The Significance Of Oral History: A Focus On Canada's Indigenous Peoples

Discussion

In the context of Canada, the concept of oral history is defined as the method of preserving, gathering and interpreting the memories and voices of participants, communities and the people in the past events. It is considered as one of the ancient ways to retell historical events. It is noteworthy that preserving history is considered as significant as it leads to the compilation of the studies to draw conclusions. In Canada, it is evident that the subject has been gathered popularity that is widespread (Llewellyn & Nowak, 2013). As a result, it is demanded in a high manner along with slotting the related issues through using either the lessons of the oral history or the past recordings. It is worth to mention that oral history is used by the histories as a method of conducting ancient research through some record videos. In such videos, basically, the narrators depict their personal experiences regarding the significant historical events along with having a goal to add the historical record.

In relation to the approach of oral history, it can be stated that it is a branch of oral tradition and storytelling. As such, depending on the approach of storytelling, the oral histories emphasize preserving the story through transcription as well as the audio recording for the forthcoming generations (Llewellyn & Nowak, 2013). As for example, it can be stated that as a concept of storytelling, the features of the broad diversity of the opinion concern the war as well as the related political and the social issues regarding labour disputes and the racism prejudices. However, it is noteworthy that storytelling in oral history helps eyewitnesses to contribute to the various events regarding the perspectives and the viewpoints to fill the gaps in the documented historical events (Llewellyn & Nowak, 2013). Here sometimes, the contradiction of the events is corrected or recorded in the written form as well.

In terms of the oral history of the Indigenous people in Canada, it can be stated that oral histories play an important role in the cultures of indigenous. As such, the indigenous people basically transmit significant stories, histories as well as teachings to the new generations. Some previous research has revealed that being a primary type of source, oral history helps the indigenous community to get taught about their own culture in accordance with their own perspectives. Some other types of primary sources, such as artifacts from the community of historic indigenous also able to transmit their knowledge regarding the indigenous histories as well as the ways of life. As for example, it is worth to mention that the researchers, academics and curators of museums utilize such sources in order to highlight the perspectives of the indigenous in a great manner.

On the other hand, for the indigenous in Canada, the approach to the oral history is evident to comprise as a First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals. On that note, oral history plays a significant in the respective cultures, for which sometimes it is also referred to as an oral tradition (Cruikshank, 1994). Apart from that, oral history helps the said community to pass down stories, spiritual lessons, ancient stories, songs, teachings, prayers, poems, and the way to survive for thousands of years (Llewellyn & Nowak, 2013). In several indigenous communities, it is evident that the respected authority of the said communities provides the responsibility to maintain and share the oral histories. However, they also contextualized the oral histories based on the types of messages as well as listening to the needs of the audience for receiving. Here it is noteworthy that such a way of transmission of the oral history is considered as crucial to the culture of indigenous on the intergenerational level due to the passing of information from the elders to the younger people.

Importance of the field of study focusing on storytelling, narrative, and oral tradition

In regard to the importance of the field of storytelling, it can be stated that the oral history basically concerns the narrative voices speaking, writing the volumes regarding the individual culture in everyday life. Here is, the generation develops and grows; therefore, regular life gets turned into another mark of history. On that note, the tradition of storytelling helps humans to get stronger, along with telling myths and tales to be created with the exciting new technology and innovation. At the onset of the contemporary movement of oral history, it can be stated that the memories of the indigenous people can be distorted by the time, and therefore it is rarely can be devoid of bias and opinion at the same time. Herein the research by Shoemaker (2014), argued that oral history is appeared as unreliable on a frequent basis. However, nowadays, several academics and historians place a high value on oral history along with encouraging the researchers against the memories of subjects as well as the documentary sources at the same time.

