Since the Hudson’s Bay Company is very famous in Canada, I have known it since I landed in Canada. However, I never thought it had so long history, 343 years, and the strong relationship with the First Nation people. I never despise the importance of First Nation people in Canada’s history, and, now, I believe that the initial wealth of this country was based on the First Nation people and the fur trading. It is true that the fur trade had brought many convenient fools and many opportunities to Aboriginal people, but the negative effect of it should not be neglected, since it had completely changed their life-style and badly impacted on their culture.
First of all, the fur trading ended the traditional lives of the First Peoples lived in Canada. I have learned how did Aboriginal people hunting in the Tipi teaching; they respected their preys and
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By the time when the white people arrived here, First Nations was very kind and generous to them, and showed them all the necessary survival skills for living here. However, what the white people wanted was only to make their fortune in the fur trading. They married Aboriginal women because they learned that these women had the skill and expertise to treat the furs, and these women were called “country wives.” The “country wives” and their children were left here when the men retired and return to their homeland. The white people were so selfish that they did care how these women and children’s lives would go on after they left. Actually, these “country wives” and the metis were discriminated all the rest of their lives. In addition, once the fur trading was over, the government didn’t know what to do with the Aboriginal people, but, finally they got an idea, residential school. That was the most terrible period in First Nation’s history, which destroyed their lives and interfered with eight generations of First
the First Nations were criticized and judged for moving to Canada and keeping their own cultural beliefs. The natives held onto their religion and culture because it was a part of them and their past and they also would not give it up willingly because they have been through too much to give up. “The federal government and most non-native Canadians believed that life for the First Nations people would be greatly improved if they gave up their culture and became part of mainstream, Christian Canadian”(Freeman-Shaw, Hastings-Winner 38). Canadian society was so full of itself that they considered everyone else and their culture to be less than their own. The Canadians thought everyone would be happier if they shared to same religion and beliefs
Over time, the power that Native women held with in their tribe has unfortunately digressed. During the age of exploration Native women have played key roles in the western fur trade. Native women assisted the fur traders by being liaison between the Europeans and Natives. This role was fundamental in strengthening trade increasing the economic stability of the post. They acted as guides for the European traders who often found themselves in dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Finally, they provided an intimate relationship for the European traders, and played a pragmatic role as a domesticated wife. However in order to fully understand the magnitude of the
The fur trade was a significant part of Canadian history. With the founding of the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Company during the1670's, the fur trade managed growth and development all the way into Western Canada until 1870. The fur trade was unique, for it was the only industry that was based on an exchange of goods between two very different groups of people (namely, the Indians and the Europeans). Although most people think of the fur trade as being a male dominated industry, Indian women also played very important roles in the industry's development. However, the women's experiences differed in relation to
Canada is a nation of opportunity and freedom. People from all around the world immigrate to Canada to start a new life, to get away from war or poverty. Canada opens their arms to them and accepts them, and gives them money to get them started. But how about those who were here from the very beginning, before anyone else landed in Canada; the ones that are called First Nation people, or Aboriginals? What is the government doing for them? Why are First Nations people suffering the worst in Canada? “55.6% of the poor are aboriginals and a lot of them live in reserves around Canada that Canadian government have put them in. For those who leave the reserves to get a better living the suffer from racism from Canadian society” (“Aboriginal”).
The impact of colonization on First Nations peoples in Canada is unsurpassable, regarding every aspect of Aboriginal life and well-being. Throughout Canadian history, the government has been aiming to assimilate and annihilate Aboriginal people by way of racist policies, ethnocentric institutions, discriminatory laws and destructive capitalist behaviours. Because of this, Aboriginal people have suffered many losses, both physically and culturally. One of the main perpetrators of enacting this loss is the education system. The education system in Canada has and continues to threaten the relationship First Nations peoples have with the land. The connection First Nations peoples have with the land is crucial to their cultures, traditions, ceremonies and beliefs. Colonization and colonialism jeopardize this relationship and that is what this essay will address.
Over the past decades, Aboriginal people (the original people or indigenous occupants of a particular country), have been oppressed by the Canadian society and continue to live under racism resulting in gender/ class oppression. The history of Colonialism, and Capitalism has played a significant role in the construction and impact of how Aborignal people are treated and viewed presently in the Canadian society. The struggles, injustices, prejudice, and discrimination that have plagued Aboriginal peoples for more than three centuries are still grim realities today. The failures of Canada's racist policies toward Aboriginal peoples are reflected in the high levels of unemployment and poor education.
