Indigenous and industry perspectives on funerary trends and their impact on Indigenous client services in urban and peri-urban centers of Manitoba, Canada
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Date
2020-01-17
Authors
Martin, Lesley
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Abstract
Contemporary Indigenous funerary rituals in urban settings is a subject that has virtually been ignored, despite funerary ritual having such a profound impact on the cultures and identity of Indigenous people. This thesis explores perspectives of death, dying, and the funerary process within the dominant Indigenous cultures in Manitoba, and how modern funeral homes cater to the unique needs of an Indigenous population living in an urban or per-urban community. Data was obtained my conducting structured and semi-structured interviews with funeral home employees and Indigenous people who have utilized professional funerary services.
Trends in the funeral home industry point to people becoming less involved in the funerary process, relying on professional services offered by the modern funeral home. In contrast, Indigenous funerary practices continue to emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for their own, utilizing professional services only when necessary. Interviews with key informants revealed that in some cases funeral directors can play a vital role in preserving Indigenous funerary traditions by providing resources for those who have lost any connection with their community. This analysis of contemporary perspectives of Indigenous mortuary rituals in urban environments represents only a small portion of a much larger discussion of the current state and preservation of Indigenous knowledge and cultures in Manitoba.
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Indigenous, Funerals, Manitoba, urban, peri-urban, funeral home, Canada