Since 1534 when Jacques Cartier, a French mariner, first stepped foot on Canadian soil, we have been interacting with aboriginal people. A lot has changed in how we treat these Native Americans since the 16th century, but it wasn’t until recently that they were even considered persons. The Indian Act has shown that Canada has tried to bridge relations with the aboriginal people, but it has not been effective due to misreading and the unknown desires of the aboriginal people, resident schools, used to abduct and condition aboriginal children to be Christian white people, were not totally abolished until 1996, and aboriginal people’s right to vote, and their classification as persons, did not start until 1960. These grievances show that Canada
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This program was designed to ‘aggressively assimilate’ aboriginal children into Canadian mainstream society. Within a few generations their customs and traditions would be abolished. In 1931, 1,100 students attended 69 residential schools across the nation. The number of schools grew to 130 over the years, and had a presence in every territory and province except Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. Unbelievably, the last school did not close until 1996. A total of 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children were removed from their parent’s homes and communities and forced to attend these government boarding schools. Even siblings were not allowed to interact at the schools when they attended. These kids were unable to practice their own traditions and customs and became disconnected with their families. No matter where they were, they felt like they did not belong. When they tried to maintain a connection to who they were at school, by speaking in their own language or practicing native traditions, they received severe punishment. They were not properly fed, and the Canadian government knew it. Some of these children suffered horrific abuse from the schools, both physically and sexually. Although a formal apology was delivered by Prime Minister Harper and a comprehensive package …show more content…
Because of this exclusion, their interests, in the eye of policy, were nonexistent in society because of this lack of fundamental, individual representation. Aboriginals have been prohibited representation for almost the entire existence of Canada because of voter exclusion. It was unmistakably entered into law by way of act, after act, legally reinforcing their forced lack of representation. In 1920, the Dominion Elections Act officially excluded Aboriginals from voting. When the issue was revisited again in 1947, the Provincial Elections Act Amendment cited that Aboriginals were denied voting privileges. As tribes became vocal to establish equal rights, and by law their status as a people began to be recognized, the main focus was the absence of their voting privilege. As treaties passed to improve their treatment in Canada, and the Indian Act was revised, the only way to gain representation would be to give up Indian status, and the entitlements under those treaties and acts, in order to cast votes, or live without representation. Finally, in 1960, for the first time since the Confederation, the law was updated to address every eligible voter; the federal government removed all restrictions placed on Aboriginals to qualify to vote. Only then, did Aboriginals see reform in their plight to be equal
This program was designed to ‘aggressively assimilate’ aboriginal children into Canadian mainstream society. Within a few generations their customs and traditions would be abolished. In 1931, 1,100 students attended 69 residential schools across the nation. The number of schools grew to 130 over the years, and had a presence in every territory and province except Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. Unbelievably, the last school did not close until 1996. A total of 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children were removed from their parent’s homes and communities and forced to attend these government boarding schools. Even siblings were not allowed to interact at the schools when they attended. These kids were unable to practice their own traditions and customs and became disconnected with their families. No matter where they were, they felt like they did not belong. When they tried to maintain a connection to who they were at school, by speaking in their own language or practicing native traditions, they received severe punishment. They were not properly fed, and the Canadian government knew it. Some of these children suffered horrific abuse from the schools, both physically and sexually. Although a formal apology was delivered by Prime Minister Harper and a comprehensive package …show more content…
Because of this exclusion, their interests, in the eye of policy, were nonexistent in society because of this lack of fundamental, individual representation. Aboriginals have been prohibited representation for almost the entire existence of Canada because of voter exclusion. It was unmistakably entered into law by way of act, after act, legally reinforcing their forced lack of representation. In 1920, the Dominion Elections Act officially excluded Aboriginals from voting. When the issue was revisited again in 1947, the Provincial Elections Act Amendment cited that Aboriginals were denied voting privileges. As tribes became vocal to establish equal rights, and by law their status as a people began to be recognized, the main focus was the absence of their voting privilege. As treaties passed to improve their treatment in Canada, and the Indian Act was revised, the only way to gain representation would be to give up Indian status, and the entitlements under those treaties and acts, in order to cast votes, or live without representation. Finally, in 1960, for the first time since the Confederation, the law was updated to address every eligible voter; the federal government removed all restrictions placed on Aboriginals to qualify to vote. Only then, did Aboriginals see reform in their plight to be equal