Blog 4: Broadcast Our Past To Better Our Future

Our  past is what inevitably shapes our future. Not everyone can always agree, people often disagree, have different beliefs, different ways of living, that is what being human is all about. These differences date all the way back to the first groups of people specifically the Indigenous groups and the European colonists. These two very different groups of people not only have different relationships with their land, their relationship to nature and their relationships with each other but they also treat genders very differently. These beliefs have shifted with the time and maybe are not identical to what they once were but they have definitely marked their people in ways that still affect us today. These societal differences and completely different ways of thinking are what shape our acceptance to new ways of life such as the LGBTQ+ community. As we see in “Trans in Trumpland ” we see people are being not only discriminated against but being denied care for not following the same path as others. This ties back to history because the way societies functioned with different values is important to understand if we want to make sense of the harm being done to others today. I believe we can learn more than we think from diving into the past and the beliefs of the indigenous groups in comparison to what our society has chosen to follow, which is the European mindset. This essay is to examine the contrasting views on gender between indigenous and  European worldviews and to explore how these perspectives affect us today.

To understand the cultural and societal differences between the Indigenous and the Europeans there are a few key elements which really struck me. Firstly their relationships with the land. The Indigenous often viewed land as sacred and believed in a reciprocal relationship with nature, where they were stewarts rather than owners. They had immense respect for the land and took care of it very well. This contrasts the European colonists who viewed land as a commodity, to be owned, exploited and transformed for profit. They had no respect for it and used it for their own personal well being. This difference in worldview is what I believe drove their opinions on genders. While indigenous cultures embraced fluidity and inclusiveness in gender roles, European colonists imposed rigid norms and wanted everyone to act the same, feel the same and especially carry the same beliefs and way of thinking.

Drawing directly from Keough and Campbell’s perspectives, “Indigenous societies and the early contact period”. The early contact period has had an impact on indigenous gender dynamics, the European colonisation disrupted traditional practices and imposed their patriarchal structures. This affects today’s society because we have completely followed the european standard when looking in the past the indigenous community was much more inclusive and could have bettered our society.

“Trans in Trumpland: Idaho” gives us a view of discrimination and lack of acceptance that is faced by gender-diverse individuals in today’s society. They were comparing certain scenarios to historical ways of thinking and there is a continuing influence of colonial legacies in today’s society. If we embraced indigenous perspectives on gender it would give us a big step towards a better and more inclusive society. The indigenous worldview is full of respect and there is ample room for diversity which is something our society today is lacking. The European mindset was pushed and made the norm in today’s society because it was a more powerful thought process to have. To objectify people and utilise land, everything and everyone was used as machinery and once it lost value it was often pushed aside. The European mindset also had a large influence because of the church and the power it held to convince the people to believe what it says.

Moving on, if we focus on today and what to expect for our future all we have to do is dwell in the past, history often repeats itself. Whichever belief holds the most power and control will be pursued in our society but if we decide to come together and change the mindset as a whole we could better our future. As the younger generation has been taught through literature such as Keough and Campbell who explain the differences in beliefs with two societies and the impact it could have for us. This should be a class taught in highschool, by knowing we can prevent mistakes to reoccur , therefore the mindsets of older generations should definitely be broadcasted to all the youth of today so we can be smarter and make better choices.

The Indigenous were more in touch with their spirits which made them respect everything much more than others. They are a very accepting group and care deeply about what is in their lives. European societies often were disconnected from these spiritual roots. This disconnection led to a different approach to nature and community, one was more exploitative and less harmful. In contrast, indigenous values emphasised respect, reciprocity and balance which can offer valuable lessons for modern society. How might we integrate these principles into our lives to create a better world for the people around us to feel comfortable and happy with who they are.

Bibliography

Andrea Edinger, October 21, 2020 “History Of Gender Roles in Canada” the Canadian encyclopaedia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/history-of-gender-roles-in-canada

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender

History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Blog 4: Indigenous culture and the path to tolerance

Although it can be hard to believe it now, our country was once a very different place. Before North America was colonized by Europeans, it was inhabited primarily by an Indigenous people with a very different culture and view than what we are accustomed to now, and while this people very much still exists, this outlook on life has all but disappeared from the mainstream of society. However, by learning about this waning culture through Keough and Campbell’s chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period”, the documentary ‘Trans In Trumpland: Idaho’, and even the presentation by Glenn Glear, I have truly built a newfound understanding and appreciation for this culture which has been hidden and oppressed for so long. I have also learnt that our society’s European based way of thinking is not the only cultural opinion, and unless we learn to accept other views such as the Indigenous way of life, we are creating a world which is unacceptable to those who do not conform to the views or norms of this rigid society. 

In Keough and Campbell’s chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period”, they explain the many differences between pre-contact Indigenous culture and European culture, as well as the changes which were then forced on the Indigenous to conform to. “European missionaries, traders, officials, and settlers perceived North America through Eurocentric lenses in which Aboriginal people appeared as either “noble savages”, innocent and childlike, or “heathens” in need of Christian salvation. (Keough and Campbell, 24-25) There was no cultural understanding or friendly cooperation afforded by the Europeans who first came to conquer North America, rather, they were set on forcefully changing the Indigenous people and culture into an image which better fit their own. “Establishing “normal” gender relations among Aboriginal men and women was not easy, and the missionaries met with resistance from some women who saw Christian ideology as undermining their power”. (Keough and Campbell, 27) From gender relations to religion, the Indigenous had a completely different culture and worldview than the Europeans, and they immediately set out to change them. The Europeans wanted total cultural dominance, as they perceived theirs to be superior, and wanted to ensure that everyone conformed to it no matter how rigid or toxic some of it may be. 

