Many Canadian citizens pride themselves on the multiculturalism, diversity, and equality their country thrives on. Since 1980, citizens as young as kindergarteners have been taught to sing of Canada’s home and native land in the national anthem, promoting the freedom and strength of their sovereign country. But, there is a lack of celebration for Indigenous peoples, and their distinct role in creating Canada. There is little recognition that the brutal colonization of Indigenous peoples, dispossession of their vast amounts of native land, and rationalization of racism in order to assimilate them into acceptable cultural norms, greatly influenced Canadians ability to proudly sing about the glory of their country. If there is no room in our national
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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 …show more content…
Higher education is a solution to combatting the developed social inequality in Canada, and can reverse the racist views a significant proportion of the population do not recognize in themselves. If Canadians had a mandatory Indigenous studies course they would be able to form a realistic understanding of the legacy of colonialism, and gain the ability to recognize stereotypical comments as inappropriate and a perpetuation of
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 …show more content…
Higher education is a solution to combatting the developed social inequality in Canada, and can reverse the racist views a significant proportion of the population do not recognize in themselves. If Canadians had a mandatory Indigenous studies course they would be able to form a realistic understanding of the legacy of colonialism, and gain the ability to recognize stereotypical comments as inappropriate and a perpetuation of