Violet Ford on "Commodification of Inuit Symbols and Potential Protection Mechanisms"

Summary

The transcript discusses the cultural significance of the inukshuk to the Inuit people and the issues surrounding its appropriation. Violet Ford, a lawyer and PhD candidate, explores the commodification of the inukshuk, a traditional Inuit stone landmark, as a symbol of survival and guidance. She addresses the concerns of cultural misappropriation, particularly by the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and the need for reconciliation and adherence to indigenous rights to preserve cultural identity and heritage.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Violet Ford is a lawyer and a PhD candidate, being the first Canadian woman of Newfoundland and Labrador aboriginal descent to become a lawyer.
• 🏆 In 2012, she received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of law and justice.
• 🗣️ The term 'ilingai' is an affectionate word in the speaker's community, with meanings varying by mood and used to comfort children.
• 📚 The presentation discusses the Inukshuk, its cultural significance, and the issues of its appropriation.
• 🛕 Peter Nook, an Inuit cultural activist and Inukshuk builder, explains the traditional use of Inukshuks as survival markers for hunting and fishing.
• 📏 Inukshuks are built with rocks stacked on top of each other, varying in size, and serve as important navigational tools for Inuit people.
• 🚫 The commodification of the Inukshuk symbol is seen as a new form of colonialism, altering its value from a cultural to a commercial one.
• 🤝 The Inuit community responded to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics' misuse of the Inukshuk by presenting their culture and ensuring some benefits.
• 📈 The appropriation of the Inukshuk has led to a 'boom' in its use on various products, often without the consent of Inuit communities.
• 📉 Misuse and misappropriation of the Inukshuk have occurred, such as in advertisements for inappropriate products, violating Inuit customary laws.
• 🌐 Reconciliation and the protection of the Inukshuk can be guided by emerging norms, including the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Canada's constitutional recognition of indigenous rights.
• 🏛️ Customary laws, recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada, are part of the rights that Inuit communities can use to protect their cultural symbols and heritage.

Q & A

Who is Violet Ford and what are her qualifications?

Violet Ford is a lawyer at the Ford Law Office and a PhD candidate at the University of Lapland. She is the first Canadian woman of Newfoundland and Labrador Aboriginal since dissent and Inuit ancestry to become a lawyer and received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2012.

What is the significance of the word 'ilingai' in the Labrador community?

Ilingai is a word from the Labrador community in the Nazi Naziva region, which is used affectionately and has multiple meanings depending on the mood of the person. It is used to make children feel better.

What is the purpose of an inukshuk according to the script?

An inukshuk is a traditional Inuit land marker used for survival, typically built around good hunting, fishing, and caribou hunting places. It serves as a guide for Inuit travelers and has significant cultural and survival importance.

What is the concern regarding the commodification of the inukshuk symbol?

The concern is that the inukshuk may become just a marketable instrument to sell products, replacing its social and cultural value with market values, which is seen as a form of new colonialism.

How did the Vancouver 2010 Olympics use the inukshuk symbol?

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics used the inukshuk symbol to promote the event and the souvenirs they were selling, without the free and prior informed consent of Inuit communities, which was a violation of Inuit customary laws.

What was the Inuit response to the appropriation by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics?

In response, the Inuit presented their culture at the Olympics pavilion through cultural performances like drum dancing and throat singing, entitled 'The People Behind the Inukshuk', and ensured some benefits by selling authentic inuksuit made by Inuit carvers.

How has the inukshuk symbol been misused by companies?

The inukshuk symbol has been misused by companies on their products, creating an 'inukshuk boom', and even used in negative contexts such as for promoting drugs for panic attacks, bed wetting, and erectile dysfunction, likely without permission from Inuit elders.

What are 'emerging norms' in the context of the script?

Emerging norms refer to a way of instructing or defining behaviors, which can be used to correct the form of colonialism seen in the commodification of cultural symbols like the inukshuk.

What does the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples state about cultural heritage?

The Declaration states that indigenous peoples have the right to protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions, and that states should take effective measures to recognize and protect these rights.

How can customary laws be used to protect the inukshuk and Inuit cultural symbols?

Customary laws, recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada, can be applied to protect and care for cultural symbols like the inukshuk, reflecting Inuit values and perspectives, and ensuring that decisions are made on Inuit terms.

What is the importance of inukshuk oral history in the reconciliation process?

Inukshuk oral history is crucial for presenting Inuit customary laws from an Inuit perspective, ensuring that cultural values are reflected in responses to the misuse of traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, and for establishing true reconciliation.