In spite of what the Europeans thought, in many ways their culture was more negative and hateful than that of the Indigenous, and by forcing them to conform they were destroying their way of life, which had existed for centuries. As was explained in the documentary “Trans In Trumpland”, Indigenous culture has been extremely accepting and open to all types of people, unlike the discrimination rooted in our European culture. To the Indigenous this newly encountered society which “…was organized according to status and rank” (Keough and Campbell, 21) seemed strict and oppressive, as most Europeans who claimed moral and cultural superiority lived poor and subordinate to a chosen few who ruled them. Indigenous society was much more free and open to different classes and genders, and in many ways was ahead of its time even in comparison to today.

Even now, our society still lags behind in many aspects, and Indigenous society is still miles ahead in many aspects. The Indigenous are much more accepting of others, and many members of their society which are part of communities ostracized in our society are treated fairly and justly. For example, In “Trans In Trumpland”, Shane Ortega, who is Two-Spirit, is treated well and valued by their community, despite the stigma such a term carries in mainstream American society, which seems to grow less and less accepting as time passes. While Indigenous culture thrives on being all accepting, there have been many restrictive changes in America which seek to do the opposite. For example, the military has recently banned trans members, and it seems as though American society is losing acceptance of this group, and many others. Glenn Gear, who is an Indigiqueer artist, has also lamented these changes, as with the dying of Indigenous culture and the rise of hate and intolerance, he and countless others are feeling less and less safe in this country, and many others.

In conclusion, this land has changed in many ways since Europeans first landed in North America, and in many ways it has changed for the worse, as society has become less accepting and willing to tolerate the differences between people. Between the documentary “Trans In Trumpland”, the article “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period”, and Glenn Glear’s speech, I have learnt the power of Indigenous culture, and the power of tolerance and acceptance on a society wide scale. If we learn to embrace and accept these aspects of Indigenous culture in our own modern life, we can build a better and more liberating world for everyone.

Blog 4: Indigenous Culture

Gender expression reflects how an individual decides to represent themselves, in other words, the exhibition of a person’s identity. It involves one’s appearance, choices, behavior, social roles and it is heavily influenced by culture. Someone’s culture shapes their gender expression with the norms and expectations, the level of acceptance of their community, their social lives etc. The indigenous culture is very open about gender representation, it takes a spiritual step which means it’s far beyond a person’s physical self. Gender expression varies across cultures, there’s a big difference between Indigenous beliefs and Europeans views. Their practices were unfamiliar to the Europeans which ended negatively .These differences are well explained in the chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period” by Keough and Campbell, which takes a step back in the pass, the documentary “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho”, that describes the current issues of gender in North America and Glenn Gear’s presentation that unfolds the importance of culture. In this text I will compare the worldviews of both cultures and talk about the effects of the genocide on today’s population.

In Indigenous culture, both men and women have an important role for the stability and the development of their community. For example, men hunted and did most of the heavy labor while women would go fishing, collect nuts and berries, transport game and set up the camp. Both works are needed for the coordination of their tribe. In the chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period”, it explains how the cooperation and consensus was demonstrated by gender relations and how the united roles are complementary and essential. Sex division wasn’t as discriminatory as the European view, for example the important role of the shaman, both men and women can have this high status and influence. Many aboriginal communities have inclusive beliefs on sex-gender systems, “two-spirit”. It’s a sacred identity that involves masculinity and femininity within one body. These individuals assume both masculine and feminine roles, dress as they please and embody whichever gender they want. This diversity goes as wide as same sex relationship and sexual relations. There was no need for acceptance because they are important and sacred individuals, they are the norm.  

Compared to the European Colonists, upon their arrival in North America they perceived “two-spirit” individuals as unmanly, soft and passive homosexuals while using derogatory terms to describe them. Mainly because their norms were completely different, to them, these sexuality systems were considered sins as they don’t follow Christian beliefs. European males played a major role in the development of their community, women would have minor roles such as cooking, cleaning and forming families. The sex division was exclusive and important roles were male dominated. Religion was the base of it all, the Catholic church was significant to the function of their community. Considering that the Europeans had an advantage they started assimilating the Indigenous culture because they believed that their view and religions were all there is, which ended in a genocide. These events made it near impossible for the current Indigenous to continue practicing and a major lack in the representation of Indigenous as many of them are still healing from this trauma.   

Today, these differences have an even bigger gap as society adopted the European view. In the documentary “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho” Shane, a transgender veteran, explains the impact of Trump being president and the transphobia/homophobia of people with power. Society has come a long way when it comes to certain topics, sadly, the hate towards people from the LGBTQ+ community is still heavy. In the documentary, they showed that ex-president of America Trump put up an anti-trans military ban which affected many transgender individuals including Shane. This is an example of society moving backwards and adapting the exclusive ideologies of the Europeans. Indigenous beliefs stayed within their community even after the assimilation done by the Europeans. It’s possible to say that the beliefs of the Native community were ahead of their time, they were embracing individuals for being themselves and inclusive. Many people embrace their ideology, for example, Shane finding peace in his own culture and embracing the fact that he’s a sacred being, despite society’s norm.Glenn Gear, an Inuk artist, explained that it took many years for him to be connected to his culture knowing that it’s not represented in today’s society. He had to explore, travel and look for something that was once everywhere. Indigenous representation decreasing is one of the many results of the assimilation. Finding his culture was a major event for Glenn Gear, like a missing piece of a puzzle. He started making art that represented his culture in order to reconnect with all that he missed. 