The Métis indigenous group has faced many economic struggles, oppression, assimilation of their culture, and religious conflict in the past, as well as in the present. Currently, aboriginals in Canada, specifically the Métis, are dealing with lower employment rates, high levels of incarnation, lower income levels, and poorer education compared to non-aboriginal Canadians (Joseph, Bob. 2012.). The Métis reside all across Canada, but they are mainly in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan as well as the surrounding area of the great lakes in Ontario. The Métis made their homes along the fur trade route since they heavily relied on the trade (The Métis
Since the colonization of Canada First Nations people have been discriminated against and assimilated into the new culture of Canada through policies created by the government. Policies created had the intentions of improving the Aboriginal people’s standard of living and increasing their opportunities. Mainly in the past hundred years in Canadian Society, policies and government implemented actions such as; Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reserve systems have resulted in extinguishing native culture, teachings, and pride. Policies towards the treatment of Aboriginal Canadians has decreased their opportunities and standard of living because of policies specified previously (Residential schools, the Indian Act, and reservation systems).
Certain Aboriginal tribes at this time believed in reincarnation and the respect of the hunted animal. They also believed in the idea that animals that were shown were able to be killed as they were not under-populated. Although this method was not very scientific it still proves that idea that FN at this time were aware of the idea of over-hunting and aids in the idea of a harmony with their environment. Tribes such as “The Rupert House Cree hunted different sections of their land, leaving such to recruit two or even three years.” Which shows their ability to understand the environment and the animals that reside within it.
The history of Canada is the era of where colonization all began towards aboriginal peoples. Over the past decades, aboriginal peoples have been mistreated and misused by the white-Europeans. They have been oppressed by Canadian society that we are known still by today and continue to live under racism resulting in gender and class oppression. The history of colonialism has been playing a big part in the way of how aboriginal people have been constructed and impacted on how aboriginal people are treated and viewed in Canadian Society. They have been dealing with the struggles, inequality, and discrimination that we have been putting them through for over three centuries, we’ve been also failing them with Canada’s racist policies
The Aboriginal peoples of Canada had gone through many situations to get to where they are today with their education system. Pain, sorrow, doubt, and hope are all feelings brought to mind when thinking about the history and the future of Aboriginal education. By taking a look at the past, anyone can see that the right to education for Aboriginal peoples has been fought about as early as the 1870s. This is still is a pressing issue today. Elder teachings, residential, reserve and post-secondary schools have all been concerning events of the past as well as the present. Though education has improved for the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, there are still many concerns and needs of reconciliation for the past to improve the future.
First Nation Peoples within Canada have been facing many injustices in their homeland since the dawn of colonization. The most unraveling point to First Nation assimilation was the formation of the consequential Indian Act and residential schools resulting in a stir of adversity. As racist ideologies within Canada developed, upheaval against such treatment was undertaken as First Nation communities fought back against government land claims and eradication of treaty rights. In attempt to make amends, proper compensations from the injustices within residential schools have been released and the key for the future is allowing First Nation self-government. Ideals with the intent of ultimate assimilation have been standardized unto First Nation
In the article Colonialism and First Nations Women in Canada by Winona Stevenson, the author explains the struggle First Nations women had keeping their culture alive. Upon arriving in America the Europeans suffocated the natives with their rationalisation of female subjugation. Reluctant to give up their traditions and honour the native-American women put up a fight, but their efforts would not be strong enough to triumph over the European missionaries. Stevenson chronologically explains their contact with the colonial agencies'.
The Canadian native aboriginals are the original indigenous settlers of North Canada in Canada. They are made up of the Inuit, Metis and the First nation. Through archeological evidence old crow flats seem to the earliest known settlement sites for the aboriginals. Other archeological evidence reveals the following characteristics of the Aboriginal culture: ceremonial architecture, permanent settlement, agriculture and complex social hierarchy. A number of treaties and laws have been enacted amongst the First nation and European immigrants throughout Canada. For instance the Aboriginal self-government right was a step to assimilate them in Canadian society. This allows for a chance to manage
Reconciliation within Canada “To ‘reconcile’ is to weave a strong and more vibrant social fabric, based on the unique and diverse strengths of Canadians and their communities.” - Reconciliation Canada (“Who”). To be a reconciled nation means a country that embraces the differences of every race, culture and province. To understand the differences, and build a bond based on those distinctions. It has been Canada’s vision to become a reconciled nation where a close relationship exists between all Canadians.