Introduction In the book, Dying from Improvement: Inquests and Inquiries Into Indigenous Deaths in Custody by Sherene H. Razack. Razack talks about the Canadian approach to Indigenous people and the different forms in which they are mistreated in the Canadian Justice System. Indigenous people in Canada have been viewed as “less of a person” than the normal white civilian. European Settlers have been trying to assimilate the Aboriginal community into the “white way of life” since they took over their land, when Canada first came about.…
Much like many other minority groups, Indigenous people have been subjected to the harsh reality of being minorities for many decades. It is the common misrepresentations and stereotypes that indigenous people have faced throughout history and even to this day, that have led to the abuse, violence, racism and loss of land that these groups have been subjected to. But it is the misrepresentations surrounding Indigenous people, such as the idea that they are the “settlers”, that they have “encroached” upon our land, or that they are violent and un-welcoming, that have created the stereotypes portrayed by the mass media and certain historical events. What one must also remember is that these issues are not only a part of the past, but are still…
Thomas King's The Inconvenient Indian provides a harrowing and sarcastic but ultimately very real, look at the history of Indigenous peoples in North America from the time of first contact to the present. King details the relationship between non-Indigenous peoples and Indigneous peoples, establishing a subversion of history in which this relationship has continuously exploited and dominated over Indigneous people. At times a deeply personal account on his own conflicted activism, and at other times a revised edition of truths that show the identity of Indigenous peoples and how these identities have been affected by popular culture. In fact herein lies King's main theme of The Inconvenient Indian, how the stories and narratives by which legal…
In 2011, Aboriginal people were reported as imprisoned at a rate of 756 per 100,000 in contrast to non-aboriginal Canadians at a rate of only 76 per 100,000 (Jeffries, 2014). However, why are Aboriginal People in Canada overrepresented in prison? Could it be sentencing policies or are these citizens more harmful to society? Many factors are involved in this presumption, including high rates of poverty, substance abuse, and a large percentage of judges will decide jail for their sentence even when there are laws against jail being the first option. Even with laws put into place to consider other alternatives, judges have the final say and most of these Aboriginal people are still sent to jail over rehabilitation (Jeffries, 2014).…
Aboriginal youth are overrepresented in Ontario correctional facilities at a much higher rate than Aboriginal adults. Canadian Aboriginals are more likely to be charged with crimes, particularly on reserves then non-aboriginal Canadians. Also even though Aboriginals account for 4% of the Canadian population, but they account for 20% of Canada's prison population. Adult aboriginals are more likely to be convicted of a crime at 6 times higher than the national rate. Also parole is denied at a higher rate than non-aboriginals.…
Poverty in Canada: An Issue of Human Rights How would someone survive if they couldn 't find a job? Even if they could, what if that job wasn 't enough to support them and their family? This is the reality that many people in poverty face, just trying to survive in Canada. They may be poor, but they aren 't recognized unless they 're sitting on a street corner begging for money, or on an advertisement for the poor in a third-world country.…
Intro The emergence of indigenous courts captures the general public’s attention. Not only deploying innovative practices of justice, it acknowledges the devastating and enduring effects that indigenous people suffer since the period of colonization. Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately disadvantaged in the society. Since the early 90s, nations such as Australia and Canada begin to be more aware of the difficulties that indigenous people have confronted such as the effects of colonization, racism and overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice System.…
With the sense of redeeming and exonerating themselves of the horrors their institutions committed through a poor excuse of an apology and money. With these actions, the Canadian government has a false sense of security in moving on past the problem. While the Aboriginal people may have received some restitution the Canadian method of reconciliation falls short. The Native community still and will continue to struggle with the PTSD effects of the IRS. The culture, rights, treaties and mind of an entire group of people have been fragmented and through sorry and money at it will not fix it.…
The overrepresentation of indigenous people is a substantial issue in our country that requires attention in order to maintain a positive relationship with the Aboriginals and remove any negative stigmatization against the indigenous culture (Welsh & Ogloff, 2008, pp. 492-494). This remains an issue in our society because there are increasing numbers of indigenous people in prison throughout the provinces due to systemic racism within the legal system, crimes committed due to socioeconomic challenges and cultural or language barriers (Fitzgerald & Carrington, 2008, pp. 524-525). Moreover, alternative courses of action should be addressed in order to decrease the overrepresentation of indigenous people in the criminal justice system.…
Based off the history of indigenous peoples in Canada, one thing is for certain; discriminatory and inhumane acts by European conquest, towards a unique culture has altered the Aboriginal way of life we see in Canada today. While the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), has been evolving and developing for multiple years, these 94 recommendations give important insight and suggestions in how the nation of Canada can move away from this unjust history, reconcile and work towards becoming a stronger nation. While it may seem that reparations are impractical from the devastations of such events as the Indian residential schools, the TRC has been a timely process with the intent to restore an altered Aboriginal life and strengthen ties with…
Aboriginals represent 3% of the population but 27% of the nation’s jail population. This is outrageous as it shows that race plays a major role in people being incarcerated. This problem stems from the racial divide which is embedded in our society still today. Although we believe that we have gotten past the discrimination that the indigenous Australians face it is still a major problem facing Australian society.…
Drew Bednasek (2010), authors of Cultivating Ignorance of Aboriginal Realities, “the principal problem in Aboriginal education in Canada is the education of Canadians” (p.1). Teachers have the ability to teach students in courses, such as social studies and geography, about the history of colonialism, but do not confront historical victimization of Aboriginal peoples by church and state in their courses (Godlewska, Moore, & Bednasek, 2010). Education on the depth of European settlement is poorly executed by teachers and understates the lasting effects residential schools, cultivation of native land, and coercive treaties have had on Aboriginal peoples. Although the history of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples is not something Canadians can take pride in, recognition of the impact of colonialism must be taken in order to sufficiently teach students of European…
“Cultural genocide”, that is exactly what happened when the white man colonized the Indian. To the outsider, Canada appears to be a ‘perfect’ country. From our free healthcare to our need to profusely apologize for bumping into inanimate objects, we are a nation envied by many. Our greatest strength lies in our diversity and multiculturalism. In our current Prime Minister’s words “diversity is at the very heart of Canada.…
That being said, when these negative opinions and stereotypes about Indigenous peoples are portrayed in pop culture, it increases the chances that individuals will adopt these ideas and stereotypes without trying to educate themselves on the facts. This is a problem as more and more generations will adopt these ideologies which will not assist us in taking steps towards reconciliation. Knowing that the rhetoric and ideas presented in laws, media and pop culture contribute to the ideologies we develop, should be used in a positive way. If we use these means as a way of educating individuals on the past and present struggles that Indigenous persons are faced with, perhaps steps can be taken towards reconciliation. We can express and achieve respect towards Indigenous persons and communities by acknowledging the past and understanding the present…
Discrimination Against Aboriginal People In Canada: The Fight Isn’t Over The lives of the Aboriginal people in Canada have never been the same since European settlers unjustifiably stole their native land right from under their feet. Life for Aboriginal people will always be affected by the European colonization of Canada, and discrimination against the first nations community still exists to this day.…