In conclusion, the exploration of gender expression of the Indigenous and European culture displays different perspectives, acceptances and societal norms. The worldview of Indigenous people is distinguished by inclusivity, spirituality and an equal distribution of power. Compared to the strict and exclusive gender roles set by  European colonists. Many events had to unfold for our society to recognize what they’ve done wrong, till the day many Indigenous people suffer as they are still neglected.Today’s society is not where it should be as people of power continue to progress with exclusive rules. 

Blog 4 : The Destruction of Indigenous Culture.

Humans have lived in the North American continent for at least 14,000 years ago. Europeans would not touch the North American until 1000 AD, by then the Indigenous people of the continent had over 10,000 years of history and cultural evolution. The Vikings had arrived in modern day Newfoundland in the 9^th century but did not remain for long. Their touch on the North American continent had a little importance on its history and culture. 500 years later, the Europeans arrived once again and this time they did not leave. While the many Indigenous had evolved for over 10,000 years, so did the Europeans. It did evolve quite similarly at first but by the time these new Europeans settlers arrived, their technology was far better. The forceful destruction of Indigenous cultures by Europeans would change the face of the earth. The largest economy in the world is now in North America but it is connection the people who lived on its land for 14,000 years is forgotten and the surviving ones, live with the trauma of the atrocities that happened to forcefully be removed from their land. 

Since 1492, Indigenous culture has been in a constant state of crisis due to its major differences between the settlers that became the ruling class on their land. The conflicts that naturally happen between these two opposing cultures have shaped the modern-day indigenous person regardless of what tribe they have connection to.

Strict gender roles have shaped Europe. A man should not participate in anything deemed feminine or a women should not dream of participating in anything masculine. Women in politics and in roles of leadership were possible in Europe. A female ruler could happen if any possible male candidates simply did not exist. By the time the English had arrived in North America, they had a few female rulers in the recent years coming to that. But these were women of royal blood, they were already more privileged than your average man. For any other women born in Europe, they would never be able to achieve any sense of control on their world. The many indigenous societies view the power of gender differently. For example, Iroquoian societies were both matrilineal meaning that your descent was based on your mother bloodline and were also matrilocal which meant lived with their wife’s family and hunted for them (…. p.17-18). While men still were the primary hunters, they brought back home to a matrilocal household where the decision on how the food would be distributed was made by the women. This is the opposite of every European culture that landed in North America. In no world, did the average English/French women would be able to make equal decision with their husband or the husband living for her family. Europeans found the equality in Indigenous and lack of a strong hierarchy as a sign of weakness. While certain parts of Indigenous cultures influence the Europeans. The Europeans were very much of the mindsets of only taking the parts they like, ignoring anything else.

Gender in European culture is simply put into two boxes. You couldn’t change or escape the gender you were assigned to at birth. If you felt in your heart that you were different, it wasn’t allowed. For that simply didn’t fit into society and you would be rejected from it. The Indigenous people of North America treated gender differently. While two-spirit is very much a new word, the idea of what two-spirit isn’t. While two-spirit can be included in the broader umbrella of LGBTQ, two-spirit itself isn’t an equivalent to being gay or transgender. Two-spirit is a uniquely Native American. Two-spirit were either men, women, or intersexed individual who did both male and female activities while also using traits of their own. In many of the tribes two-spirit weren’t necessarily seen as man or women but very much its own unique and distinct gender role. Most tribes considered two-spirit as a third gender completely equal to cisgender individuals.

Flash forward to 2016, Donald Trump was elected at the 45th president of the United States of America. In 2017, Trump would announce on his twitter account that transgender members of the United States Military would not be allowed any more. This would affect a two-spirit member of the military named Shane Ortega. Despite fighting in many wars for the nation, he was kicked out, not for his capabilities but completely for something that didn’t truly manner in the grand scheme in a fighting war. A gunshot hits the same no matter on your gender or race. Trump tried to make reason with his decision by claiming that transgender service members were too costly to the largest military by budget in the world. Keep in mind the military budget in America is as high as the next 10 on the list. Ortega refutes the claim by mentioning it would only cost a million to pay for the necessary medication. While the spend more on pills for erectile dysfunction that has absolutely zero effect on a person capabilities of fighting wars.

Despite two-spirit being a thing in native society for centuries on centuries. The colonization of the new world, set America back. The process of transgender rights is a natural progression to help decolonize the Americas. It the same for equal rights between women and men. America was forcefully set back due to the European settlers. While progressive politics try to bring back American continent back to its equal society, it’s disappointing that the world has to progressed back to a state it was already was at.

Bibliography :

Glenn Gear, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College

Keough, Wileen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16-28

Zozherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Blog 4: Indigenous culture then vs. now

Throughout history, multiple cultures clashed against each other because of their contrasting views such as gender roles. These people with different cultures often forced their ideals onto another party if they didn’t follow them initially. One such moment recorded in history was the first interaction between the Indigenous people and the Europeans, or the first Settler-Colonists in America to be more specific. This interaction between the Aboriginals and these Colonists brought about changes that practically shaped the societal norms of modern America.

Through the article “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period” , the documentary titled “Trans in Trumpland”, produced by Zosherafatain, Tony as well as through the work of arts made by Glenn Gear, an analysis will be made based on the differences in culture between these two groups, as well as the measures taken to remedy the effects if this encounter.

