Modern and Urban: Elements of a Changing Identity

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Modern and Urban Elements of a Changing Identity

• Arts One First Nations
• Lecture
• November, 2007

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What is modern?

• The ability to construct an identity for the
  self, either as an individual or as a collective,
  lies at the heart of modernity Newhouse (2003)
• The autonomy of self expressed as an inalienable
  right Denis (1997)
• a syncretic, dynamic, adaptive identity in
  contemporary Canada Weaver (1997)
• a social convergence in which all societies
  resemble one another Max Weber

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Or is it post-modern?

• Hybridity and marginality
• a new experience of orientation and
  disorientation, with senses of placed and
  displaced identity, new relations in space and
  place, fixity and mobility, centre and periphery,
  real and virtual space, frontier and territory
  Gough (2000)
• Natives define their identity in terms of
  community and relate to ultimate reality through
  that community Weaver (1997)
• Self in society rather than Self and society
  Fixico (2000)

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Tribal to Modern

• Newhouses thesis (2003) that post-1969
• We have increased sense of power
• Assertive desirous of a new world
• Distinctive parallel developments in the Arts,
  Education, Health
• Increasing influence of mainstream thoughts and
  institutions
• Modern blended

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Factors influencing Change (Newhouse, 2003, p.
402)

• Urbanization
• Growth even with declining in-migration
• Institutionalization
• Increased reliance rather than on kin
• Cultural Identity re-enforcement
• Deliberate/culturally specific
• Retraditionalization
• Return of values, customs worldview
• Textual transformation
• Written English predominant/common language
• Self-governance
• Asserted control over everyday life

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Urban Demographics (Hanselman, 2001)
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The Lure of Employment? (Unemployment figures -
Stats Canada, 1999)
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Examining Migration

• Push Pull effect (Norris Clatworthy, 2003)
• Reserve home, culture, affordable, unique
• City employment, excitement, amenities
• Myth that urban growth is primarily outflow from
  reserves
• Ethnic mobility, both generational
  intra-generational more to account (Giumond,
  2003)

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Coming to grips with who one is

• ethnic mobility results from changes in
  self-identification
• Present gap between Aboriginal origin and
  identification (SIGGNER,2003 cites that
  self-identify)
• Regina 94
• Winnipeg 89
• Edmonton 74
• Vancouver 70
• Toronto 46
• Montreal 22

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How do we nurture urban aboriginal identity?

• Recognize that ties to community are often
  weakened
• Recognize that diversity of cultures is an issue,
  with accompanying divisions
• Utilize those institutions that do bind us e.g.
  friendship centres neighbourhoods
• Define citizenship in confederacies rather than
  600 first nations (Lawrence, 2004)
• Create more space where we self-govern

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Urban Spaces/ Urban Reserves?

• Growth as a response to treaty claims,
  urbanization and need for economy
• Multiple purposes
• Space for cultural educational activity
• Base for political activity
• Sources of revenue
• A novel response within the structures of
  current relationships
• Other ways to create space and home?

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Urban Modern

• What is the ultimate influence these will have on
  our personal and collective identities?
• Like some fear about globalization will these
  erase difference and homogenize culture?
• Or will we still be aboriginal albeit ever
  changing and dynamic in what that means?