Canada's First Nations and Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the idea that the conversion of Canada's First Nations to Christianity and the disenfranchisement of native spiritual religious practices were and continue to be an essential part of nation building in Canada. The paper is presented in a three-point argument: Missionaries provided valuable information on the native populations to the colonizing government; missionaries undermined native religious and political structures and banned native practices and values that were in conflict with Western ideals, and finally, today, much of the disregard for native customs and religions continue as the government fails to enact legislation to protect Aboriginal religion.

From the Paper:

"Furthermore, the missionaries were the first Europeans to study and learn the languages of the native populations. For example, Recollect Father Chrestien LeClercq, who was stationed in Quebec in 1675, learned the spoken and symbolic language of the Micmacs, allowing for an accelerated process of missionary conversion (Krieger). This knowledge of language and familiarity with the native ways made the missionaries a valuable source of information during the later military conflicts with native populations."

More papers on Canada's First Nations and Religion:

• Essay # 46517 : "Aboriginal and Canadian Sovereignty"
• Essay # 3700 : "First Nations Education in Saskatchewan"
• Film Review # 133770 : "An Inconvenient Truth"

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