First of all, the Indigenous people held very different viewpoints on the term “gender”  and their roles compared to the Colonists. The Europeans followed more of a male/feminine model, while the Aboriginals possessed a model that varied from that of the Europeans, such as containing a category called two-spirit (Keough and Campbell 19). In the Europeans model, the male held a much superior position compared to a female that withheld an equal position. Not only was this the case inside the workplace, but even in the domestic plane. They followed a paternalistic system in the household; “in a fatherly way, on the assumption that it was their responsibility to take care of those without the capacity to look after themselves” (Keough and Campbell 21). If we were to compare how genders functioned to the way Indigenous people functioned, many differences pop up. The main difference and most important one, is the way they had a more egalitarian system in place when it came to the roles of both the males and the females. They both had importance within their society and both of them had equal say when it came to big decisions. Not only were the males and the females important, but even the people who identified as two-spirit, where “masculinity and femininity were accommodated in one body” (Keough and Campbell 19). They were somewhat of a pillar within their societies considering that they were known to be healers. In short, the Aboriginals’ culture back then ,compared to the Europeans, held a more open-minded perspective on gender roles because of their diversity and role distribution.

Second, the consequences of this interaction between the Aboriginals and the Colonists manifests itself even in the present. Ever since the presidency of Trump, laws against certain social groups were created. One such law prevented trans people from being part of the army because of the enormous cost of conversion therapy which represents only a miniscule portion of America’s cost (Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho”. Kanopy, uploaded by The Film Sales Company, February 21, 2021. https://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418) One victim, an Indigenous person identifying as “two-spirit”, presents how his life has changed as well as ways to combat the law that did so. Overall, the effects of America’s colonization cease to stop and affects even this generation of Native Americans.

Third, to counteract the European influence on Native American culture, many works of art are being spread out based on the Indigenous’ culture. An artist named Glenn Gear has been travelling all over Canada presenting his works of art in many regions. His works of art are presented through multiple mediums, representative to his Native American side. But not only does he incorporate a more olden aspect to his style, he also incorporates modern aspects, such as holograms. He aims to spread awareness of Indigenous culture to others through his productions. He also visits Native American schools and teaches a few classes about how to do art the way he does it. Ultimately, to combat the effect of the clash of cultures between the Indigenous people and the Europeans, people are rising to spread awareness of Native American culture, the cutlure that was supressed.

To summarize, the gender culture of the Indigenous people differed vastly to those of the Settler-Colonists in a way where it was more diversified and more balanced when it came to gender roles. That culture, to this day, remains challenged in modern day America by laws placed by Trump’s presidency and finally to remedy the colonization of the Indigenous people, Glenn Gear aims to reconnect with his Native side of his family and expresses that through his works of art. We can see how much the Native Americans have been through and how much they are still going through and we can lend support on the matter by spreading awareness and adopting a few aspects of the culture that could benefit everyone such as the egalitarian system between the genders.

Resilience Amidst Colonization

Have you ever been completely and utterly disregarded and felt like nobody cared  about you? This is how Indigenous people felt upon the arrival of European settlers in North America.This marked a pivotal moment in history not only for land but also for the indigenous people who had long inhabited it. These encounters brought about a clash of cultures particularly regarding gender roles and societal structures. Indigenous communities embraced a fluid and flexible gender identity whereas European colonists imposed rigid roles based on the Catholic church. This collision of world views led to a suppression of indigenous identities and a loss of cultural heritage as the power of the church grew. Today the repercussions are still felt as the indigenous people navigate their identity in a society shaped by European colonialism.

When European settlers arrived in North America, they faced a never seen gender role situation among the Indigenous settlers who lived on the land. Women were much more important and involved themselves in major decision making. They were the leaders of the house. Both men and women had the same opportunity and could become powerful. These roles shook the Catholic church’s beliefs and therefore were looked down upon by the European arrivers. The indigenous people presented a very hybrid definition of gender without many assigned and specific societal roles. “The connection between gender and the distribution of power are complex, and there was a high degree of variation in gender relations across groups” (Keough 18). In contrast the Europeans were very set on the roles of men and women in their society, making gender quite important in their day to day lives. “The catholic church emphasised the sanctity of the family, in which the husband/father was the firm but gentle shepherd of the subordinate wife and children, who were to obey him in all worldly matters (Keough 21). Indigenous communities viewed the church as a threat to the way they lived and didn’t want to partake in any religious ceremonies. Due to this, it was hard to implant “normal” gender relations and the missionaries met with resistance from some indigenous people who saw Christian ideology as undermining their power. As more and more European colonists came to North America and the church grew in power, these people lost their gender identities and lost their roots.

 This left the native people lost and disconnected to their culture. From the mid 18th century into the 19th, the power dynamics shifted towards European dominance and hasn’t changed since then. But how has this affected the people who are indigenous? Well it’s not easy. Through the video “Trans in Trumpland” Shane Oterga, a two spirit indigenous explains to us the struggles he has living in the society we have today. He says “I have to navigate between this traditional and western world, between the old and the new’’ he feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. His decisions to identify as 2 spirit sadly penalised his professional path. Under Trump’s leadership, all trans members of the army were let go because it made the country look “weak”. This gave yet another reason for Shane to feel secluded by society as an indigenous 2 spirit. This action by Trump makes the two spirit community feel just like they did during European colonialism. To think that in 2020 we are still discriminating against cultures without considering heritage and community whatsoever is disgraceful. 

