Acknowledging and Honoring the Culture of Canada’s First Nations People: A Leadership Perspective

• In Event: Comparative Research Perspectives on Educational Reform Initiatives in Developing Countries and Indigenous Peoples in Developed Countries

Abstract

Nobody today can remain unaffected by social change. This observation applies to Aboriginal people in a very special sense. Research claims that Aboriginal culture “is not a thing of the past, a way of life that is losing its relevance in the face of modernity” (Tanner, McGrath, & Brice Bennett, n.d., para. 2 in Normore, 2009). For many years, the place of First Nations (Aborigines) peoples in Canadian culture and history has been undervalued (Normore, 2009). The persistent assertion that Canada is the product of “two founding nations,” French and English, is a striking reminder of this lack of awareness (Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2008, para.3 in Normore, 2009). In the past three decades, however, this lack of awareness has begun to change mainly due to the demands of Aboriginal people “that their legitimate claims be recognized” (para. 2). This paper deepens our understanding and appreciation of historical and cultural experiences of Northeast Canada’s First Nations Peoples: Innu and Inuit. Using these experiences, the author builds a foundation for developing a culturally relevant leadership program in support of social justice while acknowledging and honoring the integrity of First Nation’s communities.

Author

• Anthony H. Normore, California State University - Dominguez Hills