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.