Considering narrative, it can be stated that the theoretical attention towards the actual work of narrative tends to accomplish the destabilization of the simple ideas in order to pass away the stories on the transparent oral tradition. According to Llewellyn & Nowak (2013), considering the perspective 'Speak for Themselves, the valid cross-cultural method is focused on evaluating the historical value on that note. It is worth to mention that the notion related to the oral traditions from the continent of North America can be considered as a wide homogenous data following which the substantial research of extruded ignores the memory along with forgetting the understanding of cross-culture.

In relation to oral history, it is evident that the concept of oral tradition assists the historian in determining the historical events and trends. By comparing the various oral traditions, history is expected to omit the biases, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies at the same time. For embracing the oral tradition, oral history is considered as a method to conduct historical research (Llewellyn & Nowak, 2013). As such, following the recorded interview between the narrator and having the personal experience of the significant historical events or the informed interview enhances the goal to add the historical record on that note.

In terms of the social relation of the indigenous oral history, it can be stated that there are some political demands that have been enriched by the indigenous activist who conducts their research with the said communities in order to strengthen the benefits for their communities. As such, the indigenous community has to turn out to prioritize the dominant written word as a form of record-keeping. Here, in regard to the societal context, these recorded documents, as well as the record-keeping, appeared as a sophisticated as well as the complex way including their practice of performative areas such as drumming and dancing. However, most of the oral history has been adopted by the indigenous people as a tool for communication, expression and documentation. Also, considering the oral traditions in this regard, the said community is evident to depend on the oral traditions along with providing great value related to the knowledge of oral transitions as a part of the intrinsic aspect of both societies and cultures at the same time.

The social relation of indigenous oral history

As a narrative strategy, it can be stated that the oral historic narrative approaches have turned out to be embroiled in a wide theoretical as well as methodological diabetes in the context of the social sciences. On that note, the research by Shoemaker (2014), has pointed out some timeworn arguments regarding reliable oral history as well as approaches to getting familiar enough. Here it is noteworthy that despite the successful prospects of this strategy, the oral tradition is evident to be situated at the pole of the discussion regarding the century-long opposed Universalist. On the other hand, in relation to the debate 'Global versus local distinctions', the narrative strategies relate to the oversimplification of the real work stories. On that note, as a strategy, the philosophical division is worked out by embracing the idealist approaches to understanding the power of oral history. However, some recent research has revealed that the narrative strategies lead to the troublesome dualisms that have got insights from Benjamin, Bakhtin, and the guidance of Innis as a part of the broad understanding of the role of narrative (Janovicek, 2006). Through this, it explores the intersections among ideology, power, and knowledge in a great manner.

The key issues related to oral history are the subjectivity of all knowledge, the consciousness of the time, experimental openness, inter-subjectivity, and memory. Since the knowledge of the historical subject is seen to stay as limited through the human subjectivity, therefore the historians need to research the perspectives of the results that vary the subjectivity. It is noteworthy that the truth of experience consists of the orientation towards the new experience (Cruikshank, 1994). Here the experienced persons are seen to be characterized through the awareness regarding their knowledge. Another issue that can be stated here is the reliability informant as well as the bias of the interview. As such, the phenomenological viewpoint of the history is most of the time gets practiced by the researchers who conducted the oral histories.

Here the interviewees keep in mind regarding the preconceptions of the subjective nature of the events that are to be narrated, considering the framework of the historical studies. Another issue here is the memory of informants as unreliable or vague. As for example, it is evident that the interviewer always keeps in mind regarding the real facts that are not possible to justify under the appropriate circumstances. Here the concerned events look for the cultural values rather than understanding the spirit, real story of the historical events. Due to the poor geologic feature of the intersubjective as well as the intersubjective perspectives of the individuals, they fail to enhance the application of the phenomenological principles associated with oral history.

