Pre-Contact History THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON THE MENTALITY AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF BLACKFOOT PEOPLE. By Leroy Little Bear March 10, 2010

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1 THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON THE MENTALITY AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF BLACKFOOT PEOPLE By Leroy Little Bear March 10, Pre-Contact History Thousands of generations of people have come and gone on the northwestern plains since before and after the melting of the glaciers that covered the northern part of the North American continent. Appearance of humans in the Americas is a matter of continuing debate. Scientists are all over the place. The most popular theory is the Bering Strait Theory. But there is no real and hard evidence for it. 2 There are some scientists who are saying that the first people in the Americas came from the south. This is corroborated by Blackfoot creation stories. But one thing for certain is that Blackfoot people have occupied their territory for thousands of generations. Their existence is recorded in pictographs, stone tools, medicine wheels, tipi rings, and other similar evidence scattered through out Blackfoot Territory. 3 1

2 Pre-Contact Culture Every culture is a product of a combination of factors and influences including geography, environment, ecological factors, the cosmos, beliefs, experience, and language. Every culture consists of paradigms, customs, and values. Blackfoot culture had paradigms that included constant flux, existence consisting of energy waves, everything being animate, everything being related, existence requiring renewal, space/place as major mental referents, and a language that is process oriented. 4 Blackfoot organizational customs resulted in extended families; several extended families formed a band; several bands formed a tribe; four tribes formed the confederacy. The boundary between units is transcended by societies, and individual bundle holders. Value-wise, Blackfoot adhered to honesty, respect, generosity, and strength. Culturally, the Blackfoot showed honesty, strength of character, kindness and generosity. 5 Blackfoot were generalists; with age, wisdom was valued; ritual and spiritual knowledge was highly valued, relations were approached in a sea of friendship, easygoingness, humor and good feelings. The goal and objective of life and existence was continuing survival and existence. Education and socialization is achieved through example, actual experience, renewal ceremonies, storytelling praise, reward and recognition. The Blackfoot were big game hunters. 6 2

3 Post-Contact Several waves of Europeans have come into contact with Blackfoot, each with devastating results. First came the fur trader-economics and alcohol. Then came the missionaries-religion and epistemology. Then came the Government in form of Indian Agents. 7 Then came the teachers-residential schools. Then came reservation life. The goal and objective of government, church, and educators was to assimilate the Blackfoot. The totality of the impact is a near total erasing of the Blackfoot way. 8 The imposition of the Euro-Canadian ways did not convert Blackfoot to Euro- Canadian ways; it simply erased the Blackfoot culture. The result is cultural blanks. Cultural blanks are socially and psychologically vulnerable. Social disorganizations and dysfunction is the result. 9 3

4 Social and cultural vulnerability leads to alcoholism, drugs, undependability, loss of control, low self-esteem, distrust, and so on. 10 Self-Actualization as a Goal Maslow came up with a hierarchy of needs by studying the Blackfoot. Those needs included: 1. Physiological Needs: These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met Security Needs: These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, heath insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment. 3. Social Needs: These include the needs for belonging, love and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. 12 4

5 Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community or religious groups. 4. Esteem Needs: After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment Self-actualizing Needs: This is the highest level of Maslow s hierarchy of needs. Selfactualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested in fulfilling their potential. (Hierarchy of Needs The Five Levels of Maslow s Hierarchy of Needs by Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide). 14 Questions/Discussion 15 5

6 Thank you for your participation For information about telelearning events: (403) Initiatives Telemental Health Current Telelearning Sessions 16 6

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