Organized jointly by the Research Centre for the Study of Religion
of the Department of Religious Studies of the University of Ottawa,
the Quebecois Society for the Study of Religion, and the Canadian
Society for the Study of Religion, this colloquium is intended to
bring together scholars of different disciplines who are exploring
the various expressions and representations of spirit and power in
the ritual and spiritual traditions of American Indian cultures.
The themes and definitions of spirit and power are interwoven: they
offer us here the opportunity to discover the stories and rituals
supporting rhythms of life and symbolic systems. Indeed the process
of meeting Amerindian cultures opens for us avenues of research as
well as a critical reflexion on the writings and the praxis governing
our scholarly enterprise. Hence, the interest to regroup specialists
in religious studies, history, sociology, anthropology, and other
disciplines.
In addition to plenary sessions, the colloquium will include a series
of workshops, also open to the public, each of which will be centered
around the presentation of three or four papers of 20 minutes each,
followed by a discussion.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND. Registration fees are $85.00 Cdn.
per person.
Enquiries should be addressed to:
Marie-Francoise Guedon, Ph.D., Professor
Department of Religious Studies
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5
tel: 6l3.234.0259 FAX: 613.564.5541
PROGRAM: THE SYMBOLICS OF SPIRIT AND POWER IN NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE
TRADITIONS--Oct. 14-16, Ottawa-Hull
Thursday, Oct. 14: University of Ottawa
registration: University Centre (near Alumni Theatre), l6.00-l9.00
l9.00-21.00 Alumni Theatre, University of Ottawa
Keynote Speakers: Bernard Saladin d'Englure,
Dan Alsford,* Sakej Henderson*
21.00-- reception, Piccolo
(also at 21.00 at the Museum of Civilization, Hull, the film:
"Kanehsatake: 270 years of resistance," by Alanis Obomsawin,
National Film Board of Canada, l993, 110 mins, in English.)
FRIDAY, October 15
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION, Hull
09.00-11.30 Roundtable: "The Symbolics of Spirit and Power in
the Perspectives of Algonkian Speakers"
Ted Brasser, John Boatman, Madeleine Dion
12.00-13.00 lunch
13.00-14.30 Workshops, pick one
a. Intercultural Relations
William C. James, Nathalie Mulder,* Earl H. Waugh
b. Relations inter-culturelles
Xavier Blaise, Francois Trudel, Leo-Paul Hebert
c. Gender Relations
Chris Jocks, Cory Silverstein, Tamara Stammis*
d. Art and Native Spirituality
Maureen Korp, Theresa Smith, Michael Angel,
Richard Hill,* Edwin Koenig
14.30-15.00 Coffee break
15.00-17.00 Roundtable: "The Symbolics of Spirit and Power in the
perspectives of Dene Speakers"
Jean Guy Goulet (moderator), Annette McFadyen Clark,
Dominique Legros, Robin Ridington
17.00-19.00 Feast: Buffet and entertainment in the Grand Hall of
the museum
19.00- Film: "La conquete de l'amerique," Arthur Lamothe,
Canada, l992, 145 mins., introduction and animation by
by Richard Dominique.
In addition, at the University of Ottawa, 10.00-17.00, ethnographic
film sessions, two viewing rooms, at the University of Ottawa.
SATURDAY, October 16
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
09.30-10.15 Roundtable: "The Symbolics of Spirit and Power in the
South Pacific Coast Regions (Salish & Kwakiutl)"
Pamela Amoss, moderator, Andrea Laforet, Marie Mauze
10.15-10.30 Roundtable: "The Symbolics of Spirit and Power in the
North Pacific and Arctic Slope Regions (Tsimshian & Inuit)"
Edith Turner, Tonia Mill, George MacDonald,
Bernard Saladin d'Englure, Margaret Sequin Anderson
12.30-14.00 lunch
14.00-16.00 Plenary with keynote speakers
Leroy Little Bear and David Peat. Ake Hultkrantz as
guest of honour.
