Royal hunt the last soul alive6/22/2023 ![]() If they do practice, it is often done ‘under the table’ or is not identified as having any religious or spiritual significance.” – OHRC focus group participant “Some of our Elders who went to residential schools will not speak about traditional ways or spirituality. Residential school survivors talked about being forced to go to church and to not speak their language or practice “traditional ways,” or risk being beaten or even being denied food. This included the active suppression and denigration of Indigenous culture, language, spirituality and ways of life by government and church authorities, and concerted efforts to destroy, subjugate and assimilate Indigenous peoples. Historical contextĭuring OHRC engagements with Indigenous peoples, many people spoke about the ongoing legacies of colonialism in Ontario. Most also viewed Indigenous Spirituality as being inseparable from their traditional Indigenous culture and identity. ![]() For example, many people spoke of Indigenous Spirituality as a “way of life” and “way of knowing” (or worldview) that was centered on a relationship with the Creator, the land and “all our relations.” This usually included all other beings and forms of life, including what are commonly perceived as inanimate objects, which were generally seen to be imbued with a spirit or soul. While Indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices can vary significantly among different First Nation, Métis and Inuit groups and individuals, and across different regions, some common elements were evident during our engagements. Illustrating the close interconnection between culture, identity, spirituality and health, we heard one Elder remark while watchfully keeping the low-level flame alight: “I feel good when I use the qulliq.” It is now sometimes used as a ritual teaching tool and as part of opening and closing ceremonies at gatherings, where it has become a sacred symbol of Inuit identity and traditional culture. It was traditionally used by the Inuit primarily as a survival tool for staying warm in the home, drying clothes and cooking. The quilliq (Inuktitut: ᖁᓪᓕᖅ, IPA: ) is a type of low-intensity oil lamp made from soapstone and an arctic cotton and moss wick fueled by animal oil. Traditional practices that have since come to take on more of a sacred or symbolic meaning in their use today.Įxample.Practices of more recent origin that are inspired by, or seek to revitalize, past Indigenous cultural-spiritual traditions and identities.As Justice Phelan said: ‘One can honour the feather and the fiddle.’” – OHRC focus group participant It is connected to both our Euro-Christian and Aboriginal First Nation roots and practices. “Métis spirituality can include both ceremony and Christianity. This may sometimes include and be practiced in combination with other faith traditions, such as Christianity. In this policy, “Indigenous Spirituality” refers to the spiritual beliefs and practices that Indigenous peoples identify as being “traditional” or “customary” among Indigenous peoples. The Inuktitut word “Upirusutuk” is used among Inuit people to mean “having faith.” Other terms may be used or preferred by Indigenous peoples, including those that are more specific to a Nation, language, place and/or people. The OHRC does not define "Indigenous Spirituality" in recognition of its diversity and Indigenous peoples’ right to define and determine this for themselves. This policy uses “Indigenous” as an inclusive term to encompass all Indigenous peoples and identities, including status, non-status, Indian, Aboriginal, Native, First Nation, Métis and Inuit. “Indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical systems or customs, in accordance with international human rights standards.” – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples This section addresses the duty to accommodate Indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices in areas covered by the Code. Indigenous peoples practice diverse spiritual traditions in Ontario, reflecting the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Ontario and Canada.
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