Coming to an end…

This class will be over very soon and I am starting to panic.  Time has passed very quickly this semester. This means that now with the last class soon approaching, I  need to summarize what I was able to accomplish this semester.  In terms of my thesis, I have been able to narrow it down and keep my thoughts and ideas focused.

Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to submit my (thesis) abstract along the way to different symposiums.  I have presented my process three times to other grad students and faculty from several different universities.

I have done a lot of research and continue to do so.  I hope to have a first draft completed by February 28th and a second by the end of April 2010. Time lines have saved me from falling behind.  For the most part, I guess I have good time management skills.  I can prioritize and still have enough time to sleep a good eight hours… LOL

It’s hard to say if I really created a data base for my research, I kind of just know where everything is because I try to keep myself organized as I go along.  For me, process is vital and I made sure that I was very careful along my way while listening to Elders and community members.

As far as shooting my film goes, I have a few more things to do:

1. My big scene with my mom is going to be shot this coming Monday (November 23rd) and this is the most important scene of my film.

After that is done, then I just need to shoot some:

2. Office shots of me reading and practising my Cree (Inninuwon).

3. I may also go out with my camera and take some shots of Toronto

I have ordered all my books I think I will need for my thesis and I have tried to purchase books from Indigneou scholars.  I did buy some books by Chomsky and Pinker about the mind and language.  The reasn why I purchase my books as opposed to going to libraries is because I do not have the freedom to leave my house.  I have small children…

I am almost done the second level Cree course at the Native Centre and will be starting the thrid level in Janaury. There are four levels of Cree offered.

Essentially, I have kept myself on track because of necessity — I have family responsibilities and I do have other projects on the go that are also very important to me.

Although I may not have something tangible to show to the class I do have my experiences that I can share.

Inukjuak

My eldest son Asivak and I came home from Inukjuak on Friday night completely exhausted.  We actually experienced culture shock here in Canada.  I have never gone north of the tree line before.  I was so pleasantly surprised to see the Inuit children speak their language (Inuktitut) with their families.  In their schools they only teach Inuktituk until grade three then they introduce a second language.

The language is strong and everyone in the community speaks.

I hope that Attawapiskat decides to have an immersion program in the near future before it’s too late.  It works!

Nanook of the North

Alex is going to love this!

While north on our visit I realized that I was staying with Nanook’s great grand daughter — I think most people know his name was not NANOOK!  Her father, “Nanook’s” grandson came to visit us one evening.  When we were introduced it took me some time to process who he was… WOW!

He told me that he remembers the filming of Nanook of the North and went on to say that they knew the whole time how they were being portrayed.  He spoke about going to Russia to do some shooting… Russia?  He also said that he played his grandfather in a remake a few years back.

He doesn’t speak a word of English — but most importantly,  he still speaks his language.

Where am I now?

I have finally come to the understanding that there’s still lots to do in terms of organizing myself.  A few nights back I went to the class on how to write an MFA paper and I  left feeling overwhelmed.  Yet, I’m glad that I went because now I can pace myself accordingly.

I need to figure out how to manage my time better,  since weekends are a no-go for me.  The only time I can really get work done is when the twins are sleeping in the afternoon (I’m talking about weekends).

During the week I will have to start early in the day and really focus.

I would like to have a first draft of my paper by February 15th and a second draft by April 15th.  I am also considering getting it translated in Cree (as well as having it in syllabics).  We will see because that means finding money to hire someone.

Organizing

After today’s class presentation I realized that I went ahead of myself and should of kept it simple.  When the class was over I knew that I did not present how I have organized myself up to this point.

What I have done so far:

• All my footage is labeled and categorized (fcp)
• I have created files on both my computers for administration, thesis development, archival photographs, archival documents and websites I refer to regularly
• I have started an on-going bibliography on Refworks
• I have started the tedious task of transcribing
• My physical workspace is cleared
• My research material/books are accessible and available
• My computer files are categorized

Cree Kid in Toronto

Back In September 2008

Mini-Doc #1

Research

Approaching Indigenous Communities

Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Decolonizing Methodologies, Research and Indigenous Peoples

