Video Assignment 2023

Anthropology 111.02 Video Assignment Instructions: For this assignment, you will watch an assigned video in class and answer the following questions about it. The purpose of this assignment is to have you exercise your anthropological skills while analyzing another culture. Feel free to make use of various class materials when answering these questions. Additionally, make sure to answer the questions using complete sentences with proper punctuation and grammar. Video: The video you will be watching is called The Story of Cedar . It was created by members of the shishalh Nation on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. and looks at how the cedar tree is central to their life. Due Date: March 3 rd at 11:59pm Questions: 1. What can cedar be used for? 1 point - Cedar can be used to provide clothing, medicine, shelter, baskets, canoes, longhouses, paddles, weapons, regalia, and is an important part in ceremonies. 2. What parts of the cedar were used? 1 point - Various parts were used including the tips of the leaves, branches, root fibers, and planks. Every part of the tree was utilized. 3. What is another name for the cedar tree? 1 point - The cedar tree had other names including, mother tree or the tree of life. 4. What can the designs woven on baskets tell us? 1 point - By looking at a basket you could determine whose family it came from by the design elements. 5. How did basket weaving change after contact? 1 point - They started to do different design elements and even began to collaborate in order to speed up the process. 6. What do totem poles symbolize or represent? 1 point - It is a traditional way to bring out stories. They represent the family and is a unique way to tell stories. 7. What does the cedar tree symbolize to the Shishalh people? 1 point - They describe it as the heartbeat of their nation and communities. 8. Why do the Shishalh only strip back ¼ of the tree on the north side? 2 points - They do this because the northside does not receive sun damage therefore easier to heal. They only take ¼ because they take what they need, and this allows the tree to heal faster. 9. Throughout the video Shishalh people discuss their lineage and history alongside the cedar tree. In what ways does the cedar connect people to their ancestors and their past? 2 points - It helps the individuals conceptualize their culture. It connects people to their past by carrying on traditions and continuing their ancestors’ practices, allowing individuals to be connected to there ancestors.

10. What does this connection between lineage and cedar tell us about Coast Salish worldviews? 2 points - They created ships with it and used it in time of memorial, so it is very sacred. It is extremely sacred, as it is connected to memorials. It is used for clothing, shelter, and carving, making it a necessity. This can tell us a lot about the worldview, For the Coast Salish peoples, the earth is the ultimate source of nourishment and knowledge. This is represented by the cedar. 11. When Marleen Vermeulen discusses how she feels about the cedar tree, what perspective is she using? Emic, etic, or both? Explain how you know. 3 points - She is mainly using an emic perspective. She talks about “what cedar means to me”, she explained this from her perspective and how it has affected her while creating art. However, she mentioned some etic perspectives. In terms of her community and ancestors. 12. What are some advantages of working with cedar? 2 points - Vibrant colours, durable and easy to work with. It's a durable wood that is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks, and resists moisture absorption, so it tends to last longer. This is why many people build their decks with cedar. 13. How does an outsiders view of the cedar tree differ from Coast Salish peoples? How is it similar? 4 points - For this question I chose to use the Shishalh people as the “outsiders’ perspective” and compared how the “outsiders view” compares to the Coast Salish peoples. These two nations differ in the way they symbolized cedar. To the Shishalh people, cedar is the tree of life, and it is used for protection, ceremony, in daily life, and a lot more. They describe it as the heartbeat of their nation and communities. They symbolize it as life. Some Coast Salish groups ensured a long life for their infants by placing the afterbirth in the stump of a large cedar. The cedar was seen as survival of people for thousands of years, cedar is seen as a powerful symbol of strength and revitalization. They are similar in the ways they make use of the material. Both used it wood as transportation, one used larger boats, the other for canoes. Both groups also used cedar for shelter. 14. In what two ways is the cedar tree long lived? 2 points - Physically they are long lived. Some of the largest red cedars are hundreds of years old. They are also long lived because they are carried in tradition and culture of the people who cherish it. This is done if forms of art (totem poles, baskets, medicine) they are also a large part of some community’s memorials. 15. Using reflexivity, how have your own biases influenced your thoughts while watching the video? 2 points - I tried to not let my beliefs predisposed my data towards a particular conclusion. However, while taking notes about participants' comments and researcher's thoughts during the interview. My personal thoughts could be bias due to my personal background. Coming from my backroad, my opinion on statements are different than others, causing me to possible interpret In a different way than others.