I love Canada. Its people and overall vibe can teach the rest of the world so much. Over the years, I’ve visited Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and Niagara Falls – enjoying their similarities to the U.S. as well as their differences.
In Montreal, the coldest I’ve ever been, I experienced what felt like the art, culture, and ambiance of a European city right here in North America. Vancouver is free-spirited and laid back. I enjoyed swimming in their gigantic Kitsilano Pool which allowed me to continue training for a triathlon while on vacation. Toronto is a lot like Detroit, only famously safer, with charm, world-class restaurants, and fanatical sports fans.
Niagara Falls is an amazing natural display – and loads of fun.
Canada has it all, plus a rich tapestry of death rituals that reflect both Indigenous and settler traditions. As a traveling death doula, I wanted to take a moment to share what I’ve learned there.
First Nations
Indigenous communities often focus on honoring the deceased’s spirit, connecting to nature, and emphasizing the community’s role in the grieving process. In contrast, settler traditions, influenced by European customs, often include funerals with religious ceremonies, burials in cemeteries, and memorial services.
Some Canadian settler communities have begun to incorporate Indigenous practices into their rituals, reflecting a growing respect for and blending of cultural traditions.
A variety of Indigenous groups, known as First Nations, each has their own distinct cultures, languages, and histories.
- Cree: One of the largest groups, with communities spread across Canada, particularly in Quebec, Ontario, and the Prairie provinces.
- Ojibwe (Chippewa): Found mainly in Ontario, Manitoba, and parts of the northern United States, known for their rich spiritual traditions and cultural practices.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy): Comprising the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations, primarily located in southern Ontario and Quebec.
- Dene: Indigenous to the northern regions, including parts of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, known for their deep connection to the land.
- Salish: Primarily located in British Columbia, with a rich tradition of art, storytelling, and community life.
- Blackfoot: Located mainly in Alberta, known for their strong warrior culture and traditional governance systems.
- Anishinaabe: A broader term encompassing various groups, including the Ojibwe and Odawa, found mainly in Ontario and Quebec.
- Inuit: While not technically classified as First Nations, we recognize the Inuit as a distinct Indigenous group in Canada, primarily residing in the Arctic regions.
- Métis: Also distinct from First Nations but an important part of Canada’s Indigenous identity, they have mixed Indigenous and European ancestry and a unique culture.
Each of these groups has its own governance structures, languages, and traditions, contributing to the rich diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada.
Death and Intersectionality
The intersection of Indigenous and settler practices creates a diverse landscape of death practices in Canada, highlighting the importance of cultural heritage and adaptation. During my visits, I’ve explored First Nations death rituals and found they can vary widely among different tribes and regions, but several key elements often distinguish them from settler practices.
Connection to the Land
Many Indigenous cultures view death as a transition rather than an end. They believe the deceased’s spirit returns to the land or joins ancestral spirits. This connection influences where and how they are laid to rest. Sometimes the deceased and/or loved ones opt for natural burial sites rather than formal cemeteries.
Ceremonial Practices
Rituals can include various ceremonies, such as the Potlatch among coastal Indigenous peoples, where the deceased’s family holds a gathering to honor the life of the person and redistribute wealth to the community. This can include feasting, singing, and storytelling, celebrating the deceased’s contributions.
Elders play a crucial role in these ceremonies. They guide the rituals, providing wisdom and spiritual support. Their involvement often emphasizes community participation and the importance of tradition.
Body Preparation and Grieving
Instead of embalming, many First Nations communities clean and then wrap the body in a natural material like a blanket or animal hide, reflecting a belief in returning the body to the earth. The mourning period is lengthy, and practices include wearing specific colors, and not engaging in certain activities like work, other life cycle events, or celebrations.
Similar to the Tangihanga in New Zealand, Canadian First Nations also encourage everyone’s participation in communal rituals to support the grieving family.
Connection with Nature
Some groups hold rituals in natural settings, such as forests or rivers, which hold spiritual significance. The idea is to honor the connection to the environment, reinforcing the belief that life continues in various forms.
They place items of significance with the deceased, such as plants, food, flowers, or personal belongings. This reminded me of similar Indigenous practices in Peru where loved ones leave items meant to assist them in the afterlife, which contrasts with the more secular offerings often seen in settler practices.
More Unique Death Rituals
Tlingit and Haida
These coastal Indigenous groups of British Columbia include elaborate totem pole carvings and potlatch ceremonies into their grief rituals. The family of the deceased hosts a large feast to unveil the totem pole, celebrate the life of a deceased loved one, and establish social standing.
Nuu-chah-nulth
This group, also from the west coast of Canada, often conducts funerals that include the use of song and dance. One of those dances is called the “shaman dance.” It’s a reenactment of the kidnapping of an ancestor by supernatural beings who later gave him supernatural gifts and released him.
The ceremony serves to define each individual’s place in the social order.
Inuit Rituals
The Inuit believe that after death, human souls go to either the upper or lower world. The Inuit prefer the underworld because it’s warm and full of food, while the upper world is cold and famine-stricken.
Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en
The body is not moved until all significant family members have said their goodbyes. The local minister or elder blesses the deceased and family before moving the body. The family viewing is held in a larger room so that extended family members can say their goodbyes.
A headstone feast is held about a year after the death to erect a memorial at the gravesite. The title is officially conferred on the successor at the headstone feast. Another death ritual is the smoke party, held by the deceased’s clan, with attendance from the father’s clan and immediate relatives to plan the funeral meal.
Cree
Certain Cree communities have distinct rituals that emphasize a deep connection to the land and nature. They may incorporate elements such as plant medicine and a “spiritual send-off,” where the community gathers in a natural setting to honor the deceased and reflect on their life in relation to the environment.
Oh, Canada
These practices showcase the diversity of Indigenous death rituals in Canada and emphasize the importance of community, cultural identity, and the relationship between the living and the spirit world. The settler traditions blending in some of these traditions shows how we can learn so much from First Nations, in life and death.
Contact me anytime to discuss death practices from any country.
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