Research in itself is a powerful intervention, even if carried out at a distance, which has traditionally benefited the researcher, and the knowledge base of the dominant group in society.  When undertaking research, either across cultures or within a minority culture, it is critical that researchers recognize the power dynamic which is embedded in the relationship with their subjects.  Researchers are in receipt of privileged information… They have the power to distort , to make invisible, to overlook, to exaggerate and draw conclusions, based not on factual data, but on assumptions, hidden value judgments, and often downright misunderstandings. Pg. 176

Shawn Wilson

Research Is Ceremony, Indigenous Research Methods

Research is ceremony… The purpose of any ceremony is to build stronger relationships or bridge the distance between our cosmos and us.  The research that we do as Indigenous people is a ceremony that allows us a raised level of consciousness and insight into our world. Pg. 137

Responsibility

&

Accountability

Indigenous peoples are the most researched group in the world and because of this we are afraid of being re-victimized.  Our knowledge has been misunderstood and never validated.  Our culture survived because we believe in reciprocity — you cannot take with giving back.  We are all about maintaining balance.

I must admit I was reluctant about approaching my home community of Attawapiskat.  I felt like an outsider because I was coming from the city.  I was coming from a reality very different from the reserve life.   Yet, once I arrived I was welcomed home and my family came together to help me with my film.  The community is strong and no one is left out of the circle of community.

Now that I have my footage from my northern home, I need to proceed forward very carefully.  They trust me with the knowledge they chose to share and now I need to be responsible and accountable to the community.  I need to be accountable to myself as well because I have to live with my choices, and so do they.

Filing

This past weekend, I filed all my stuff… lots of stuff.  Papers were everywhere, but it felt good to get it done.  It helps to get organized when you are not distracted by stuff.

Anyway, my partner laughed at me again (the first time he laughed was when he saw me cleaning my office space last weekend).  Yet, he is always in my space… LOL

Now that my desk is cleared I can finally get to work.

I went out last week and purchased some office supplies to help me in my quest to be organized.  Time is flying by and I am getting anxious.  My days start early with my twins and end late hanging with my older boys.  I have very little time to myself to focus on projects.  I try to do what needs to be done for school during the day when everyone is at out.   My house is quiet but I still find I get distracted.

I feel like I am always racing time.

Ownership

As most of you may know or not, I am in second level Cree now.   I take it at the Native Center here in Toronto, and last night we had a discussion about ownership.

Go figure!

We discussed how Indigenous peoples, particularly Cree (Inninuwak) do not have a word for ownership.  It translates to “taking care of”  or “looking after”.

Wow, that was so cool to learn.  I mean, I have always known and understood that mentality because I grew up with my traditional Cree grandparents… but for it to be confirmed blew my mind.

So it isn’t about owning anything — even knowledge, it is about being accountable.

Hmmmm, interesting!

Database & Archives

My thesis is on the process of remembering the Cree language (Inninuwon) and so far I have approximately fifteen hours of footage that I have transferred successfully.

I am pleased with the work I have managed to complete and with the overall direction of my work.

I guess now I am at the stage where I have to start organizing my space.  Literally start cleaning my office so I can actually start doing some real writing and research.

My office is messy and so I am thinking of buying a couple of shelves that I can hang, so I can put any books not related to my thesis on — out of sight, out of mind.

Therefore, I will put all the books I need while I am in school on the ground level where I can easily access them.  So this is my first project and my deadline I give myself will be by the end of September 2009.

I am confident that things will start to feel less stressful, once I get things I don’t need put away…

So this is my short term goal and next would be to organize my files on my computer, but I won’t get into that now.

Ancestors

WHO AM I?

My name is Jules Arita Koostachin, and I was born in Moose Factory hospital on April 28, 1972.  I am Cree from Attawapiskat First Nations.

SPIRIT:

Ka–e-ta–bit

SPIRIT NAME:

Ka-wa-bi-sit Ot-ta-na-fay-ca-so Is-qua-yo

CLAN:

Wa-busk

ANCESTORS

(Matrilineal)

Peter Mashawininew (Early 1800’s)

Charles Sutherland & Mary Mashawininew – Noah Kostatchin & Sara Sutherland

John Sutherland (1882-1958)   Anna Kostatchin (1887-1985)
Married June 25, 1905

My Grandparents:

Elizabeth Sutherland (1920-2008)
Abraham Paul Martin (1913-2002)

Deceased children:
George
Mathew
Martha
Joseph

My Parents:

Rita Sutherland (1944) – Cree Nation
Daniel Galipeau (1950) Muscogee Nation & French

*My fathers parents are Margo and George Galipeau

CULTURE

Ininuwak Nation – Attawapiskat First Nations

Inninuwak Creation Story

BEGINNING OF THE CREE WORLD

After the Creator had developed all the animals and people, he said to Wisakedjak to take care of the people and show them how to live. He was to show them, which are the good roots and which are the bad roots and especially the roots, which would kill them. The Creator also warned Wisakedjak to not let the people and animals quarrel with each other.

