Indigenous People and the Media

History of Pop and Popcorn: 

Popcorn- A traditional Indigenous Food

Did the Indigenous people actually make popcorn?

The Indigenous people made the popcorn. But when they make it and have it as a snack or food. The French explorers explored the Ktunaxa territory and found the Ktunaxa people making popcorn and the French people saw it and claimed it for their province. The world found out how to do it and make more flavors and popcorn all over the world.

The science behind the popcorn

There is a thing called starch in popcorn. The “pop” that the corn makes is when 14% of the kernel is heated. Inside the corn there is a thing called the Gluten. The gluten is like a liquid in the corn. It is sweet and watery. When that gluten reacts with heat it starts to cook in the kernel and that’s how it pops. 

Where did it come from?

Popcorn came from cobs of corn. They found a thing called Plymouth Colony. People thought there was a “Myth” Squanto himself taught the Pilgrims to raise and harvest corn, and pop the kernels for a delicious snack. But that is not that true. 

Diabetes by Having Pop!

After colonization, many foods were introduced to Ktunaxa communities. Some of these foods, although tasty, had negative effects. Pop was one of the drinks introduced and ended up causing a lot of harm to some communities. 

When the people have any pop or any soda they might have a very high chance of getting diabetes. When pop was introduced to the Ktunaxa people[,] they got diabetes right away because their traditional diets did not have such high sugar content. 

Why does pop give you diabetes?

The body digests the sugars from soda quickly. This contributes to insulin resistance and causes rapid spikes in blood sugar. Diabetes raises odds of having heart diseases and possible strokes. Other causes can be eating lots of sugar.   Many drugs can make you constipated, including several that doctors prescribe to people with diabetes. That includes opioids for the pain of peripheral neuropathy, anticholinergic for bladder control, and calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure. Drinking plenty of water also helps a lot and eating things with Fiber, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. 

What are the ingredients in pop?

Soft drinks typically contain carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup sugar, caramel color, caffeine, phosphoric acid, citric acid, natural flavors, carbon dioxide, organic diol, and Brominated vegetable oil, in addition to many others. Some of the soda in the thing can be dangerous for some people.

Reserve Systems:

In 1876 the government made the Indian act. This mixed the laws and regulations for the Indigineous peoples in Canada. The government “set aside” a piece of land for the Indigenous people to live and use. This “replaced” the land given to the settlers. These pieces of land were the reserves. The reserves were not very accommodating to the nation’s traditional lands. People were separated from land with significance, and familiar hunting routes and natural resources were lost. 

The current, 2022, Chief and Council for Lower Kootenay Band consists of          

• Nasukin (Chief) Jason Louie
• Councillor Cherie Luke
• Councillor Robert Louie Sr.
• Councillor Josie Fullarton 
• Councillor Sandra Luke        

In many historical documents, the government says they “gave” or “set aside '' land for First Nations groups but in reality First Nations people were living and using the land for 1000s of years. They were on it first, then the government stole it. In many provinces there are formal treaties made but in B.C and on Ktunaxa territory there aren’t treaties, just land claims.           

Another misconception is that Reserves have a Self Governing office but the Indian Act, which is still in effect today, does not discuss self-government. Instead they set up Band councils and elected Chiefs. These band councils can make decisions that affect reserve schools, housing, roads, water, sewer, and services. However, the federal government can change decisions made by the council. 

A stereotype of Reserves are people living on “free land” with “free housing” but many times their living conditions are below poverty level. 

These are the current reserves in British Columbia. Some are still isolated and don’t have clean drinking water. 

Indigenous [Facts]:

Between 1953-1955 white people were painted to look like indigenous people and played them in movies.

Still, in 2022 Indigenous Rights are still violated

Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls 1,181 Indigenous women were killed or went missing across the country between 1980 and 2012       

Indigenous women represent 10% of the total population of missing women in Canada

There were 6,849 police-reported female homicide cases in Canada

The moose hide campaign is to help the missing and murdered Indigenous women by spreading a pin made of moose hide for people to wear to help support.  

Pow Wows: 

In the beginning of their history, the Ktunaxa and Yaqan Nukiy people sang, drummed, and danced ceremonially in celebration of everyday life. The Pow Wow was a celebration that began with the Grand Entry, a special song is sung by the Ktunaxa and/ or other tribal groups to bring in the tribal flag.

At the pow wow there is singing, drumming, dancing, and often a feast. The Grand Entry gives the master of ceremonies the opportunity to introduce all the leaders, flag bearers and guests from other tribes. 

There are many different dances in the Pow wow.            

Dances Include:

• The Snake Dance
• The Flag Song
• The War Dance
• The Round Dance
• The Victory Dance
• The Lost Article Dance
• The Prairie Chicken Dance
• The Fancy Dance
• The Owl Dance
• The Grass Dance

The Pow Wow is a special part of the Ktunaxa Culture where everyone gets together to sing, dance, drum, and eat and honor their culture and history.

Jayli Wolf:

Jayli Wolf was born and raised in Creston Canada, to a teen mother. She was raised in a trailer with her maternal family. She is half Danish and she was told she was half Mexican growing up but found out she was First Nation at the age of eight. Her father reached out and told her he had been taken in the sixties scoop. Her father covered up his ethnicity on his adoption papers. 

In 2021 she won the Venice short film awards, and the American Indian festival. In 2022 she was nominated for the Juno awards. 

Some of her most popular songs are…          

• Lead me 
• Hush
• Would you die
• Indian summer

Thank you Chris Luke Sr!

This project was very hard for us. Chris Luke is an Elder from the Lower Kootenay Band. He was Chief of the Lower Kootenay Band for many years. Chris Luke is very nice and funny. He told us a lot of information for this project. He had great ideas for the project and designs. Chris Luke told us his storyline of his life. He has a name in Indigenous. His name is KaKaNutkin Ktawtas in the Ktunaxa language but it translates to= Black Bear in English. Chris Luke is very interesting to talk to and listen to. He has published books about him and his life.

How we are changing the exhibit:

We wanted to show both the perspectives and sides of history in our exhibit. We added the traditional Indigenous items and stories to the colonized side of history. We decided to only add information rather than taking anything out. To do this we consulted with a Lower Kootenay Band Elder, Chris Luke. We believe it is important to first highlight the Ktunaxa culture as we are on Ktunaxa Territory. We then also wanted to feature famous Indigenous people who have impacted the arts. As you will [see] in this exhibit we have First Nations information scattered throughout so we can decolonize the exhibit.