I was curious to see how Aboriginal perspective and content is delivered through the education program at the Saskatoon Zoo after reading about the programs links to the curriculum here. Greg, the education officer at the zoo, took time out of his own weekend to give me the powerpoint presentation given to students and to accompany me around the zoo and introduce me to local species. The Aboriginal perspective in the presentation was profound. It was actually where Greg began the presentation. He starts by telling students about the biological history of the Great Plains of Saskatchewan, such that a context is developed and students come to appreciate the importance of biodiversity in their province and ultimately across Canada. Aboriginal perspective forms a is a major part of this.
He talked about the importance of the Bison to First Nations and how every part of the Bison was used, no part of the animal was wasted. He also talked about the relationship between First Nations people and Wolves in hunting for the Bison, as these ungulates are so enormous that it would have been impossible for them to be brought down with the weapons people had access to at that time. Bison jumps were used, where the Bison are directed off a high cliff, but this was very dangerous as one member of the tribe would need to dress in the Bison robe and pretend to be a calf and begin a stampede. Ultimately it would be very easy for this individual to be killed as it would be very difficult to out-run a Bison herd. It is believed that men and Wolves would have worked together to capture Bison in small yards.
Plains Grizzly Bears were vitally important to First Nations people as they showed them what were the safest berries to eat. By watching bears graze people could determine what was safe and not poisonous to eat. Other local animals can consume berries that people cannot and thus watching them was not beneficial, the bears were needed for this.
In some regions beaver would have been utilised by First Nations and with the start of the fur trade the beaver numbers would have become limited. Individuals relying on this species for food and fur would have been effected. The introduction of the fur trade was the beginning of Metis people, who have family members who are both First Nation and European. Later the Metis people would attempt to go to war with the government over land, but be driven back to only small specific regions with the promise of quality education and services. Much of which people on Reserves are still awaiting.
Later with colonisation Bison were hunted to extinction. Where there were Bison there could not be crops and thus the Bison had to go. The photos that Greg was able to show me of Bison bones piled up throughout Saskatchewan were extraordinary. There were piles around Saskatchewan that were 15 metres high. The photo on the left was taken very near to where I am right now.
With the removal of Bison and the removal of native grasses across the plains erosion became a major issue and line after line of trees had to be planted by farmers to stop the top layer of soil and crop simply blowing away.
The introduction of fencing for crops and keeping domesticated cattle proved fatal for many small hooved animals, as most can travel at speed, but not get over the fences. They were easy prey for Wolves, until the Wolves were hunted to near extinction in many areas for consuming livestock.
There was vast amounts of information in the presentation that was actually cut-down slightly for me. I was really impressed that it did involve so much relevant, local Aboriginal perspective.
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