Imbedded within Canadian history is immigration, beginning from the arrival of Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago, to the colonization by the Europeans, Canada was born from the idea immigration and the experience of new cultures. Primary influences on Canada goes back to the early British and French settlers that arrived, major parts of or multilingual statures arise from this, as well as the culture of the citizens. In opening its doors to immigration, Canada has created a society of mixed languages, cultures and religions. A major factor of the Canadian identity is multiculturalism, the conjoinment of the different cultures throughout the nation. The fundamental belief that all people are equal. Equality is an important term to note …show more content…
However, there exists a dark part in the nation. The nation puts forth the idea that it is accepting to all and puts forth notions of multiculturalism. Yet, when it comes to the creators of most Canada's oldest cultural groups, the nation turns a blind eye. For decades the First Nations people of Canada have taken a “backseat” to the other more “prominent” cultures or groups that exist. Only in recent times does one find recognition being given, in the form of apologies for Residential schools, or other atrocities. This concept is accurately summed up by Chief Dan George, in 1967. “My nation was ignored in your history textbooks.” This quote shows the dissatisfaction that many First Nations Canada's had held. In recent years, the nations has certainly come to terms with striving to appease everyone. Chief Dan George’s quote holds a truth to it, yet when put into full view the quote is based off of the time period from which is was first spoken for. 1967 Canada is vastly different from the Canada of toady. Important aspect of First Nations history was still occurring or had yet, in fact happened. 1967, may not have been to the most diverse or open to multiculturalism as today's society …show more content…
The First Nations people have only recently become the highlight and forefront of Canada. For decades they have felt alienated from both Canada socially and politically. Their diversity is an important aspect that the nation cannot afford to lose as in doing so the it would lose a part of its identity. Canada does not exist as a social concept, it is made up of the labours and history that arises from coast to coast. To take away a single piece of the nation would ruin what it means to be
Multiculturalism policy was first adopted in Canada in 1971, which reaffirms the dignity and value of all its citizens regardless of ethnic origins, race, religious affiliations, or language. Part of this policy, Canada confirms the rights of all the aboriginals along with the recognition of two official languages. Indeed, multiculturalism has great importance since its main purpose is to give equal treatment to all the citizens (Daniel, 2010). It ensures that all individual citizens could still maintain their identities, and have pride with their ancestry. Through this initiative, the Canadian government was able to give their citizens a feeling of self-confidence, making them more open to their diverse cultures. The multiculturalism policy
Glen Coulthard’s “Resentment and Indigenous Politics” discusses the politics of recognition that are currently utilized within Canada’s current framework of rectifying its colonial relationship with Indigenous peoples. Coulthard continues a discussion on reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the state that recognizes the three main methods of reconciliation: the diversity of individual and collective practices to re-establish a positive self relation, the act of restoring damaged social and political relationships and the process in which things are brought to agreement and made consistent.
First Nations are portrayed negatively in the media. In this article, the First Nations people are portrayed as just a lesson in history that everyone needs to be educated on. For instance, the article states, "100 per cent of Canadians understand the history, impact and legacy of residential schools"( “48% Of Non-Aboriginal Canadians Residential Schools Blame for Problems”). From the same article, the Aboriginal People are referred to having “special treatment” ; “In fact, of the 10 percent of respondents who said their impressions of Aboriginal people had worsened in the past
To start off, I’ll be writing about the life of people in British North America and its significance towards unifying Canada, as well as background knowledge of conflicts that existed. Life in British North America was changing at an alarming rate. New technology and services were being introduced such as railways and steamships. Industries such as building, producing and farming were being introduced. This was in part due to the many immigrants from Britain and France who’d settled. This was dreadful for the First Nations as their land had been taken away even more so than before. More resources were needed for the growing crowd so trade agreements were made. As more people came, the First Nations were even more distanced from the Europeans. Meanwhile, the French and the British wanted the other’s culture to be erased from the
Generations of native people in Canada have faced suffering and cultural loss as a result of European colonization of their land. Government legislation has impacted the lives of five generations of First Nations people and as a result the fifth generation (from 1980 to present) is working to recover from their crippled cultural identity (Deiter-McArthur 379-380). This current generation is living with the fallout of previous government policies and societal prejudices that linger from four generations previous. Unrepentant, Canada’s ‘Genocide’, and Saskatchewan’s Indian People – Five Generations highlight issues that negatively influence First Nations people. The fifth generation of native people struggle against tremendous adversity in regard to assimilation, integration, separation, and recovering their cultural identity with inadequate assistance from our great nation.