16.00- Closing remarks
*to be confirmed
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BACKGROUND: The Symbolics of Spirit and Power in North American Native
Traditions
This international, bilingual (French and English) symposium is to be held
in Ottawa-Hull, Oct. 14-16, l993...The symposium will be held in conjunction
with an exhibit and film series...
CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT: The idea of a symposium on Amerindian world views and
philosophies comes in response to a growing academic concern: the demand for
courses on this and related topics continues to increase rapidly in Canadian
departments of Religious Studies although few departments have the faculty or
the resources to respond to these needs. Two surveys conducted by M-F Guedon,
Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ottawa, in l992
and 1993 on courses and academic research on aboriginal peoples of Canada
show that the number of researchers actively involved in these domains
actually _decreased_ by comparison with the 1970s. At present in Canada
only one academic unit with a concentration in Native Religious Studies
exists and there are only two in the United States. In both Canada and
the United States, scholars have worked in virtual isolation. Native systems
of thought have not yet found their place on the academic map. This, at
a time when native ceremonial and spiritual practices are becoming increasingly
visible and when their importance is growing far beyond the local scene.
AIMS OF THE SYMPOSIUM: The theme of the symposium expresses our intention
to explore the modalities of Spirit and Power that are specific to native
traditions. Such a theme was chosen in response to a number of considerations.
a. The process of inter-cultural meetings engages each of us in a review
and questioning of our respective modes of thinking and practices.
In North America, this meeting of cultures constitutes a privileged
point of departure for a moment of reflection. The meeting with and
between aboriginal peoples, each carrying unique and diverse traditions,
creates research avenues as well as a need for a critique of scholarly
modes of speech and action. Such terms as "power" and "spirit" and
corresponding terms from aboriginal languages are not easily
domesticated; they do not lend themselves easily to description and
analysis, while they remain at the heart of the discourses and praxis
governing our everyday life. Every native community has evolved
specific forms of appropriation of their modalities, the aim of
this symposium is to recognize these specificities. Hence, the
gathering of researchers from many disciplines and origins.
b.Furthermore, the theme directs the attention of non-specialists to
the essential characteristic of the object of our quest. The
problem of defining fundamental concepts constitutes a direct intro-
duction to the wealth, depth, and diverity of Native traditions and
philosophies. This diversity will indeed be emphasised by the
juxtaposition during the symposium of three roundtables on a
distinct series of traditions: Algonkian, Dene, and peoples of
the North Pacific area. This juxtaposition will also bring to the
fore the essential importance of language and/or linguistic studies
in dealing with Native traditions.
c.We wanted to take a bearing on contemporary research, its advances,
and its issues. One of these issues that seems to surface directly
or indirectly in many studies is the comprehension of key concepts
such as "spirit," "power," "space," "time," and "self," all concepts
related to each other but without a proper translation of which all
interpretation breaks down.
d.Finally, this symposium brings Canadian and American scholars
together for the first time on this topic. By organizing the seminars
by language rather than by geographical areas, we emphasize the
international nature of our research and of our research topics, as
well as the need for the participation of researchers from across
North America.
EVALUATION OF THE SYMPOSIUM: Papers and sessions are to be evaluated by a
scientific committee which has been organized in consultation with the
Canadian Society for the Study of Religion and the Quebecois Society for
the Study of Religion. The Evaluation Committee consists of two members
from each of these societies (who coincidently are also members of the
faculty of St.Paul's University and Carleton University), M-F Guedon and
Georges Tissot (Department of Religious Studies, University of Ottawa)
as well as American scholars Pamela Amoss and Sam Gill. The proceedings
of the symposium are to be published in consultation with the same
scientific committee.
Address enquiries to: Marie-Francoise Guedon, PhD, Chairperson
Department of Religious Studies
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
tel: 613.564.2300 FAX: 613.564.5541