Originally Posted by
MikePal
It was the Indian Act that destroyed their culture. The Indiginous became lazy and stopped the nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyle...much easier to wait till the supply planes came in and drop off their groceries . All they have to do now is cash the 'colonist' cheques they were sent, drive their snowmobiles /ATVs (no more dog sleds ) down to the store to pick up their food. They stopped practicing their culture in lew of a warm house , electricity and TVs.
I might sound a little jaded but, unlike most 'white' Canadians, I have actually lived, worked and spent time socializing on Cree reservations while I worked in Northern Manitoba. I know how the vast majority live. Great people for the most part and some very well educated. But few if any carried on a nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyle.
It wasn't the residential schools persee (yes some took advantage of the schooling to seek and education) it was voluntary assimilating into 'colonialist' lifestyle compliment of the money they received thru the Indian Act. Now with vehicles, snowmachines, ATVs, fixed houses paychecks etc they killed their own native culture and language. Other than ceremonial events, they rarely show a glimpse of their past. Their culture evolved away from what they were.
I'll bet there is but a handful of Indigenous people far up north that live off the land anymore.