Colonialism has destroyed many aspects of the native community but some people stand strong with their identity. When meeting with Mr.Glenn Gear an indigiqueer artist who prides himself on making art that connects with nature and his family heritage. He showed us how proud he is to be indigenous. Through his works, he shows his cultural identity by using animal materials like seal skin and other animal products highlighting the strong connection to nature of the indigenous community. Through Glenn and Shane we see the strength of these people who pride themselves on their roots and keep true to their identities. Even through their journey of being washed away by white people they are able to show pride as to who they are and show activism for their community through art, gender and culture. Representing their community with pride is one of their main meanings in life and allows them to fulfil themselves with a deeper meaning.

In conclusion, European colonialism left a lasting impact on gender roles and cultural identity of the indigenous people in North America. To this day, the repercussions of the church are felt on these communities, leaving them lost and feeling like they are not living in their home. As society becomes more aware of indigenous struggle, there is hope for greater recognition of their needs as a community. Centering indigenous voices and honouring their experiences are crucial steps towards building a more inclusive future.

Bibliography

Glenn Gear, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.
Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender

History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Blog 4: Endless Oppression of First Nation People

For centuries Europeans descendants have claimed North America as their territory, yet First Nation people have been on this continent for much longer. Many seem to forget or leave out the fact that European people colonised the land, eradicating rich Indigenous culture, leaving on remains. Today the descendants of  the First Nation people work endlessly to keep their culture intact and alive, but once again, they are at threat. Due to the differences in European and First Nation cultures, distaste can form causing an effect transcending generations. This is apparent with the similarities in Willeen Keoughs and Lara Campbells Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period and Tony Zosherafatains Trans in Trumpland:Idaho, which helps show that First Nation communities have always been again at risk. Glenn Gears journey and artistic works also help bring awareness to the issue. The issues First Nation communities face are apparent through the everlasting European views hurting First Nation Culture, the time-transcending negative views towards Two-Spirit people, as well as the eviden effort First Nation individuals show in order to keep their culture thriving.

Since the first encounter of European and First Nation cultures, they have always contradicted each other. Due to the different religions and faiths, both parties had different views. This is apparent in Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period when it writes, “The power exercised by Aboriginal women within their families was unfamiliar and disturbing to the French missionaries, who upheld a patriarchal religious and family system that rested on the God-Given authority of men” (Keough 16). It mentions that the French missionaries, tasked with spreading the Christian religion, found it disturbing when seeing the power women had in First Nation society. This is an obvious clash of matriarchal and patriarchal views, as European society was extremely patriarchal, the opposite of the First Nation communities, matriarchal society. As their views clash, the French missionaries will try to make the First Nation people adopt the European way of life, in an attempt to make it a patriarchal society. It is not just the past where aboriginal communities were oppressed, but also the present. In the film, Trans in Trumpland:Idaho, a reporter states, “The Trump administration wants to legally define transgender out of existence” (Zosherafatains 00:01:09-13). Many may think that this is not connected to the oppression that First Nation individuals face, but this law pushes a Eurocentric view point. Two-spirit people are mentioned later in the film, these aboriginal people often identify as transgender, Trump pushing to get rid of their identity shows the cultural conflict once again. As Trump has Eurocentric viewpoints which conflict with aboriginal viewpoints, it shows a trend with that of the past. This shows the endless oppression that First Nation people face and the constant threat against their culture.

As mentioned before, Two-Spirit people face many challenges when facing Eurocentric views. Two-Spirit people are a core part of indigenous culture, exclusive in a sense as well. From community to community Two-Spirit people played different roles and were different. As mentioned here, “In some groups two-spirit individuals assume both masculine and feminine gender roles and wear a combination of masculine and feminine dress. In others male-bodied, masculine-gendered individuals performed masculine roles and wore masculine apparel. Two-spirit people might marry or have sexual relationships with people of either sex, although female-bodied two-spirits tended to marry other female-bodied individuals” (Keough 17). As you can imagine this was very different from European culture, as they had homophobic tndensies, as it laters states, “European observers referred to two-spirit individuals as berdaches –a derogatory term describing what they saw as unmanly softness and passive homosexuality among “pretty” Aboriginal men’” (Keough 17). European observers, with their Eurocentric views, looked down on Two-Spirit people, who represent their aboriginal culture. Considering the use of berdaches, a homophobic insult for them, it shows to what extent Europeans disliked First Nation people. Similarly in our day and age, the dislike hasn’t left. In 2017 Donald Trump banned transgender people from beingin the United States military, “​​President Trump made the announcement via Twitterm and justified the decision by saying the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail” (Zosherafatains 00:07:10-20). Yet these costs are just a fraction of 1% of the military healthcare cost as stated later (Zosherafatains). Donald Trump, the serving president of the United States at the time, is passing laws with Eurocentric views which are harming transgender/Two-Spirit people. As Two-Spirit people are important to indigenous culture, it shows the discrimination towards First Nation communities in present time. The hate and discrimination Two-Spirit people face has been never ending, past to present.

