Unit 7: Animals and World View—Canadian First Nations and Native Alaskans

Mountain sheep (Bighorn sheep and Dall sheep) are found in the montane and alpine zones of the Rocky Mountains and other ranges in western and northwestern North America. Mountain sheep are hunted by Aboriginal people in these regions. © ColorBytes Images.

Animals are not just useful and interesting creatures of the biological world. For Canadian First Nations and Native Alaskans, as we have seen, animals are social beings that share the world with people, and on whom people’s lives depend. The interaction of people with animals, and their understanding of animals, proceeds from this foundation. In this unit we explore other dimensions of animals and their relationship to people.

For many North American Indigenous peoples, animals have been here since the beginning, and took an active role in the creation of the world as we know it. Certain animals are perceived to have unusual power, and to have been particularly instrumental in the formation of the world. Depending on the cultural tradition, Raven, Coyote, or Wolverine often has a pivotal role.

We also examine the role of animals as crests and symbols of clan affiliation, and the role of animals as spirit helpers. The nature of animals requires respect to ensure continuing the mutually beneficial relationship of animals and humans, the reciprocal round of gifting that makes life possible. Some of the readings for this unit explore the elaboration of proper behaviour toward animals, and how the animals themselves teach how they should be hunted and how their flesh and other remains should be treated. These respectful behaviours have implications for sustainability of use and for conservation, a theme the readings by Nelson (1983) and Johnson Gottesfeld (1994) explore.

Objectives

By the end of this unit you should be able to

1. explain the concept of animals as social actors in Indigenous North America, and discuss how this perception enters into moral principles in interaction with and use of animal and fish species, and into cosmology.
2. discuss the importance of respect and how this concept leads to taboos on how to interact with animals, including restrictions on the activities of women.
3. describe Indigenous North American concepts of conservation or renewal of animal and fish species.
4. recognize the symbolic importance of animals as crests in the Northwest Coast region.