“Our right to hunt, fish, harvest, and trap when it intersects with settler’s ability to enjoy their summer cottages is a major controversy in this country. It’s one that has to be sorted out ASAP because our hunting and fishing rights are upheld and your summer home, well, isn’t it nice.” In this episode of Red Man Laughing- The Wild Rice Wars, the host, Ryan McMahon, addresses the effects of present-day colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and their inherited rights, specifically the controversy surrounding a local Anishinaabe farmer, James Whetung, and his battle to keep his farm. James Whetung is a wild rice farmer whose family has lived and harvested wild rice on Pigeon Lake for generations. In the past, treaties were agreed upon by the Canadian
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When Thomas King first introduces the reader to First women’s character, they learn that she falls from the sky and becomes the Lone Ranger. Subsequent to this, First Woman is then arrested and taken to Fort Marion by soldiers for “Being Indian” (72). The reader is then introduced to three similar characters, Changing Woman, Thought Woman and lastly, Old Woman. All four characters are arrested and then taken to Fort Marion for being Indian. After all four women end up at Fort Marion, they escape and shortly after, they end up being confined in another prison, in the form of Dr. Joseph Hovaugh’s mental institution under the assumption that they are mentally unstable or dangerous. The repetition of this story can represent how colonialism still exists in this very day and age and continues to have power over Indigenous People and their rights. With the repetition of this story, King demonstrates how colonialism still largely affects the treatment of Indigenous People. From being trapped in Fort Marion in the 1800’s to Joseph Hovaugh’s mental institution in the present day, colonialism has prevailed and thrived which has ensured that Indigenous rights are constantly taken advantage of. This can be seen in each creation story, as all of the Indigenous women are put into situations that undermine or belittle Indigenous …show more content…
When Milford first reports that his truck is stolen, he approaches Amos, a tribal police officer. While Amos looks into the situation, he questions the Blossom police and is asked if Milford ever filed a report with the Blossom police department, Amos then replies by saying he didn’t since he filed one with the tribal police. In response to this, the police answer by saying: “‘Hell, you know that doesn’t count’” (306). This demonstrates how the tribal police or Indigenous authority is not recognized, despite the fact that it is a legitimate way of enforcing the law. Due to the presence of colonialism, Indigenous People’s way of enforcing the law has not been taken seriously since the settlers have convinced others that their ways are better or right. As Amos and Milford learn that his truck was stolen in order to be resold, they are surprised by the evidence that they have to prove that Milford sold his truck to them. In any other given scenario, the “evidence” used against Milford to prove that he sold his truck would have been considered inconclusive. Peterson’s claims that they have a bill of sale from Milford even though he himself says: “‘I told them someone stole the truck but they just kept waving that bill of sale at me’” (307). Peterson’s also claims to have Milford’s signature proving that he sold his truck to them, but this piece of evidence like all
When Thomas King first introduces the reader to First women’s character, they learn that she falls from the sky and becomes the Lone Ranger. Subsequent to this, First Woman is then arrested and taken to Fort Marion by soldiers for “Being Indian” (72). The reader is then introduced to three similar characters, Changing Woman, Thought Woman and lastly, Old Woman. All four characters are arrested and then taken to Fort Marion for being Indian. After all four women end up at Fort Marion, they escape and shortly after, they end up being confined in another prison, in the form of Dr. Joseph Hovaugh’s mental institution under the assumption that they are mentally unstable or dangerous. The repetition of this story can represent how colonialism still exists in this very day and age and continues to have power over Indigenous People and their rights. With the repetition of this story, King demonstrates how colonialism still largely affects the treatment of Indigenous People. From being trapped in Fort Marion in the 1800’s to Joseph Hovaugh’s mental institution in the present day, colonialism has prevailed and thrived which has ensured that Indigenous rights are constantly taken advantage of. This can be seen in each creation story, as all of the Indigenous women are put into situations that undermine or belittle Indigenous …show more content…
When Milford first reports that his truck is stolen, he approaches Amos, a tribal police officer. While Amos looks into the situation, he questions the Blossom police and is asked if Milford ever filed a report with the Blossom police department, Amos then replies by saying he didn’t since he filed one with the tribal police. In response to this, the police answer by saying: “‘Hell, you know that doesn’t count’” (306). This demonstrates how the tribal police or Indigenous authority is not recognized, despite the fact that it is a legitimate way of enforcing the law. Due to the presence of colonialism, Indigenous People’s way of enforcing the law has not been taken seriously since the settlers have convinced others that their ways are better or right. As Amos and Milford learn that his truck was stolen in order to be resold, they are surprised by the evidence that they have to prove that Milford sold his truck to them. In any other given scenario, the “evidence” used against Milford to prove that he sold his truck would have been considered inconclusive. Peterson’s claims that they have a bill of sale from Milford even though he himself says: “‘I told them someone stole the truck but they just kept waving that bill of sale at me’” (307). Peterson’s also claims to have Milford’s signature proving that he sold his truck to them, but this piece of evidence like all