With all the trouble these people have faced, yet they have still prevailed, this is due to the endless fight aboriginal people are putting up to keep their culture alive. Take Glenn Gear for example. Gear is a first nation artist who specialises in aboriginal art projects. Glenn Gear represents his arts in many different showcases across Canada, in a sense spreading his culture. Even doing many presentations in front of large student bodies spreading his culture as well as bringing awareness (Gear). Glenn likes to display art which represents endangered animals, more specifically on seal skin, whereas seals are often seen as endangered animals (Gear). By displahing his art on endangered animals, he is connecting the animals towards First Nation communities as they too are very limited and considered to some as endangered. His talks and showcases spread indigenous culture and bring light to their lives. He is actively working in order to keep his culture alive as they face many dangers in a Eurocentric world. Similar to Glenn Gear, the indigenous Two-Spirit Shane Ortega also works very hard to keep his culture alive. As demonstrated in the film, Shane Ortega does many cultural rituals as well as community gatherings in order to keep their culture alive and well (00:12:36-00:17:02). He is doing many community tasks in order to keep his culture alive and well, whether it is the ceremonies or the gatherings, he is doing all he can in order to bring awareness and keep his ancestors culture live. Shane Ortega is a perfect example of a First Nation descendant who is determined to keep his culture alive.

First Nation people have faced challenges from European culture time and time again, yet through resilience they stand strong. From cultural differences causing rift, to Two-Spirit raising questions, they work endlessly to keep their culture alive. From the past to the present, society must learn to be more accepting of differences in the future.

Works Cited

Glenn Gear, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company,

http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Blog 4: Gender and Cultural Diversity between European and Indigenous Societies

From the early interactions between European societies and Indigenous societies, it is clear that different cultures and gender expressions. The documentary Trans in Trumpland: Idaho by Tony Zosherafatain and the text Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period by Keough and Campbell, illuminate the comparisons between Indigenous and European colonial gender views and cultural diversity. Through these contrasts, we see how Indigenous cultures helped people like Shane and Glenn be open with their sexuality and identity. Conversely, European perspectives in modern times appear to overlook or disregard this sense of openness. This analysis underscores both the liberating effects of Indigenous cultural acceptance and the persistent challenges faced in Western societies due to cultural norms and gender biases.

The chapter Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period by Keough and Campbell begins by talking about how European societies differ tremendously from indigenous societies, especially regarding gender and cultural diversity. This is shown when Father Paul Le Jeune, a Jesuit missionary “commented with surprise on the gender and family relationships he observed among the Montagnais-Naskapi (Innu) people he was trying to convert.” For instance, when he tried to convince a Montagnais father to enroll his son in a Catholic school, he was surprised by the father’s refusal, as the mother ultimately decided against it. This demonstrates that the French missionaries were unsettled by the influence Aboriginal women held within their families because this differed from the patriarchal religious and family system they upheld (Keough and Campbell 1). Following this, as shown by the example provided earlier, it is clear that European societies follow a patriarchal society and a strict family system where men are superior to women. However, this is not the case for Indigenous societies. To elaborate, in Indigenous societies, the assignment of roles to women and men was not based on gender or stereotypical assumptions. For example, the idea that women were solely responsible for kitchen duties or childcare, as typically associated with European culture, was not prevalent. Women and men were treated equally. To illustrate, in Aboriginal Cultures, “there was a sexual division of labour, but men’s and women’s roles were complementary and equally essential” (Keough and Campbell 2). This proves that there is less emphasis on strict and predefined roles based on gender, which shows that a woman’s job is equally as important as a male’s role. In essence, the main difference between Europeans and First Nations is how they perceive gender. While the First Nations see gender more as an identity, the Europeans see it as a social hierarchy. In other words, they see it as how an individual should be treated. 

Secondly, in Indigenous societies, the understanding and acceptance of individuals who identify as gay or transgender vary from European perspectives. This is another difference between these two societies. In indigenous societies, there were people called Two-spirit individuals which “is an umbrella term that covers a diversity of experiences across indigenous cultures, which themselves have their own conceptual framework and language for describing it.” (Keough and Campbell 4). Two-spirit individuals embody a diverse variety of ways of expressing themselves. They are people who embody both masculine and feminine qualities and energy. As well, they are people who enjoy the liberty of being able to marry or engage in relationships with either gender. Therefore, because they are open to a relationship with either gender, it illustrates how Two-spirit individuals facilitate a more fluid identity, transcending traditional gender norms. It differs from the LGBTQ+ spectrum because two-spirit individuals are not a community that has a variety of gender identities, they are very specific to the indigenous culture and spirituality. In indigenous societies, the cultural and spiritual embrace of two-spirit people creates a sense of comfort and belonging. This can differ from some European cultures because, although there is an LGBTQ+ community, not everyone accepts them for who they are.

