The Variations Between the Red Rock and the Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte in their Reserve Lands, Languages and Religious Beliefs
Kashfa Shaikh
0961185
ANTH*1150 It is known by many that Canada’s origins lie with the First Nations. The First Nations have been around for centuries, spreading across Canada. Through this time, there has been a development of a variety of cultural and religious practices that differentiate the groups and tribes of the First Nations. Two prominent groups in Canada are the Iroquois and the Ojibwa. Within these tribes, there is further localization of bands, which include the Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte and the Red Rock, two Indigenous bands with a variety of similarities and
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The bands are both sub-sects of larger tribes, but their language structures vary. The Red Rock band is a part of the Ojibwa tribe, which is known to speak Anishinaabe, a branch of the Algonquin language. The specific language is called Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwemowin (Red Rock Indian Band). The Mohawk in contrast, speak their own Mohawk language, Kanienkehak, despite their origins with the Iroquois confederacy (History of Tyendinaga). There is much variation in the methods that bands use to distinguish themselves and identify with their tribes. Language origins can greatly vary not only with tribal association but also with other variables such as geographical origin. Over the years of assimilation to British culture, languages can be lost through generations. The Red Rock language has dwindled in recent generations to a point where the fluent speakers of Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwemowin are only elders (Red Rock Indian Band). The Mohawk’s have shown great effort in ensuring that their language is spoken fluently today. These efforts include language classes and recreational activities that incorporate language into their structure (Iroquois – Religion and Expressive Culture). The decline in traditional native languages is in part due to the enculturation of the Natives to the ways of the British, but many groups have begun to work on saving their languages through active educational techniques taught to their younger generations. The fluency of a variety of languages in the Canadian culture today supports the mosaic structure of Canada and the inclusion of the First Nations’ languages supports the country’s