The purpose of this thesis is to put forth a summary of principles that reflect the
local knowledge of the people within the Saulteau First Nations Community. This
summary of principles is a tool of compiled oral knowledge that reflects community
values and mind-sets and which might offer tangible solutions to guide community
protocols, program development or to possibly frame future policies.
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Principles are the highlighted expressions or codes of conduct that express
cultural meaning to a people. Principles help make sense of and instill ethics or morals
within a community. These cultural belief systems continue to be practiced through
hunting techniques and patterns and by exercises based on beliefs that reveal a value
system originating in the spiritual relationship with the natural life forms, animals, plants
and spirits. Within the practical motions lie the spoken and unspoken codes, principles,
values and beliefs of the people. This allows the community to determine its values and
articulate important teachings that give expression to notions of cultural identity. The
summary of constructed principles of the Saulteau First Nations Community is as
follows:
1. wahkowtowin
2. kiyam
3. kisiwatsoon
4. matinawewin
5. nisohkamakewin
6. ka nisohkamowatwan
kitotfmak
7. nihiyew tapsinowin
"We are all relatives" (Art Napoleon).
To let go is a necessary concept in the process of healing.
Compassion is a necessary quality that instills harmony
connecting the community.
An offering of thanks in honor of the provisions of life is
necessary to ensure prosperity from the Creator.
Somebody that helps is vital for community survival.
"You are a servant to the people" (Art Napoleon).
"We have to go back to our Indian laws and that is when we
will have harmony amongst each other" (Stewart Cameron).
The principles link local forms of knowledge necessary that may guide imposed
policies and structures. Further research will be beneficial to the people and should also
reflect the range of cultures that have formed the community's ancestry within the
present day Saulteau First Nations Community. / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/8561 |
| Date | 12 September 2017 |
| Creators | Hetu, Nicole M. |
| Contributors | Brown, Leslie Allison |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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