Shane Ortega is a great example of this. He is a retired disabled veteran and lives in Pocatello, Idaho. He identifies as a Two-Spirit individual and feels he has the freedom of gender expression within his community. Hence, being indigenous allowed Shane to have spiritual guidance and helped him find his identity and masculinity. Furthermore, since these communities are very spiritually inclined, treat each other equally and support each other, it shows that Native communities allow for a confirmation of gender diversity. As well, it inspires a world free of discrimination and hate since everyone is accepted. However, this is not the case for Western World communities. To support this, Shane said, “Native history has freedoms, educations, and spirituality that are not even in tune in the greater capitalistic Western World” (Trans in Trumpland). This shows that in Shane’s opinion, Natives feel connected and they have a lot of freedom, however, in the Western World, they don’t have this because of the way their society works. In the Western world, there appears to be a lack of acknowledgement of gender diversity and inspiration for a world free of discrimination. For instance, as mentioned earlier, it is known that in European societies, they have specific gender and social norms to adhere to and a social hierarchy. Clearly, they have very different values and cultures than the Natives. Because of this, there is a lack of fluidity in people’s identities. This is because if they don’t follow these norms, they will not be accepted by society. This explains why European societies try to assimilate and dominate other countries. They feel that they are superior to others, which is why they pursue colonization. In the documentary Trans and Trumpland: Idaho, Shane and his people talk and express their feelings about the effects of colonization. For example, Shane mentions how he believes that no matter which political party you are voting for, they are representations of colonization even if they support various identities. I believe he is saying this because no matter what, Americans are the ones who took away their land in 1492 (A&E Television Networks 1). It was the Native people’s land however, their rights and culture were taken away because of colonization. Moreover, Shane believes Trump is an exact embodiment of this colonization. Not only did their land get colonized but now, Trump wants to get rid of Transgender individuals to serve in the U.S. military. Trump wrote in a Twitter post “… Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.” (Trans in Trumpland: Idaho). Shane was kicked out of the US military after transitioning during Trump’s election in 2016. He feels like his rights are getting taken away. Overall, the various examples and comparisons between the two societies, along with the discussions about Shane and his community views on colonization, illustrate that even in the modern day, Indigenous people don’t get to express themselves freely. It proves that the legacy of these European worldviews manifests in contemporary issues, particularly in the lack of full acceptance and embrace of gender expression. 

Sometime after the colonization, Europeans felt threatened by the Indigenous ideas. Because of this, they wanted to assimilate all indigenous children so that they did not grow up to have indigenous views. To do so, the Canadian government took the kids away from their parents and forced them into residential schools. They were forbidden from speaking their languages and practising their cultures. They were also extremely poorly nourished and went through horrible experiences including physical and sexual abuse. “Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated that more than 6,000 children died while at residential schools.” (USW Canadian National Office ). These residential schools not only impact the kids who suffered but also the future generations. For instance, in Glenn’s presentation, he mentioned that his dad was an indigenous who was forced into the horrors of the residential schools. His dad never grew up practicing indigenous culture because of this. As a result, Glenn didn’t know much about his indigenous side growing up. He knew very little but as he started getting older, he got more into his indigenous side. Since he began connecting with his culture, he felt comfortable enough to express his identity as indigenous queer through art related to indigenous heritage. For instance, he made surreal landscapes that spoke to his own identity and place. Also, he spent 5 years collecting a ton of images to show how white people came to be. This just shows that through connecting with his culture, he was able to express who he is and tell the story of his ancestor’s experiences through art.

In conclusion, by comparing and contrasting the Western World and Indigenous societies, we gain insight as to why gender and cultural diversity in Indigenous societies helped people like Shane and Glenn be open with their sexuality and identity. However, we also gain insight into how such openness is often lacking in the Western world because of their different cultures, societal norms and gender diversity. 

Works Cited

“Why Columbus Day Courts Controversy.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/news/columbus-day-controversy. Accessed 14 May 2024. 

Yousfi, Meriem. “There’s No Denying It: Indigenous Children Suffered and Died at Residential Schools.” USW Canada, 14 Nov. 2023, usw.ca/theres-no-denying-it-indigenous-children-suffered-and-died-at-residential-schools/#:~:text=Separated%20from%20families%20and%20communities,died%20while%20at%20residential%20schools.

Glenn Gear, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28 

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024

Blog 4

The Indigenous peoples of the North America have long held on the belief that gender differs significantly from the mainstream European norm. Sources such as Lara Campbell in “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period,” the documentary “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho,” and the presentation by Indigiqueer artist Glenn Gear all provide insight into the Indigenous perspectives that challenge the restrictive roles and point toward a more inclusive understanding of gender. By exploring expressions of gender roles, Indigenous traditions, and identity in the Indigenous worldview, both past and present, these works reveal the harmful impacts of colonialism while also offering inspiration for greater acceptance. In this blog, I will argue that Indigenous concepts of gender identity and expression promote exclusivity and examine how Indigenous gender roles contrast with the rigid European model. Next, I will discuss the resilience of the traditions that affirm gender diversity despite the colonial efforts to eliminate them and their culture. Finally, I will explore the long lasting effects of colonialism in suppressing Indigenous identity.

  Unlike Europeans, Indigenous people traditionally had more fluid gender roles within their society. As Keough and Campbell notes,French missionaries in the 17th century expressed surprise at the power exercised by Indigenous women compared to their European counterparts. For instance, when one missionary attempted to send a Montagnais boy to a Catholic school, the boy’s mother refused to allow it, demonstrating her authority within the family (16). Many Indigenous groups recognized third genders, now often called Two-Spirit people, who often embodied both masculine and feminine traits and filled special roles. The existence of Two-Spirit people challenges the rigid model of gender common in European society. However, as Tony Zosherafatain’s documentary shows, Indigenous people today who identify as LGBTQ+ still face discrimination and aggression, indicating the persistence of mainstream attitudes about gender.

  Despite colonial efforts to eliminate them and their culture, many Indigenous traditions that embrace gender diversity have persisted. For instance, the Canadian government banned the practice of potlatch ceremonies in Indigenous communities from 1885 to 1951 because the rituals conflicted with the assimilationist goals (Noakes). Potlatches played important social, political, and spiritual roles in bonding their community. Their suppression was an attempt to destroy the Indigenous culture.

  However, the European gender norms through colonial policies has left damaging legacies for Indigenous communities. As Glenn Gear explained in hsi presentation, colonial efforts to “Kill the Indian” notably through residential schools where he has relatives attend, stopping him from learning his culture’s views about gender and identity and other important traditions. Assimilation sought to impose conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Yet Gear’s works to reclaim his identity through art and film whilst powerfully  challenging mainstream ideas about gender by drawing on Indigenous perspectives and talking about Indigenous culture.