In order to relate to the identity, the approach of the oral history is seen to be covered with the fundamental research questions while conducting the interview. As such oral historians always tend to choose potential narrators by whom they can enhance the relevant experiences regarding their in-hand subject for the string for incorporation as well as identification of the several possible diverse voices. Here the process of oral history is being engaged with the potential narrators in order to enhance the identity. As for example, the concerned process basically involves the entailing of two facets, such as depicting the process and project and securing the informed consent. Here the discussion of the interview assists in the formal establishment of the rapport between the narrator as well as the interviewer through which clear communication is allowed and relates to the 'Identity' (Tsuji et al., 2020). In addition to that, it is noteworthy that the oral history is being segregated by a large base of individuals that provides the attempts of the events to be documented as well as fostering the concert of decolonization concept of the ancient history.

Oral history narratives strategies

In the courtroom, the concept of oral history is strived for obtaining the information from the various perspectives. As such, most of the fact has failed to be identified as a form of the written sources (Babcock, 2012). As the concept of oral history refers to the information to be gathered in such a way to enhance both unpublished or published written work; therefore in the courtroom such idea is not accepted (Kennedy, 2005). As such lawyers maintain the hereditary chiefs that lags the authority for enforcing the tenure rules. On that note they pressed the thesis by cross examining in a harsh manner through citing the documentary accounts. For example, the Alberta Court of the Queen’s Bench as well as the Canadian Supreme court example can be considered that ruled the Agreements for the Natural Resources Transfer for conveying the title Crown from the federal government for enhancing the constitution protection (Ray, 2011). However as the oral history has no witness and no documentation, therefore the courtroom fails to consider it as a strong evidence.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that oral history is described in Canada as a means of preserving, collecting, and interpreting the recollections and voices of participants, communities, and individuals involved in previous events. It is regarded as one of the oldest methods of retelling historical events. It's worth noting that preserving history is seen as important since it leads to the collection of studies from which conclusions may be drawn. It is apparent that the issue has gained considerable appeal in Canada. As a consequence, it is in great demand, coupled with the ability to identify connected concerns utilizing either oral history lessons or previous archives.

The subjectivity of all knowledge, temporal consciousness, experimental openness, inter-subjectivity, and memory are all significant themes in oral history. Because human subjectivity is considered as limiting historical knowledge, historians must investigate the viewpoints of the outcomes that vary subjectivity. It is indeed worthy to note that the reality of experience is comprised of a focus on the present moment. Experienced people are regarded to be defined by their awareness of their knowledge in this context. As a narrative strategy, it may be said that oral historic storytelling techniques have become entangled in a wide range of theoretical and empirical areas in the humanities.

References

Babcock. (2012). "[This] i Know From My Grandfather:" The Battle For Admissibility Of Indigenous Oral History As Proof Of Tribal Land Claims. American Indian Law Review, 37(1), 19–61.

Cruikshank, J. (1994). Oral tradition and oral history: Reviewing some issues. The Canadian Historical Review, 75(3), 403-418.

Janovicek, N. (2006). Ethics and Oral History.Oral History and Ethical Practice: Towards Effective Policies and Procedures. J Acad Ethics 4, 157–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-006-9017-1

Kennedy, P. (2005). Treaty negotiation in British Columbia, Canada: Oral history and its use as evidence in court (Order No. 1427247). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (305395287). https://login.libproxy.uregina.ca:8443/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/treaty-negotiation-british-columbia-canada-oral/docview/305395287/se-2?accountid=13480

Llewellyn, K. R., & Nowak, D. (2013, June). Annotated Bibliography of Oral History in Canada: 1980–2012. In Oral History Forum Histoire orale (Vol. 33).

Ray, A. J. (2011). Ethnohistorical geography and aboriginal rights litigation in Canada: memoir of an expert witness: Wiley Lecture, 3 June 2010, Regina, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien, 55(4), 397-406.

Shoemaker, N. (2014). Clearing a Path: Theorizing the Past in Native American studies. Routledge.

Tsuji, L. J., General, Z., Tsuji, S. R., Powell, E., Latychev, K., Clark, J., & Mitrovica, J. X. (2020). Akimiski Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Arctic, 73(4), 421-432. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic71481