Blog on Class Lectures
For your class lectures please answer the following questions in your blog:
What did you learn generally about aboriginal and treaty rights in MIKM 340?
I learned alot of very important information on how the stories of our elders remain important to us and our children. The stories they shared is an important part of our Oral Tradition that still remains an important facors in our lives and also the justice system.
What do you think of the concept of "Continuity" in proving aboriginal and treaty rights?
The concept of continuity seems like a way for the courts to prolong and make it more difficult for the Mikmaq people to prove their rights. Although the concept of continuity for the mikmaq people on the land has been always happening, the mikmaq people do not always record thier activities to prove that they have always been fishing or hunting in the same areas that thier ancestors were. Oral tradition should be enough proof for these instances where the people remember and are familiar with certain areas that they have always hunted or gathered.
What do you think about the role of oral history and the law?
The role of Oral History has been an important part of Mikmaq History, elders have passed down many stories that were told to them from their families to make sure that knowledge would be passed down to our children today. The role oral tradition has to the mikmaq is so to ensure the people know a part of thier history and it is passed down through informative stories. The law just recently realized how the mikmaq and other tribes pass down thier history and made this acception in the courts to help the mikmaq prove what important information their Oral traditions contain.
What do you think about the cases we talked about? i.e. Sparrow, Delgamuukw, Sylliboy, Simon & Marshall?
The cases we talked about in class were very informative on how the courts are trying to handle the mikmaq treaties. The courts are starting to recognize the mikmaq treaties and are finding ways to prove thier legitimacy but also setting extreme limits to minimize the area of influence the mikmaq people have. There is the sparrow test where there are four main questions are asked to prove that there is a treaty for that activity such as hunting or fishing and to prove that it is our right and we cant be persecuted for it.
What do you think the Mi'kmaq need to do to prepare for future negotiations on Treaty Implementation?
What we have been talking about in class is a "war chest" this would be an excellent chance to prove whatever we know and our elders know about the past to help prove that the land has always been there for our use. What we would have to do in my opinion is to try to get all the information from our parents and record them so we can pass important information along to our children to ensure that they will also have valid information if they should need it in the future. The concept of continuity would stand today and our children would need to learn and know the areas that we hunted and gathered so they can to do these activities themselves and that the courts do recognize that this continuity exists.
What would Mi'kma'ki look like in 50 years, if treaties were honoured and implemented?
Perhaps the Mikmaq community in 50 years would have more jobs and freedom to manage thier communities as they see fit. The Lnu and other native americans would be more recognized as a nation rather than a minority.
What did you enjoy most about the class?
I loved the conversations we had during class about the stories we heard from when we were children and also the game we played after each class. This class would be very insprational for others that choose to attend it and i really enjoyed it.
