnership between Microsoft and M.I.T. explore the use of technology in learning.” Martin LaMonica 2006. It is about these partnerships that Seely Brown argues in following statement.
“ education is going through a large-scale transformation toward a more participatory form of learning. Rather than treat pedagogy as the transfer of knowledge from teachers who are experts to students who are receptacles, educators should consider more hands-on and informal types of learning. These methods are closer to an apprenticeship, a farther-reaching, more multilayered approach than traditional formal education, he said.” Martin LaMonica 2006.
In the article by Seely Brown, He argues a point on how education is enhanced by technology. He stated
“Some universities are using the Web-community approach as well. A Web site set up at Brown University called the Decamarom Web brings together experts on a novel by Boccaccio… Online communities are forming around a wide variety of topics. Amateur astronomers, for example, are sharing information among themselves and even with professionals….As you work shoulder to shoulder with other kids, all the work you do and work in progress is done in public. So others understand what you're thinking," Martin LaMonica 2006.
I agree with Browns point of view. For example of this course is a great example on how 57 students from 9 different First Nations, Two Different provinces, all to reach a common goal of further education. This is also great way to create partnerships in the business world. Many small companies could not afford to travel to make partnerships that would allow them to be successful. Another note for students this form of technology “gives undergraduate students "an apprenticeship platform" for learning the practice of scholarly debate,” Martin LaMonica 2006.
However one can look at the total opposite side of the scale. There are many arguments from researches that the following;
“Technology changes faster than educational researchers can study it. Although many researchers insist computers are valuable in schools, they readily admit they can't yet say whether technology actually helps kids achieve educational goals. Have schools jumped onto the technology bandwagon too soon? In this story, Education World focuses on some of the research that makes a strong case against the way technology is currently used in schools.” Glori Chaika 1997
This statement has truly created a shadow of a doubt. Also to add to the argument the article goes on to say,
“Educational psychologist and long time teacher and administrator Jane M. Healy, once an advocate of technology in the schools, sees many problems with the way educational technology is used today. It's become an idea that has taken over the public consciousness, helped, of course, by the mass promoting of these products to kids as young as a year-and-a-half." Glori Chaika 1997
Which also goes on saying “…the sparse objective evidence indicates that computers have thus far contributed nothing of note to the learning process.... There is no question that computers are 'motivating' to children -- but are they motivated to learn or just to play with the computer?" Glori Chaika 1997 . One would question that most programs are for sell and not for education. This is a easy fact to believe, considering the big companies are out there to make money.
In conclusion I believe that we need to focus on the following; education, updates of programs, keeping up with companies buying other companies, hybrid learning approaches, investing on technology smart, and most importantly stick to traditional learning skills. And like what was seen in the video in regards to the future, it can go any directions and we as society will all be a part of it, If we like it or not.
Reference:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6140175.html Futurist: To fix education, think Web 2.0. By Martin LaMonica, News.com Posted on ZDNet News: Dec 1, 2006 9:07:00 PM
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin121.shtml Technology in Schools: Some Say It Doesn't Compute!. Article by Glori Chaika 1997Education World® Copyright © 2006 Education World. 06/23/1997
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/epic. Epic 2015by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson
Drums of Technology
Technology.....Has a great affect on all of society. I was at the Cape Breaton International Drum Festival this weekend. And I saw how technology has even changed Drums. There was a new set of drums there was all control by technology. It was a small set of drum that was all hooked up to a computer. This allowed the drums to always be tuned. A push of a button you can change up to 6 differnet sets of drums. It was light weight and easy you for travel. A little bit more expenisve. But I am sure that the cost will go down in the days to come.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Technology Love
This a topic that was not touched upon. Technology love. We always hear about the crazy stories about stockers and preditors. What about love? that is found on the net. My friend met her husband on line. They were from other countries. Canada to Ireland. Now they are happily married and 3 kids later. He is a wonderful guy. That is turly beautiful. I never read about that on the front page on any paper or on any news cast. So there is good out there. On the net and through technology. We as people and human nature always tend to hear about the bad stuff and never the good. And did you see my Facebook today. My Girlfriend sent me the most beautiful message for the world to see, "you are truly the best man I have ever loved and been loved by...I am humbled by you...and honored to walk beside you...I feel blessed to have finally found you...and know in my heart that the creator has saved the best for last..." and thats after I sent her a poem on her facebook. " A falling star.....The Northern lights.....A rainbow after a storm....Thats Mother nature’s beautyBeauty to the truest,Nothing can compare,Time to time they appear.A reminder that beauty existence.Twinkle in your eyes....Beautiful smile...Compassionate, understanding and caring.Is what I see in you.Beauty to the truest......Nothing can compare.....Time to time they appear.A reminder the beauty existence.Now my eyes are open.....And to my surprise.....Beauty has graced me, You are my reminder that beauty existence.". So thats my take on Technology love. What is yours?
Monday, April 21, 2008
Technology is helpful or harmful
There are many advantages to technology. Improvment to the qualitly of life, the advancement of hearing aides, and many others technologies that help people with disabilities. The form of communitcation has also changed. You can text some one, email , MSN, Phone, cell, web cast, face book, and many more. However, there has to be an answer on the other end. If you forget to power up your back berry, then your not going to get your calls. You also need a form to check your messages. And if you have friends that are not on line or use these forms of communications then you have to rely on smoke signals i guess.
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