Wisakedjak did not obey and he allowed the animals and people to fight with one another and shed much blood upon the earth. The Creator was not pleased by this and warned Wisakedjak to keep the ground clean and not to let people and the animals to fight with one another.
Again Wisakedjak did not obey. He began to trick the animals and the people into becoming angry with each other. Both groups quarreled and the ground became red with blood. This made the Creator extremely angry, as he told Wisakedjak, he was going to take everything away from him and clean the ground.

Soon rains fell from the sky and the water began to rise. After a time, it rose over the banks and flooded the land. Wisakedjak tried to stop the water from flooding the land, but it was no use as he sat on top of the water and cried. Everything drowned except one otter, one beaver, one muskrat and all three sat beside him and rested their heads on his thigh.

Wisakedjak did not have the power to create, but to expand what already existed. He didn’t know what to do, as he couldn’t dive and didn’t know how far underwater the old earth was. The Creator took pity on him and told him he could re-create everything if he used the materials, which were underwater.

Wisakedjak turned to his three animal companions and exclaimed they would all starve if only one of them could bring up a piece of the earth from under the water so he could create an island for them to live on.

He first turned to otter. “You are brave, strong and active,” if you can dive down and bring back a piece of the earth, Wisakedjak promised the otter plenty of fish to eat. Three times beaver dove under water and three times he was unable to bring up a piece of the earth. The last time he was so exhausted he was unable to dive again. Wisakedjak called the otter a coward and turned to the beaver, “You are brave, strong and wise. If you were to dive down and obtain a piece of the earth for me to make an island for us to live on, I will make you a home, which will keep you warm in the winter months. Twice the beaver dove but he was unable to get a piece of soil for Wisakedjak. This time Wisakedjak begged beaver to dive once more and he will provide him with a wife. The beaver obliged, diving down once more. He was underwater quite a long time, and when he came up he was almost lifeless. He had not obtained a piece of the earth.

Wisakedjak was disheartened by this, as he felt if otter and beaver couldn’t succeed, certainly muskrat wouldn’t either, but Wisakedjak knew muskrat must try, as he was the last hope. He explained to muskrat, “You are brave, strong and quick.” He promised to make the muskrat many roots for which to eat and rushes so the muskrat could make his home with them.

He told muskrat, otter and beaver were foolish, as they had gotten lost in the water. He urged muskrat to dive straight down in order to find the flooded ground.  Muskrat dove down the first time only to come up empty handed. He made a second attempt. He stayed under water for a long time. When he returned Wisakedjak sniffed the front paws of the muskrat. He could smell the scent of the dirt.

Muskrat was urged to dive again, as Wisakedjak promised to give him a wife even he was able to bring back a small piece of earth. The muskrat dove straight down again, trying to go as far down as he could go. Muskrat was underwater so long, the others at the surface began to believe he had drowned. Then bubbles rose from the water. Wisakedjak reached down and pulled muskrat from the water. The poor creature was almost dead, but he was clutching a piece of the earth close to him.

Wisakedjak happily seized this small piece of ground and made an island from it where he and the three animals celebrating surviving the flood. Wisakedjak then took a bit of wood and made the trees and a piece of bone where he created the second race of animals.
The Creator then commanded the rivers to take all the salt water back to the sea. He created the rest of mankind and animals. He also took Wisakedjak powers over people and animals and left him only with the ability to flatter and deceive.

Wisakedjak turned to playing much mischief on the animals and this is why the Cree people tell many stories about him in the winter months to amuse themselves.

Several forms of this Creator Story and of the Great Flood Story have been told by different segments of the Algonquian tribes. Wisakedjak is a character in many Cree stories and his name means the “flatterer”.