Kayla Chubbs

Worldviews (RCLP 1011)

Due: Monday, September 30th
Renaissance College: UNB

Worldviews Reflection- St. Marys First Nation Site Visit

I had been surrounded by aboriginal people in my community of Happy

Valley-Goose Bay, near the aboriginal reserve of Sheshatshiu for my entire life, but I had
never really taken an interest in Aboriginal ways of life until now: I had just taken my
experiences and knowledge on the subject for granted. Imelda and David Perleys
presentation on the history of Wabanaki peoples of New Brunswick was a very insightful
comparison of what I know about aboriginals of Newfoundland and Labrador. The
Perleys spoke about the history of first nations culture and how their people have been
impacted by contact with Europeans. They also addressed modern challenges faced by
First Nations in Fredericton, which I compared to the challenges faced by the aboriginal
people of my community. I found that many issues faced by First Nations in present day
are not provincial issues but in fact are issues in our country as a whole.
I have obtained a greater appreciation for challenges the Maliseet people face to
hold on to their culture and language, when it is constantly threatened by assimilation
policies. I found it particularly interesting when Imelda spoke about the differences
between economic and social wealth. She said that that although St. Marys is doing well
economically, the people have lost their cultural wealth of hunting, fishing, language and
tradition. This can also be said to be true of aboriginals in my community; they receive
government money and support of various things, however where they are poorest is their
cultural wealth. They can go and buy a brand new truck, but their culture and way of life
is diminishing and they are faced with many substance abuse problems as a result of
previous forced assimilation.

I think that the major fault is in the educational systems. David Perley said that
three pillars represent our society in Canada: English, French and Aboriginal. However
the educational system only supports two out of the three, we are not learning enough in
our curriculum about aboriginal history, language, traditions and culture. When I
discussed my high school education with my classmates, I realized that I was fortunate
enough to have learned about much of the aboriginal history David had discussed already
through school. Up until grade ten and even a bit in higher-level courses we learned about
aboriginal culture through history courses. However my learning of first nations is mainly
restricted to only the aboriginal people of my province not Canada as a whole. My
fellow classmates from New Brunswick however did not receive the same level of
education on this topic.
This inconsistency of education throughout the provinces of Canada in my
opinion is a factor in people not being well educated on aboriginal culture. I think that the
government of Canada should have countrywide courses in high school and university
level that are focused on aboriginal culture and history. I think that just because I come
from Labrador I should not be better educated on this topic then any other student across
Canada, and that our learning should not be solely province based. Fixing this hole in our
educational system can prepare generations to come to deal with racism, discrimination,
and preservation of culture.