I did not simply learn from Paul Michelle’s presentation– I was moved.
My lack of Indigenous knowledge really made me rethink what I find historically important. All my years of education have been European dates, wars, and people and very little on Indigenous history.
What did I learn from Paul Michelle?
1.) The 7 Aboriginal languages/ peoples: Salishan, Tsimshian, Hadaii, TLingit, Wakashan, Kutenaii, Dene
2.) 400,00+ Aboriginals before Europeans came/ 42,000 once they came
-This created severe mourning and devastation among their people
-No accountability by Canadians
-genocide?
3.) Things to keep in mind when studying Aboriginal people
-Attitudes of homogenous: they are not all the same, they are diverse
-Attitudes of static: they do not stay the same, they are flux
-Attitudes of inferior: they are dynamic