Image of the West and Link to a First Nation website

This is a photo that I took in Alberta, Canada, on the edge of Jasper National Park, which at it's most southern point is around 300km above the American/Canadian border. Alberta is a province in South Western Canada. It grows less flat and prairie-like, and more mountainous the further west one travels. This photo depicts the end of the prairies and the start of the mountainous region that is typical of the landscape of the 'American West', or in this case, the 'North American West'.
In the photo, the dramatic mountain resides in the distance, with the baron, predominantly 'earthy-looking' land lying before it. The 'sublime' aspect of the photo is the mountain, as it is the most visually stunning piece of scenery in the image. The inclusion of water and some woodland, along with the grey and brown 'earth', reflects the potential and nourishment that the western land provides and the hope that settlers would have felt when arriving in this type of area. This photo was taken in August 2013, so evidently any settlement, Native American (or 'First Nations' as referred to in Canada) or Colonial, no longer resides in the area in this photograph.
The importance of European settlement is evident here. Due to the sheer size of Canada and North America in general, the railways are often the quickest mode of transport available, in order to reach more specific locations within the country. A transcontinental railway was first proposed in 1871. However, it wasn't until June 1886 that the first passenger train left Montréal, arriving in Port Moody, British Columbia, on the 4th July (1). The introduction of this transcontinental railway and those that subsequently followed, was crucial to the unification of the country, which by 1881 had a population of 4,324,810 (2). It is likely that the exploration of the West using railways had an effect on the First Nations situated along the way. 

The Stoney Nakoda First Nations

When pondering which American Indian tribe on which to focus, I decided to do some research into the native people who inhabited the land where the photo was taken. The Stoney Nakoda tribe have traditionally inhabited Western Canada. On their website they proudly list the names by which they are known. These names include: Rocky Mountain Stoney, Warriors of the Rocks and Cutthroat Indians. The link to 'read more' about the Stoney Nakoda no longer works and the rest of the website, sadly, is mainly used as a medium to promote tourism in Western Canada. However, there is a link to a website that elaborates a bit more on the history and culture of the 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' (3). It explains that the Nakoda originally lived further South, in what is now known as the state if Georgia, USA. But they migrated West and eventually North in the 1500s, settling in Alberta. This website is very informative and offers a lot of information regarding their language, culture and history. Everything is written as if it was written by a member of the tribe; there is a link to "our lands", as well as a page called "who we are". This highlights the Nakoda's acceptance of modern technology into their society. In addition, although there is a large section on the tribe's background, it doesn't dwell on any historical conflicts the tribe may have with modern day Canada or USA. The 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' website is very open and inviting to all. The colour scheme of the website is very bright, with the use of white, blue and yellow a predominant theme, perhaps highlighting freedom, peace and enlightenment. When reading through this website, I felt welcomed and that the Nakoda genuinely want to share their history and culture with the rest of the World. This is a contradiction of historical context, where the North American Natives tended to only offer knowledge of their traditions and culture when first meeting colonial explorers and settlers. Here however, they are freely doing so. (It may also be that because they are nowadays technically living in Canada, that they are just nicer than American Indians living in the USA).


Strangely, on the 'Stoney Nation' website, they advertise their tribe's resort and casino in Banff (4). 'Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino' offer "rates from $109" and with regards to the casino, it states that you can "arrive a winner" and "leave a legend".  This could highlight contemporary divisions within the tribe. It is quite a contrast compared with the informative 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' website previously discussed. This website is aimed at white middle class people and probably families, who want a vacation. The Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is an example of American Indian establishments that have become increasingly popular in North America, the United States in particular. In the USA, the 'Indian Gaming Regulatory Act' was passed in 1988, which paved the way for the American Indian gaming industry to thrive and contributes significantly to American Indian tribes' economy (5). This has since spread to the rest of North America, as the Natives have found a source of income that does not damage what remains of their land, and is extremely lucrative.

This summarises the contemporary culture of the Stoney Nakoda tribe and their influence on today's society in North America.


References:
http://www.ezilon.com/maps/north-america/canada-maps.html
http://www.stoneynation.com/
(1) http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/
(2) http://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb07/acyb07_0004-eng.htm 
(3) http://www.rockymountainnakoda.com/origin
(4) http://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/
(5) Randall K. Q. Akee, Katherine A. Spilde and Jonathan B. Taylor, 'The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Its Effects on American Indian Economic Development', The Journal of Economic Perspectives, (29, 2015), p.185.