Part 1
Where have we come from:

Clip 1: Rick Blacklaw talks about the diversity of the river. He talks about the cultural diversity and mentions the fact that we’ll be traveling through 5 different language groups on the journey down the river. Few people today realize how rich and diverse the culture is amid aboriginals in Canada. It also gives an indication to the concentration of people and culture along the river. The river has functioned as a major lifeline for first nation people in this region for thousands of years.

Clip 2: Skyler and Irene talks about the tradition of sweat lodging in the preparation for one. Where did this tradition originate? What is the cultural purpose and significance of the sweat lodge?

Clip 3: Irene comments on how Simon Fraser has received much attention and importance in written history in comparison to first nations along this river. Why is it that history books gives Simon Fraser so much worth, while people have lived and travelled along this river for thousands of years?

Clip 4: Rick Blacklaw talks about the existing evidence that first nation groups have lived in high concentrations along the river, including winter house remains and glyphs. Why is it that these cultures have to a large extent been overlooked?

Clip 5: Bonnie is showing and talks about the glyphs on a rock.

Clip 6: Phylis talks about the high concentration of people that once existed along the river, and how they were wiped out by small pox. 

Clip 7: Bobby, Skyler and Skyler’s dad (Joe) talks about fishing. Bobbie talks about how they’ve tried to fish all along the trip so far, but with no luck (which can be interpreted as an indication of the Salmon depletion). There is also a lot of humor in the clip: Bobby talks about having a couple of frozen salmons in store if all else fails. Skyler’s dad talks about how they should use the wooden, traditional dip net. The deep-rooted tradition of fishing is an underlying theme in this scene. What type of current environmental issues with respect to depletion of the salmon runs is under much debate?

Clip 8: Lemya7 is giving a traditional welcome to her territory with singing and drumming. 

Part 2
Who are we today:

Clip 1: Phyllis talks about growing up, spending whole summers on the river, giving it a symbol of strength and hope to her life, juxtaposed by the hardship she experienced on the reserve. What spiritual significance does the river bring about in many of the first nations residing along the Fraser?

Clip 2: Rick Blacklaw talks about approaching Xat’sull. He points to where the “white population” resides and where the first nation population resides. This gives an indication of the existing segregation between first nations and non-first nations. What implications does segregation between first nations and non-first nations have on the way the general population view first nations in Canada?

Clip 3: Elder from Xat’sull, Ralph, talks about education people with respect to what happened to the first nation people in Canada. Why is it important to inform people about the hardship that first nations have experienced?

Clip 4: Roger talks about the lack of focus on first nation history in schools and universities. How can first nation history and culture be integrated in school curriculums?

Clip 5: Joe talks about the importance of the youth’s cultural experiences and history lessons on the trip. Why is it important for first nation youth to learn and experience culture and history like they did on this trip?