The Negative Effects Of The Colonization Of Canada

When Canada was first inhabited by the First Nations people, the land was completely their own. They were free to inhabit and use the land in whichever manner they saw fit. However, since the arrival of the European settlers, the First Nations people have been mistreated in countless ways. They faced many issues throughout history, and are now facing even more serious problems in our modern society like having to endure racism, discrimination and social ridicule. Given what they already have to deal with, the last thing they should have to worry about is the denial of their rights which is a problem that Aboriginals have to contend with as well.

Economic imperialism is a central part of the ongoing contemporary colonization of indigenous peoples in Canada. Since the colonial era marked the beginning of imperialism in North America, an intricate web of power and domination have formed leaving Indigenous communities in the grip of its economic philosophy. This has led to the ongoing contribution to the disposition of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Economic imperialism can be defined as the need for countries to expand their territories in order to collect resources from their colonies. This illustrates the inherent unsustainability of colonial settler society. In this essay I will look at how the impacts of economic imperialism has had an effect on the development of the indigenous

Although the Canadian government has done a great deal to repair the injustices inflicted on the First Nations people of Canada, legislation is no where near where it needs to be to ensure future protection of aboriginal rights in the nation. An examination of the documents that comprise the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms reveal that there is very little in the supreme legal documents of the nation that protect aboriginal rights. When compared with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples it is clear that the Canadian Constitution does not acknowledge numerous provisions regarding indigenous people that the UN resolution has included. The most important of these provisions is the

These ‘White Papers’ focused on the social and economic problems that were rampant within the First Nation communities and was considered to be humane because of the fact that Native peoples were integrated within mainstream society [pp.6]. These problems were ‘highlighted’ through the result of various studies conducted by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from 1966 to 1969 and became the basis of the ‘White Paper’. Although the paper was ultimately defeated, these beliefs were brought into mainstream society and became a more idolized form of modernizing the Aboriginal peoples. This form of ‘helping’ the First Nations peoples was the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development [D.I.A.N.D] way of dissolving the First Nations reservations. These institutionalized ideologies were masked as social and economic reforms that addressed the First Nation communities [pp.5-6]. Such reforms include the state of welfare on First Nation communities, re-educating the youth, and the identification of a First Nations person according to the government, which also includes the apology that Prime Minister Harper spoke on June 11th, 2008. These ideals have become the driving force behind the United Nation’s ‘Universal Declaration of Indigenous Rights’. This declaration has yet to be signed by Canada for a variety of reasons, one of them being that it is in direct violation of Article 25, which is a right to social services and health

Due to the damage the Acts, policies, and treaties had towards Aboriginal individuals, communities, and cultures, there has been a focus on the reconciliation. The Acts, policies, and treaties have created a deep mistrust on the part of First Nations people towards the government. Especially the impact of the Indian Act, which led so many children to suffer as they were abused physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally while attending the Residential Schools. Thus, it is important to heal the relationship and come to a point where non-Natives support the Aboriginal people in the healing process and revitalizing the cultural and linguistic traditions that have been lost. Although there has been an apology by the Prime Minister of Canada and a promise to renew the relationship with Aboriginal people by our current government, Justin Trudeau, the Acts, policies, and treaties are still being used to put Aboriginal people in a disadvantaged position. For example, Indian Act, although amended, is still being used. The interview with one activist who is camping outside INAC office states, "We need to dismantle the Indian Act. We want to have our own affairs. We want to be able to negotiate better. The Indian Act just spreads more colonialism". Further as Thomas King states in the video, “Things haven 't changed... Still abrogate treaties..still losing land. The methodology has changed, but attitude has not changed.” This shows that there are still works to be done with

The First Nations were one of canada’s first victims. They were discriminated against, their land was taken away, their culture was destroyed and their children were taken to residential schools. They were called savages and were discriminated giants The europeans in Canada at that time created residential school to take the indian away from the indian Stripping away their identity from them. To convert them from “ the savages” to proper people. Which

When Europeans started visiting today’s Canada they saw aboriginals as an asset to them. They relied on the indigenous peoples for directions, food, fur, and to support their militaries. The Europeans started to settle on this new found country and were relying less and less on the Aboriginals. These settlers were making Canada their home and the Indians were seen as a burden when the fur trade stopped. The settlers, being more civilized, saw these First Nations peoples as savages and started pushing them away onto given land known as reservations with hopes that they could farm the land and sustain themselves. At this time, the indigenous population was decreasing due to a change in diet (since they were pushed away from their usual food