Her speech, delivered during a ceremony from which Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was notably absent, was titled “Statement of Reconciliation”. It was formally declared that this statement was the Canadian state’s response to the final report of RCAP. While it did acknowledge the commission’s position that colonial policy had been fundamentally misguided in its treatment of Indigenous peoples since pre-Confederation, the statement did not respond directly to the recommendations made by RCAP since as the dismantling of the Department of Indian Affairs or the establishment of an independent Aboriginal Parliament in Canada. Many Indigenous Canadians believed that Stewart’s statement lacked sincerity, especially since her speech deliberately omitted the word ‘apology’ as to avoid the potential legal implications of assuming this kind of responsibility for the abuses of students of Residential Schools. Others believed that the statement should have come from the Prime Minister
The truth according to Coon-Come is that Canada was created on “the racist notion of two founding peoples” (Coon-Come, 3). The English and French peoples in Canada refuse to accept the fact that true history supports neither their cause nor their aims, and for that reason First Nations people have long been subjected to racist policy and abuse from the government. Although First Nations peoples are seen as outsiders on the land, the truth is that they have been in their territories for thousands of years. Their nations have existed far longer than Canada has, and yet they are not consulted when making important decisions that will affect their territory. From Coon-Come’s point of view, the truth has been hidden in history by the struggles of the English and
There was a notable divide between Canada’s French and English-speaking population in the 1960s, as they each presented contrasting views of the country’s national identity. As the federal government faced what seemed like two separate nations embodied within a single country, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson assembled the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in July 1963. It was to evaluate the existing state of bilingualism and biculturalism and recommend the actions needed to alleviate the largely linguistic and cultural divides in Canada. Pearson’s directive was given at a time when Quebec was experiencing a period of great social and economic development through the Quiet Revolution, while English-Canada was grappling with the re-establishment of the country’s identity as the British definition of Canada was becoming increasingly rejected. This paper will assess bilingualism and biculturalism as it challenged national identity, seen through the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (RCBB) and the influence of the Quiet Revolution; which resulted in policy – the Official Languages Act in 1969 and the Official Multicultural Policy in 1971 – that ultimately shaped bilingualism and biculturalism within what became a multicultural framework in Canada.
While efforts are made to recognize aboriginals in the present day such as National Aboriginal Day (June 21) and gaining the right to vote, it can never erase the permanent scars Canadian society has caused to aboriginals. Most of the First Nations people today are living in poverty and are suffering from bad health. "Why do you allow the first people of this land to endure and live in Third World conditions?" a indigenous, female student from Saskatoon asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau answered, "Quite frankly ... this is a stain and a scar upon, not just our sense of who we are and our morality as Canadians, but on the kind of country we need to be building," (Justin
Imagine being taken from your family at the age of six. Being referred to as a number rather than a name. Receiving brutal and cruel punishments for speaking the only language you were taught. How would it impact your life? Unfortunately, this is the reality for millions of Canada's Indigenous population. The nation of Canada is known to the world for being a country of peace, love and equality. Individuals originating from different nationalities immigrate to Canada, in hopes to improve their standard of living and escape the horrors of their country. Moreover, Canadians have not always been as supportive and welcoming of new ethnicities populating Canadian territory as they portray themselves to be today. Indian Horse is known to be an insightful
The same settlers who founded Canadian land were exploited and left displaced, damaging the cultural identity they fought to the death for. This extensive conflicting past continues to elicit hostile behaviour towards First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities due to Western ideology. Facing this discrimination in identity,
The Indigenous population of Canada is one of the most forgotten about groups Canada has. Yes, we are beginning to recognise and apologise for the mistakes our great nation has made in the past, but we often forget that the Europeans were not the first living beings on Canadian soil. We had treated them so poorly throughout history; with assimilation, poor living arrangements, and the broken promises made, we as a nation owe them so much yet never seem to give them what they deserve: their rights and freedoms as the rightful first owners of Canada. This was the least I could do for
The word multiculturalism in Canada often stands for the nations diversity. The multiculturalism policy legislated in 1971 officially recognized and celebrated this diversity however it was not until 1988 that it became an actual law (Shields, 2015). Canada’s multiculturalism policy has served the nation well in providing a platform upon which to build a country that reflects not only the diversity within, but also the growing transnational nature of global society. Multiculturalism allows everyone to hold onto their own identities and gives them a sense of belonging (Week 8, Management of Cultural Diversity Canada). Unfortunately, despite these policies immigrants today are having trouble integrating not only socially but also economically and politically.
On one hand, Colonization brought Canada to be the country that exists today; but at what cost? Through the systematic degradation of the Indigenous peoples, Colonization, in turn, excluded the original history and culture of Canada by attempting to dismantle Canadian First Nations Peoples through failed treaty agreements, the Indian Act, and the implementation of residential schools. As Dwayne Donald acknowledges in his article "Edmonton Pentimento: Re-Reading History in the Case of the Papaschase Cree" Aboriginal history became completely separated from Euro-Canadian history (23) and as a result, not only did a large portion of Canada's population become segregated, but also, in turn, Canada lost a part of her identity as a whole. Such a loss fosters ambivalence in the national identity, which is a result of this absence in Canadian culture. In other words, colonization, ultimately, affects how Canadians perceive their nation because a great deal of Canadian First Nations People's culture was lost.
Canada’s First Nation communities have suffered and endured horrific and abominable racism that has been targeted towards them from the government following the colonization of their lands by the Europeans. Many indigenous and immigrant women have suffered racism and sexism that has been justified through the practice of colonialism and white supremacy. Unable to fight for themselves, they have been subjected to rape and torture and acts of violence to humiliate their communities and prove the supremacy and legitimacy of one race over all others. Women are always the biggest victims of colonialism and the practice of patriarchy because of their already low status in society, or in the case of Aboriginal women of Canada the loss of the high status