Cowessess First Nation Kinship Practices Research Report

This report critically reviews Robert Innes' research on kinship practices within the Cowessess First Nation, examining the association between gender and kinship in the Native North American context. The report highlights the importance of kinship within the Cowessess First Nation and analyzes the link between the "law of people" and its members. It discusses the influence of legislation, such as the Indian Act, and amendments on the band. The report also evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the research, emphasizing the significance of family context over external affiliations. While the study effectively illustrates the relationship between the band and its members, it suggests that primary research could offer additional insights into the views of Canadian citizens. The study explores the historical context, legal frameworks, and contemporary kinship practices, contributing to a deeper understanding of Indigenous identity and cultural dynamics.

RUNNING HEAD: INDIGENOUS STUDIES 0
AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE

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Innes argued that not much of the study is conducted to understand the kinship studies within the
American Indian studies (Innes 2010). Therefore to overcome this issue researcher examined on
performing the study by involving international indigenous people by using several innovative
approaches. The main motive of the study is to examine the association among the gender as
well as kinship in the Native North American context. The argument of the study also
demonstrate that kinship is considered and continue is to be the major part and members of the
“Cowessess First Nation” (Innes 2010). The focal point of the researchers is on identifying the
link among the “law of people” through the “Cowessess First Nation members”. In this report,
the critical review of the “Elder Brother, the Law of the People, and Contemporary Kinship
Practices of Cowessess First Nation Members: Reconceptualizing Kinship in American Indian
Studies Research” is done. In this thesis statement of the student is also discussed by developing
the road map.
The researcher could also concentrate on understanding the relationship among the older
Cowesses band members with the new members in the Native North American context. It is
because authors only examined on identifying the attitudes of older with new Cowesses but do
not describe the degree of impact kinship practices have on the behavior of the Cowesses
members. Further, the road map describes the major points of the thesis statement.

INDIGENOUS STUDIES 2
The above flow chat describes that the thesis statement will be evaluated by identifying key
themes through which a study in Native North America conducted effectively. For examining the
kinship practice effect primary research will be conducted. Therefore, the flow chart describes
both problems and proposals.
Researchers analyzed that in 1970, various researchers describe that international indigenous
people and they applied unique approaches to kinship research. Thus, these researches had
suggested that Native American communities were closely linked to kinship (Innes 2010). Apart
from this, it is also suggested that in kinship, ethnic identity is a fluid process that requires
effective and efficient efforts. Moreover, the first section of this article has described the
legislation that was able to define Indian citizens and indigenous people in Canadian law. The

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second section of the research outline regarding the people who conveyed through stories of
Elder Brother (Innes 2010). Researcher also demonstrate that some Bill C-31 have negative
influence towards the band as well as some viewed that it is optimistic for the band.
Apart from this, the third section establishes the link between the stories of kinship pattern which
was handled by Cowessess members in the early reserve period to the mid of the 20th century.
The fourth section describes the interviews that were conducted with the 27 Cowessess members
in the early reserve period. Apart from this, in this article, it is concluded that in Canada, non-
residential people had created a lot of tension in the country. From outperforming such issues,
various laws are imposed with immediate and effective direction so that in long term planning
such planning cannot create an adverse effect on the legislation functioning in the country (Innes
2010). Likewise, The Indian Act had also incorporated various amendments in the 1930s then it
incorporated additional revision in 1951. All these amendments were done to overcome all the
tensions which are causing in the country. At that time, the Indian legislation system has also
made various amendments as per their laws and Constitution Rights (Innes 2010). Researcher
describe that attitudes of the Cowesses population are shaped mainly from the family context not
from the external cultural as well as tribal affiliations. Further, the strength and weaknesses of
the research are discussed.
The strength of this article is that authors have evaluated and focused on all the relevant facts and
figures with legislation laws of India and Canada related to the multicultural band. Apart from
this, it can also be analyzed that the author has very well obtained data from secondary sources
such as work from other peer-reviewed literature, reputed journal articles, etc. In this article, it is
also shown that inclusionary practices of the contemporary Cowessess First Nation are very well
illustrated by the relationship between the brand and its brand members effectively and
efficiently (Innes 2010). The importance of the study is that Cowesses population as well as their
families is considered significant identity in comparison to gender, race culture etc.
The weakness of this article is that the author did not conduct any primary research test on the
views of the people living in Canada. If the author had conducted primary research also then the
views of the citizens can be easily identified and these views or practices can also be evaluated
for the long term benefits. Although this article had talked a lot about the relationship between

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the band and band members, the author wishes then they can reduce the efforts, which implies
better utilization of knowledge.

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References
Innes, Dr. Robert. “Elder Brother, the Law of the People, and Contemporary Kinship Practices of
Cowessess First Nation Members: Reconceptualizing Kinship in American Indian Studies
Research.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 34, no. 2 (2010): 27-46.