Indigenous people
 

Where would I be able to see something of the lifestyle of the indigenous people in or around Vancouver.<BR><BR>I am aware of the musuem of anthropology but was thinking more of seeing how they live today.<BR><BR>I am a photojournalist and wanted to photograph the first people of Canada going about their life.

There are a number of First Nation 'reserves' in and around Vancovuer. Musqueam in S.W. Vancouver and Capilano on the North Shore are the first that come to mind. I think however that you'll find there current lifestyles not terribly interesting at least from a superficial viewpoint. Any in depth social study of the residents would of course require the band's permission which I suspect would not be lightly given.

Well, you could come to my office building and see many of them at work, in front of their computers.<BR><BR>or<BR><BR>You could check them out in the coffee shops or restaurants around lunchtime.<BR><BR>I doubt if any would let you in to their houses to see their children at play.<BR><BR>What exactly are you searching for?<BR><BR><BR>

Some Indians are part of "regular" society and some choose to live on reserves and pretty much stay there and others move back and forth from living on reserves while working, studying, whathave you off the reserves.<BR><BR>There are city Indians and country Indians.<BR><BR>British Columbia is full of political turmpil regarding Indians, and some spend their days dressed in business suits in meeting rooms negotiating contracts and agreements with governments, and others set up blockades and participate in protests.<BR><BR>You can always find Indians at the corner of East Hastings and Main, in the most rundown part of Vancouver, living at the lowest ebb of Vancouver society. These Indians show the need for changes in society in general, and could be the focus for an interesting photoessay. At the same time, these are not necessarily typical west coast Indians.<BR><BR>It's easy to find the down and out Indians gathered together in clusters; it's ahrder to find (although there are probably more) the happy and successful Indians gathered together in clusters, because they tend not to be clustered as much as they go about their day to day life.<BR><BR>Figuring out even how to talk about Indians is a big political -- political correctness -- social quandry.<BR><BR>BAK

Thanks for the replies.<BR><BR>I was thinking along the lines of how their traditions have been changed by the Europeans and Americans and what sort of role they play in society today.<BR>I am interested in those who feel it is important to keep their traditions , and why some of them have turned their back on the traditional way of life.

For that Sal you would have to get out of Vancouver. Native people in BC are very active in the Fishing industry and have retained some traditional fishing rights exclusive to them which have been a sore point with non-natives. In the North there are still some involved in trapping and hunting but I don't think that's where you're planning to go. Brian is right when he says that in BC this is a potentialy explosive issue. He's politically incorrect however in using the nomclemature 'Indians' which is sort of like calling black people 'Negros' and is rapidly falling out of favour.

Ah hem...I believe the PC word is "Native"...<BR><BR>

Screw Political Correctness. With all due respect to the savage indian community, they do not pay taxes, they refuse to contribute to Canadian society, HOWEVER, they get to use medicare, make profits of cheap cigarettes and casinos, AND, many of these savages are on welfare, so basically they are taking money out of the reserve while none of them are contributing.

Actually, this is not entirely accurate. Their contribution, involuntary as it was, is almost all of the land and way of life that used to be exclusively theirs before "visitors" arrived. The few "perks" the visitors afford them in return hardly balances the scale.

This land issue is hardly relevant. Things have changed, they cannot change back. Thus, if the indians want all the services that jane and joe taxpayer must pay for, they should as well. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Well speaking as a canadian, some of whose ancestors came over on the ice bridge from Alaska, I dont know who I find more annoying here. I do not think any members of my family would enjoy being studied by the patronizing sal - Sorry Sal but no one was interested in my granfather's "traditional" occupation - trapping - cause quite frankly it does not pay a lot and can be dangerous - so sorry we abandoned the old ways (frequent near starvation is sooo "authentic" and walking miles through deep snow with a tump line attached to a 100 pound pack is sooo romantic - as is cutting wounded animal's throats - yah I really miss all that). And to "screw political correctness" we all pay taxes, are gainfully employed and none of us has lived on the rez for quite a while. Oh and no one in my immediate family wants your land. My house in the suburbs is quite adequate - thanks. Oh and I really dont care what you call me - as long as you are polite and non racist. (Although "indian" is geographically pretty inaccurate).

Good on ya JMM and that should end this dicscussion...but it won't.

One of the jokes I've heard from some First Nations people has to do with the derivation of the word "Indian." They say that Christopher Columbus discovered indigenous people in North America and thought he had reached India. The kibitzers say they're glad he wasn't searching for Turkey. :)