Redefining the cultural landscape in British Columbia: Huu-ay-aht youth visions for a post-treaty era in Nuu-chah-nulth territory
Date
2014
Authors
Morgan, Vanessa Sloan
Castleden, Heather
Huu-ay-aht First Nation
Cook, Jeff
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies
Abstract
Centuries of colonial policies have influenced First Nations autonomy while preventing decision-making in accordance with their Indigenous cultural protocols. Against this backdrop, on April 1, 2011, the Maa-nulth Treaty went into effect for five Nuu-chah-nulth signatories, including Huu-ay-aht First Nations. The Treaty concerns never before ceded territories and includes provisions for land-use planning and rights to legal authority. Now comes the task of future planning for Maa-nulth signatories, which will require extra care so that Nuu-chah-nulth cultural values are reflected appropriately. Modern treaties, however, remain complex, vaguely understood processes. Consequently, in preparation for implementation, Huu-ay-aht Council wished to understand their youths’ visions for the future of their Nation. Based within a larger community-based participatory research project, this study used the interactive multimedia technique of digital storytelling to work with Huu-ay-aht youth to redefine their cultural landscape in a post-Maa-nulth era. Their stories show that while youths’ perceptions and priorities involve the inclusion of services within their traditional territories, their visions are rooted in a distinctive Huu-ay-aht culture that integrates novel art forms and ever-evolving cultural identities. These findings suggest that the next generation of Huu-ay-aht leaders have innovative, culturally rooted visions for their nation in a post-Treaty era.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Morgan, V. S., Castleden, H., & Huu-ay-aht First Nation c/o Chief Councilor Jeff Cook. (2014). Redefining the cultural landscape in British Columbia: Huu-ay-aht youth visions for a post-treaty era in Nuu-chah-nulth territory. ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies, 13(3). 10.14288/acme.v13i3.1027