For many centuries the original inhabitants of Canada, the Aboriginals, have suffered at the hands of the government. From unrightly abducting their land to racial discrimination and forcing them to comply with Euro-Canadian culture, Indigenous people had every right to be enraged. Indigenous, or Aboriginal people is a title given to the original settlers and their descendants of North America. Indians (or First nations), Metis and Inuit, are 3 groups of distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs, and it is unfair to call them one. In Canada today, more than 1.7 million people identify themselves as an Aboriginal person. Amongst the many first nations communities here in Canada, The Algonquin people are the most recognized since their historic land deal with the federal and provincial government back in October 2016. Originally living in southern Quebec and eastern Ontario, today, Algonquin people have adapted to living in urban communities across these areas. Due to the changing in lifestyle, aboriginal people have had to adjust. To them land is much more than something you buy and own, it’s the thing that governs their spirituality intertwining their lives deeply with nature. With a switch in the way they feed themselves, clothes themselves, and protect themselves, it is destined for them to feel a sense of emptiness in their hearts. Most of Crown owned land has still to be returned today, and the loss of their

The Canadian native aboriginals are the original indigenous settlers of North 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 integrate them in Canadian society. This allows for a chance to manage cultural, historical, economic, political and healthcare of the indigenous people communities (Asch 21).

When looking at Canada as a whole, we often tend to overlook the past events of Indigenous groups who have suffered through Colonialism. As I read about this issue, I felt sympathy for the Indigenous peoples, as it was overwhelming for me to find out that this much discrimination has occurred in a nation as diverse and developed as Canada. Reading more about colonization helped me to make connections between the issues and topics I have learned about in class, and how they can be traced back to European contact with the Indigenous peoples. The Colonial powers in Canada rested in the hands of the British and the French, who declared sovereignty over the territories which rightfully belonged to the Indigenous peoples (Cochrane et al. 70). The worst effect of colonialism is the exploitation, domination, and subjugation of the people by the imperial power (Cochrane et al. 71). Due to the fact that their rights were determined solely by the white society’s rules, one of the only governance options left for Indigenous peoples was to become independent of the Canadian state (Cochrane et al. 87). The Royal Proclamation Act of 1763 guaranteed the protection of lands for Indians under the Crown, and required any colonists occupying Indian lands without the permission of the crown to evacuate; however, these rights to Indians have been much ignored (Cochrane et al. 70). During post-confederation, several treaties numbered 1-11 were created to allow aboriginals to claim land titles,

For indigenous people, acknowledging the impact of colonialism and the post-confederation government has had long lasting effects on the definition of national identity to the indigenous population. The aggressive policies and legislations created by British in the pre-confederation era and the post-confederation governments led to devastation in the indigenous communities in Canada and survived traditions are the foundations of today’s nations within (Manzano-Munguia, 2011, p. 404). The indigenous peoples of Canada have experienced the dark side of Canada’s history as throughout the years, governments “sought to assimilate and civilize” Canada’s First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (Manzano-Munguia, 2011, p. 404). More importantly, social and cultural structures of indigenous groups were destroyed by the British colonization. According to James Frideres, a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Calgary, “aboriginal social, religious, kinship, and economic institutions were ignored, rejected and replaced by Euro-Canadian institutions” (2008, p. 318).

A long, long time ago, the aboriginal people of Canada lived here in their motherland peacefully for the past thousands of years, celebrating their festivals and following their traditions. Suddenly one day, a group of white men arrived, thinking that this is where they will flourish for the rest of their lives. And through their contacts, the power, traditions, and history of the natives became nearly extinct. The nations of the aboriginals of Canada worsened in major aspects of their society since the European contact, and they could have been way better off without them. This contact did not demonstrate mutualism, but instead, parasitism, which I will

From the first contact between Aboriginal Peoples and European immigrants to the present day, the aim of Canadian government policy has been to assimilate the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The attempted forced abandonment of their culture was perpetrated through a variety of strategies including force, aggression and legalities. While historians and politicians may disagree about the motivations of Canadian policy, the impact has been irrefutable. In efforts to create one unified nation, successive governments failed to recognize their destructive actions. In this failure, Canada has come close to shattering the sub-nations and peoples who comprise them. This paper will review the government’s effort to absorb the Indigenous peoples’ culture, their refusal to assimilate, and will also identify potential strategies for future relations.

Treating all individuals, the same is a noble aspiration, perhaps even the noblest, however this ideal is better suited to fantasy worlds where varying people haven’t suffered indignities and loss under their fellow humans. To hold such beliefs requires one of two things: Either limited knowledge on the topic or a willingness to disregard the past, in this case the ever-spreading effects of colonialism. Personally, I fall under the latter. Despite my many years in the education system I cannot recall learning much on the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, in fact most of my information came from stereotypes from others or depictions in media. Consequently, I would also argue that some media, such as Assassin’s Creed III, presented Aboriginal people

Not only are there major differences in worldviews between Indigenous people and European people, but also the lasting impacts of policy within Canada have had a major impact on First Nations people and the economy. According to MacKinnon (2000), “Canada’s history of colonial policies has left a legacy of damage and despair that has had a direct impact on the social and economic outcomes of Aboriginal people (sec. 1). Economic development has a huge impact on the community as a whole. It not only looks after the economy, it also looks at the overall wellbeing of the community members. Naturally, First Nations people are not going to