What is a potlatch?

Aboriginal people gathered for potlatch ceremonies before 1884 when the Canadian government banned potlatches. Potlatch ceremonies were held in many different ways for different reasons. The people holding the potlatch would invite guests to attend their party where they would sing, dance, feast, and more. The people that attended the potlatch would leave with many gifts and foods they received from the host. The host would share these things to show their generosity and wealth, helping to establish or maintain the family's social status.

Usually the hereditary chief practiced the potlatches. They were the people that would give away their possessions and share their wealth. They held potlatches to celebrate births, marriages, puberty, and honoring the deceased. Other chiefs would hold potlatches to conduct family business', provide payments to invited witnesses and to share food and gifts.

In the modern world today we practice potlatches in a similar way. I'll share an example that was mentioned in class to portray the fact that potlatches are used today. If i were to get married and my parents spent thousands of money in preparing my wedding. Thousands of people ate a 5 coarse expensive meal, their was a huge wedding cake, and the wedding was held at a exotic large place. This shows that my family is displaying wealth and trying to establish or maintain the family's social status.

MY POTLATCH ARTWORK!

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Declaration of Rights on the Indigenous people all apply to the Lubicon People. I talked about the Lubicon people in my earlier post and how the Canadadian government is trying to take their oil on their lands. Article 2 from the declaration is Indigenous people and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity. I think that the Lubicon people are being taken advantage of because of their skin color. They're black and they aren't very globalized like the world today were we live. Just because they have a different color of skin doesn't mean they aren't equal to the white people. They are different because of their skin, but we don't need to be racist towards them and discriminate them because of their race.

Ariticle 7 has 2 points and I used the second one that mentions Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples and shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including forcibly removing children of the group to another group. This is especially important to the Lubicon people because the government has forced themselves into their lands and taken their oil. This article shows that the Lubicon people have the right to live in peace and security. The government took that away from them and they had suffered. The moose habitat had been disrupted causing the trappers and many other groups to live of off social assistance. This is not the Lubicon people living in freedom, peace, and security at all. The other people and governments need to respect their laws especially the declaration of rights.

Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return. I think that this is an important article because this shows that the government cannot force them out to take their oil. It is their land and they can't be forced to leave because of this article, number 10.

Lubicon Land.

When Canada's demand for oil decreased they felt the need to receive oil. They trespassed the Lubicon's property and took oil without permission. This caused disruption the ecosystem and animals and trappers money was decreasing. The relation between the Lubicon representatives and the government of Alberta is very strained because of their history of marginalization. Lubicon protestors met with the corporation representative in March 2005 when they attempted to take their oil. All of these actions are unkind to the Aboriginal people.

I think that it is kind of immature of Canada to violate the human rights of the Lubicon’s. In May and July of 2007 Canada violated the human rights of the Lubicon’s nation. They didn't attempt to take their oil once and violate their rights, but they took their oil twice. This act is not respectful towards the Lubicon’s; people can't just walk all over the aboriginal and steal their oil. I know I wouldn't appreciate it if someone took my stuff without asking.

Canada also caused harm to the ecosystem by taking oil. The trapper’s money dropped from $5000 to $400, more than 10x difference, because the moose habitat had been disrupted. I think that Canada could have put more thought into what they were doing. With the decline in money for the trappers people were unable to continue living traditionally. By the early 1080's, more than 90% of the Lubicon people were relying on social assistance.

The strain between so many people and organizations must be hard on the Lubicon people. They only feel anger towards these people because of their attitude and push to take their oil. I think that the people need to rethink what they are doing to the people and not feel the need to take their oil. Canada can receive oil from many other places.

The Lubicon people need to continue to stay strong and stand for what they believe. Their oil not being taken. Harm is caused to the economy when the oil is taken and people are relying on social assistance because they don't have any money. The people are taking their money away by taking their oil. If they continued to do that the Lubicon people would really struggle with life.

The end.

Secularism in France

I disagree with the government in France. It is inappropriate to hold people against their beliefs and religions. I think that people should be able to show their religion through what clothes they wear, the jewelry they own, and what they may wear on their heads. This is so unkind to the people and i think that they should have the rights to wear what they want and show their religion however they please.

If i weren't aloud to express my religion i think that i would be upset. I think it's important to share the gospel and we express this through our modest clothing, CTR jewelry, and by attending seminary. If this was token away from people in France they would feel the exact same way. Just by simple actions we can show our religion and culture.

People won't be protected from bullying if they don't wear their head wraps, Jewish yarmulke, ect. I think that the people should be able to wear whatever they want and those that are bullying should be punished. They don't need to be discriminated for wrong things other people will do like their culture and religion taken away from them.

The secularism could ruin some people lives forever. People can be haunted from their experience in school and not want to participate in everyday activities because of their fear. The people are so unkind to the students and they shouldn't be expelled or sent to court for their everyday things that they do to show their culture.

Secularism is an unkind act and the government shouldn't be using it against people's beliefs and religions. If the government were to change the people would be way more happier and i think that their would be more respect towards the people. I hope that some day the government will change and the people can show more respect towards the different raced people.

Toyota Chart!

Toyota Vehicles

OLYMPICS!!!!

The highlight of the Olympics for me was the hockey game, Canada vs. United States! It was on all of my television sets at my house on Sunday. We had people over for dinner and they had watched the game with us. My dad was really into the game and would yell when a goal from USA was put into Canada's net. I think everyone was excited and I felt the intenseness of the game from everyone else's feelings. I was cool to watch the game and experience the Men winning a gold metal. Even though it was through television I still feel experienced and happy I was happy to see it!

I think the game was inspiring because of Canada's determination to win. Throughout the game you could see their hard work and effort they had put into the game. I'm grateful that they were able to go this far in Men's hockey for the Olympics. They must have felt so good because they made Canada proud. I'm sure they felt, they've came this far and can't leave without gold. (I know I would if I were in their shoes.)

The Olympics were a fun experience for me. I'm happy Canada was able to do so well in them and succeed in their goals they made. I'm happy Canada beat USA in the hockey game and received gold. Canada received so many gold and made Canada proud. They kicked butt! Go Canada Go!!(Even though the Olympics are over :)