  To conclude, The traditional Indigenous worldview embraces gender as part of a holistic identity bound to community, spirit, and traditions. Whilst colonialism has disrupted the spread of Indigenous knowledge, examining these 2 perspectives and practices reveals possibilities for building a more and just, inclusive society.

Works Cited:

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28

Noakes, Taylor. “Potlatch Ban”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 11 January 2024, Historica Canada. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/potlatch-ban. Accessed 13 May 2024.

Gear, Glenn, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Blog 4: Perception of gender in Indigenous community vs European

INTRODUCTION:

Throughout history, there have been many and still are various perceptions of gender. We can observe how different that concept is across different cultures by exploring Keough and Campbell’s chapter “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period,” the documentary Trans in Trumpland: Idaho, and the presentation by Indigiqueer artist Glenn Gear. Keough and Campbell’s chapter provides historical information on gender evolution, the documentary examines the impact that new laws have on the trans community and the presentation is a representation of the queer indigenous society. All of these works have reflected upon the Indigenous gender diversity and the aspect of Europeans newcomers. The Indigenous people and the Europeans have different stands on gender contrast. It is evident that Aboriginal cultures embraced the variation of genders meanwhile, the Europeans had strict gender roles and were discriminatory toward people who did not fit in it. In this blog post, I will be comparing the contrast between the Indigenous Peoples and the European Colonists view on genders and provide the historical aspects.

INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE ON GENDER:

Aboriginal people embraced and recognized gender identities other than the “traditional” ones. Before the arrival of the Europeans, Indigenous community thought highly of the diverse genders and held value for them. The two-spirit tradition is a good representation of the meaning it had on Aboriginal people. A two-spirit person is when masculinity and femininity is in one body. “Two-spirit traditions were an important and valued part of many indigenous sex-gender-sexuality systems” (Campbell and Keough 20). The ceremonial roles that two-spirit people were responsible for, were very important performances. In “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho”, they said that in the most traditional ways in the Sun Dance, you should always have a two-spirit person and that when the Sun dance comes, the two-spirit person is the one that picks the centre cottonwood lodge pole (Trans in Trumpland: Idaho; 13:09). Those individuals were seen as people who possessed spiritual abilities with their capability to express feminine and masculine energy and that they carried a gift to balance the community. Aboriginal societies are open to embrace and accept the different gender expressions, it was well illustrated in the documentary where Shane Ortega shared that one day, after his cousin came back from a dance, eight year old Joe Angelo wanted to wear a skirt and explained how his uncle did not oppose the idea (Trans in Trumpland:Idaho; 4:07). This observation helps us understand the positive views on gender by Indigenous people and also reflect about how different the reaction would be if it happened in a western community, since they are not given the freedom of gender expression and follow strict gender norms.

EUROPEANS HISTORICAL VIEW ON GENDER:

Europeans held rigid gender norms due to their patriarchal social structure. They had homophobic views and had a strong stance on masculinity. Through gender, Europeans newcomers tried to create power relations between groups. “European observers referred to two-spirit individuals as berdaches – a derogatory term describing what they saw as unmanly softness and passive homosexuality among “pretty” Aboriginal men.” (Campbell and Keough 19). They were taken aback by the power that indigenous women had within their family because they were raised in patriarchal communities, where only men have authority. European gender norms impacted their interaction with the Indigenous people and it led to cultural changes and conflicts. “Deeply concerned by the men’s lack of control over women’s sexuality and work, the Jesuits promoted a more hierarchical model of gender relations based on monogamous marriage, in which obedient wives would be under firm patriarchal control, descent would be traced through the male line, and fathers could be confident that they had sired their heirs” (Campbell and Keough 26). The Jesuit’s concern over the power dynamics within indigenous community led them to impose their ideology to Aboriginal people, which completely goes against Indigenous traditions. Settler-colonialists brought their patriarchal gender roles to try to convince aboriginal men that they should be more dominant than the women in the society. European colonisation had long-term effects over the Indigenous gender diversity. In his presentation at Vanier College, Glenn Gear, an Indigiqueer artist, expressed how he was never in contact with his Inuit culture and how he tried to explore more of it through his artistic practices related to the indigenous culture. He brings back the communities together through his art and explores many themes about the historical Indigenous cultures. Indigenous populations lost their various gender identities that were suppressed by the Settler-colonialists and erased their matrilineal households with the patriarchal system.

CONCLUSION:

To conclude, many Aboriginal communities had inclusive sex-gender systems which they embraced and included into their societies. Meanwhile, Europeans discriminated against anyone that differed to their rigid gender norms and European colonisation led to cultural changes within Aboriginal communities. By embracing the historical Aboriginal perspectives of gender, it could help to reduce discrimination and hate toward diversity. It would be a great support toward gender diversity in our society, if we start by recognizing the different gender identities and promote gender expression. 

Work cited: 

Glenn Gear, presenter. 29 Apr. 2024, Montreal, Vanier College.

Keough, Willeen G. and Lara Campbell “Gender and Cultural Diversity in the Early Contact Period.” Gender History: Canadian Perspectives, Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 16–28 

Zosherafatain, Tony. “Trans in Trumpland: Idaho.” Kanopy, The Film Sales Company, http://www.kanopy.com/en/vaniercollege/video/11561418. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.