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…
The relationship between the Aboriginal people in Canada and the Government of Canada is described as strained and imbalanced due to the opposite perspectives they have on federal laws and policies. Most Aboriginal people argue that the current laws and policies is unfair and that it is a continuation of the past colonial laws, which have made them impoverished. On the other hand, many non-Aboriginal politicians tend to ignore the claims of the indigenous people and the poverty crisis they are…
racism, discrimination and the negative stereotypes against Aboriginal peoples. Canadian governments have historically been hesitant to create policies specific to urban Aboriginal peoples. This hesitation is related to the disagreements over the unclear and controversial question of legislative authority, and therefore responsibility for urban Aboriginals. The provincial governments, however have responded that all Indigenous peoples are the responsibility of the federal government and that…
Canadian aboriginals have experienced an increase in racial discrimination as racial tensions have become amplified in Canada from the persisting effects of the relocation of the indigenous people in 1953. This paper will explore the lasting effects of forced relocation the indigenous people in regards to the Blauner Hypothesis and the deconstruction of the productive family unit. More then 40% of indigenous people are unemployed and experience much higher rates of suicide, alcoholism, and drug…
Data Aboriginal peoples are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America and the Canadian Constitution recognized three groups of Aboriginal people– Indians, Metis, and Inuit. The total population of Aboriginal people in Canada is approximately 1.5 million with the Indians (now refereed to as First Nations) being 57%, the Metis 33% and the Inuit about 10% of the total population of Aboriginal people. (National Aboriginal Health Organization 2003) According to the Public Health…
The Aboriginal Crisis: This is not a party problem; this is a Canadian problem Lack of health care, widespread poverty, employment barriers, high suicide rates, drug abuse, segregation, and lack of drinkable water. These are conditions commonly used to describe developing countries, yet they describe a majority of Canada’s Aboriginal reserves. For a country who have cities on several, notable “Most Livable” lists, these conditions seem foreign. Varying political parties have tried to blame…
ultimate goal of colonization was to assimilate and integrate Indigenous people into Canadian society. As a result, there wouldn’t be any Aboriginal culture left in Canada. Acts such as the British North American Act was set out to break their culture and identity apart. 1 This process of colonization has not only affected the Indigenous people of Canada, but also Canada as a whole. Therefore, Canadians are working together to fix these problems by reconciliation. The reconciliation efforts has…
Aboriginal Youth, the Criminal Justice System, and the Evolution into a Better Canada In a country where our education, laws, and overall societal structures are based on a colonial perspective, Harold Johnson offers an Aboriginal outlook on how First Nations people have lived and struggled under a colonialist Canada. In his book Two Families: Treaties and Government, Johnson examines several issues faced by Aboriginal people today and how a colonial system still contributes to the despair of…
In my honest opinion, I believe that the treatment of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis is unfair and doesn't align with Canada’s multicultural values. First of all, on the reserves, the First Nations people are separated from the rest of Canada and are not able to practice their culture outside of it. In the rest of Canada, however, people are able to practice their own cultures and religions freely without restrictions. This means that Aboriginal people are denied their freedoms and rights,…
Aboriginal communities have suffered tremendous effects caused by residential schools. Throughout the years, many native children faced the negative impacts of residential schools. These impacts led to long lasting inter-generational effects such as, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and high incarceration rates in aboriginal communities (Bombay, 2013). The government of Canada offered itself authority over the lives of the aboriginal people and their community, through the Indian Act (1867). One vital…