Anishinaabe Involvement in Social Activism

Question: Discuss about the Anishinaabe Involvement in Social Activism. Answer: Introduction: Anishinaabe or sometime termed as Anishinabek or Anishinaabeg is a group of people that are considered the original or the first people of North America and Canada who were culturally related at one end while sharing similar territories and languages at the other. The group was composed of several nations including Ojibwe, Oji- Cree, Potawatomi, Odawa, Algonquin peoples and Mississaugas. Traditionally, they have lived in Subarctic and Northeast Woodlands, used to speak Anishinaabe languages and strongly connected to their spiritual dogmas. Regarding social and political activism for their survival, Anishinaabe communities enjoy a very long and strong history keeping in view their spiritual ideas suggested by Seven Fires Prophecy. According to this divination doctrine, it is believed that human beings belong to varied traditions, languages and colors can come close together on the basis of their values and dignity. This dogma offers strong basis to their survival as well as their efforts ever made in the past to date. Looking into the past to 796 AD, it can be observed that the existence of Three Fires Confederacy or the Council of Three Fires was a community based response for Anishinaabe dignified existence. This union was a peaceful co-existence by the three main identities of this ethnic group including Ojibwa, Potawatomi and Ottawa. While moving away from the Atlantic coast in westward, Anishinaabe reached at Michilimackinac where the council was formed. This council was the beginning of an alliance by Anishinaabe for the declaration of their social and political rights while strongly connected to their values. The council was, first, set up for military purposes, peace existence with neighboring countries and trade promotion. Later on, the social and political activism did not stop but it continued throughout centuries. Spiritual ideas like The Seven Fires Prophecies and their true restoration were always considered the matter of high concerns for this ethnic group. They were strongly connected to their doctrines and values. They could fight to any extent for the preservation of their values. For example one event occurred in 1910 when Anishinaabe had to fight for the restoration of their spiritual beliefs which were based on multiple models due to the presence of various sub- groups in this ethnic identity. Basically, in 1870s onward, the Grand General Indian Council of Ontario tried its level best to reunite different sub-groups on one unified spiritual idea. With the help of this attempt, political dominance and influence were thought to be achieved over colonial powers. However, it was obvious that the idea would eventually hurt the individuality or existence of various groups that were the part of An ishinaabe. So, the situation resulted in the social activism of the community and finally a wide spread movement started and resulted in the successful formation of Allied Bands of Qu Appelle in order to offer a forum where protests can be better recorded at national level. However, it is further observed that the societal as well as political efforts of Anishinaabe did not come to an end. Anishinaabe attempts of being socially active were continued all through the way to date. The Union of Ontario Indians- an offshoot of Council of Three Fires formed in 1949 at national level is the concrete example in this regard. It is not only a political advocate for Anishinaabe nations but it further incorporates several other nations. Furthermore, time to time, nation based responses can be easily observed regarding Anishinaabe issues whether we talk about community based activists, groups or people. For example, Stanley Nelson directed Wounded Knee on May 11, 2009 in this regard. The film, basically, reflected American Indian Movement. The role of activists was especially highlighted. In the film, the distressed conditions faced by American Indians were especially focused who engaged in a confrontation with US government for the restoration of their rights, broken treatise and for the end of their grievances. The issue of racism was also explored just to bring nations attention towards an invisible communal group and its desperate situations. Finally, Anishinaabe sense of pride and connection to their legacy was thoroughly investigated in this movie. Last but not the least; other nation based activist groups can also be seen working for Anishinaabe issues. As already mentioned; visions play a vital role in Anishinaabe lives. They are the carriers of their values and dreams so, currently, Standing Rock and Idle No More are the movements serving their cause. Standing Rock Indian Movement basically focused on the opposition of Dakota Access Pipeline project in United States based on their vision of Lakota Black Snake Prophecy. According to this prophecy, there would be a black snake that would go up from the deep land and finally bring great destruction and sorrow. Keeping in notice the prophecy, the activists believe that the pipeline is a black snake that would definitely harm their natural environment. Similarly, Idle No More is another activist movement which has been rooted to protect natural environment like land, air and water. The end goal of every struggle put forward by Anishinaabe activists is the survival of values and e ndurance of future generations. Bibliography Anishinabek Nation. (2016). Union of Ontario Indians. Retrieved from https://www.anishinabek.ca/about-us/ Historica Canada. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ (2009). Episode 5: Wounded Knee. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/the_films/episode_5_about (2009). Wounded Knee: Plot Summary. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1352851/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl Moe, K. (22014, May 6). How a Black Snake in the Heartland Brought Spirit to American Environmentalism. Retrieved from https://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/black-snake-in-the-heartland-spirituality-american-enviromentalism Intercontinental Cry: A Publication of the Center for World Indigenous Studies. Retrieved from https://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-peoples/anishinaabe/