First Nations communities had been making bread without flour (aka, unleavened bread) for many generations.

According to Sophie Hicks, author of “Eating History: An Experiential Examination of Pemmican”, “The name of the food comes from the Cree, , which means fat/grease. Pemmican “has been a traditional food of many Indigenous communities in North America long before colonization” (ActiveHistory.ca). 

Do you know what a pow wow is? This term is often misused to describe a meeting or gathering, but that is an example appropriation. A pow wow is a First Nations ceremony and celebration, where people from many different Nations come together to dance, sing, and drum. 

A Potlatch is a ceremony practiced First Nations living along the Northwest Coast and each have may have many unique functions and meanings. Often seen as a gift-giving exchange or celebration by outsiders, the potlatch has many culturally specific functions. William Lindsay who is from the Cree-Stoney Nations and is a retired educator from SFU, explains that “economic, political, social and cultural functions are fulfilled in the potlatch.

Cultural appropriation is the exploitation of a people’s culture. When a people’s traditional dress, music, cuisine, knowledge and other aspects of their culture” is used “without their approval by members of a different culture” it is cultural appropriation (Canadian Encyclopedia, cultural appropriation of Indigenous peoples in Canada).

Passed in 1876, the Indian Act combined previous pieces of legislation on “Indians” in Canada; it does not include the Métis or Inuit. This document “regulates Indians and reserves and sets out certain federal government powers and responsibilities towards First Nations and their reserved lands” (Joseph, 2018, p. 111).

Using the phrase “Turtle Island” when referring to North America comes from Creation or Origin Stories of several Nations (Manitowabi, 2018), and it is also used by Indigenous rights activists” (The Canadian Encyclopedia).

“According to the legend, Vancouver’s twin peaks, now commonly known as ‘The Lions’ were originally named Ch’ich’iyúy Elxwíkn’ (the Twin Sisters) long ago by a very powerful man known as the Great Tyee of the Caplianos” (Space Make Place). The Great Tyee of the Capilanos “ruled over the Capilano Canyon area” and was a “formidable warrior leader” having won many of his battles against other tribes.  

scəẃaθən can be translated as “people facing the sea” (Declaration of Tsawwassen Identity & Nationhood) and their territory includes land in Delta, Richmond, Surrey, Langley, and the Gulf Islands, and the Nation has used the “watersheds that feed into Pitt Lake, down the Pitt River to the city of Pitt Meadows, where they empty into the Fraser River” since time immemorial (Our

Prior to colonization, Semiahmoo “way of life was oriented to the sea” and today the Nation’s territory crossed the colonially created Canada-USA border (Semiahmoo First Nation). Closely connected to Lummi and Nooksack, Semiahmoo speak North Straits Salish and have traditional territory into Washington State as well as British Columbia (Semiahmoo First Nation).