CHAPTER 9 LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• Original Inhabitants
• Canadas Aboriginal population is diverse and
  pluralistic. There is not one Indian culture that
  is homogeneous. Rather Canadas Aboriginal
  Peoples come from a diversity of First Nations
  with each possessing its own culture.
• In general, there are three broad cultural groups
  that distinguish the Aboriginal Peoples of
  Canada First Nations, Inuit and Metis (Thornton,
  2001 Mitsui, 2000). Many of these groups have
  their own language and cultural ideals. In fact,
  over fifty different languages exist among the
  various groups that comprise Canadas Aboriginal
  Peoples. In addition, each Aboriginal culture in
  Canada has evolved uniquely as a result of
  differing cultural traditions.
• In addition to being referred to as Aboriginal
  Peoples of Canada, other terminology is also
  used Aboriginal, Native or First Nations people
  (Fox, Ryan, van Dyck, Chivers, Chuchmach and
  Quesnel, 1998).

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• The Canadian Government, Canadas Aboriginal
  Peoples, Leisure and Recreation
• As a result of the 1982 Canadian Constitution
  Act, Canadas Aboriginal Peoples have authority
  to undertake certain decisions and to partake in
  the decision-making process with various levels
  of government on issues of direct concern. A
  collaboration exists between the Government of
  Canada and Canadas Aboriginal Peoples for the
  designation and for the protection of Aboriginal
  land for national parks while considering their
  traditional land use. This leads to preferential
  economic and tourism opportunities for members of
  Aboriginal communities from land areas used for
  touristic purposes (Auger and Karlis, 2000).

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
• In 1996, following years of public inquiries and
  more than 350 research studies, published reports
  and roundtable sessions, the Royal Commissions
  Final Report was finalized. This Final Report
  consists of five volumes totaling 3,956 pages.
• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, its
  Final Report and the supplementary CD-ROM consist
  of
• submissions to the Royal Commission by Aboriginal
  Peoples
• a collection of commissioned studies
• research reports
• submissions from Aboriginal communities and
• transcripts from public hearings and Royal
  Commission deliberations.

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
• Dawson, Karlis and Georgescu (1998), in a
  feature article that appeared in the Journal of
  Leisurability, identify the following five
  contemporary issues in leisure and recreation for
  aboriginal peoples in Canada
• tourism,
• substance abuse and crime,
• cultural maintenance,
• education, and
• land use planning and wildlife management.

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• Leisure and Recreation On- and Off-Reserve
• In a study conducted by Karlis (1995), it was
  discovered that Aboriginal Peoples living
  on-reserve had greater access to the leisure and
  recreation opportunities that reflect Aboriginal
  culture.
• Research by Karlis and Dawson (1996) reveals that
  members of an Algonquin native community near the
  Ontario-Quebec boarder tend to value leisure and
  recreation for its social potential.
• Research conducted by Malloy, Nilson and Yoshioka
  (1993) supports the perspectives of the Ontario
  Chiefs arguing that differences exist in the
  leisure and recreation service administration
  practices available to Aboriginal Peoples living
  on- and off-reserve. In fact, accessibility and
  leadership training appear to be the main
  differences.

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• Tourism and Aboriginal Communities
• The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada possess a rich
  history. Tourism and history are closely linked,
  thus making Aboriginal communities and their ways
  of life a principle tourism attraction of Canada
  and Canadian society.
• One of the main attractions offered to visitors
  in Aboriginal communities is the opportunity to
  experience native festivals. In a study of
  native festivals in Canada, Hinch and Delamere
  (1993) found that many benefits are experienced
  not only by the Aboriginal community and its
  people, but also by the tourist as well.
• It may be that the primary motivation for tourism
  development in Aboriginal communities is job
  creation, wage employment and greater economic
  diversification.

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• Social Issues, and Leisure and Recreation
• In 1996 the Report of the Royal Commission on
  Aboriginal Peoples reported that leisure and
  recreation could be used as a means to alleviate
  crime patterns and other social issues that take
  place within the Aboriginal community.
• Reid (1993b) argures that leisure and recreation
  is an excellent means for Aboriginal communities
  to battle social and domestic problems.
• Leisure and recreation may be a means to overcome
  problems such as alcohol abuse (Dawson, Karlis
  and Georgescu, 1998).
• A greater emphasis needs to be put on leisure and
  recreation service provision within Aboriginal
  communities.

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• The National Roundtable on Aboriginal/Indigenous
  Peoples
• The National Recreation Roundtable on
  Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples was held on the
  Four Nations Reserves at Hobbema, Alberta, on
  February 17-20, 2000.
• The intent of the roundtable was on integrating
  the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
  aspects of life-fundamental to Aboriginal
  cultures (Corporate Author, 2000 32).

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CHAPTER 9LEISURE, RECREATION AND CANADAS
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

• The National Roundtable on Aboriginal/Indigenous
  Peoples
• The purpose of the roundtable was to adopt a
  holistic approach through an understanding of
  traditional lifestyles while determining how
  active living can be used to enhance quality of
  life.
• The delegation of the roundtable recognized that
  leisure and recreation are vital for the
  well-being of Canadas Aboriginal Peoples.
  Leisure and recreation is not only a means to
  promote physical, mental and spiritual
  well-being, but also a way to address social
  issues encountered by Aboriginal communities.