Fisher Contract And Conflict

In the books, Contract and Conflict: Indian European Relations in British Columbia, 1774-1890, by Robin Fisher (1977) and First Nations Identity and Reserve Life The Mikmaq of Nova Scotia, by Simone Pollandri (2011) explains the struggles of Indigenous Peoples suffered through in Canada. To the settlers, they were considered a problem in society, an obstacle that requires immediate attention to change their cultures and views. Since the time of Confederation for Canada, much of Indigenous Peoples were forcefully pushed to live in reserves and their rights stripped from them. Both texts expresses the great struggles Indigenous Peoples still have towards living in such an environment. In Sean Carleton’s article, Colonizing Minds: Public Education,

the “Textbook Indian,” and Settler Colonialism in British Columbia, 1920-1970”, he argues the struggles Indigenous peoples suffered both in past and present time. Though the government is more forgiving and accepting towards their cultural values, the restriction of certain limits to the First Nations still apply. This essay will address the use of different tone of texts in both texts books. The older text will use a style of tone that directs to the colonizers whereas the newer text directs the tone to fit Indigenous, shifting perspective to the Indigenous more towards them.
The two textbooks expresses contrasting differences with fruitful history embedded inside.

The following two paragraphs will explain the major differences. The first is the tone to both textbooks. Since they are two different time periods, the tone used is used in a very different way. In Fisher’s Contract and Conflict: Indian European Relations in British Columbia, 1774-1890, the tone set on the textbook was directed towards the settlers. This time period is set between the time before the Confederation and after when the provinces began to expand and join together as one in one country. In the last chapter in particular, explains the consolidation between the settlers and Indigenous people. “The 1870s and 1880s simply saw the continuation and consolidation of policies designed by settlers to meet their own requirements, while Indian needs continued to be ignored by government.” (p220) The term “Indian” was used in a matter that is directing them to be foreign and improperly named. To Carleton, this will considered insulting and unsupportive to indigenous for the settler’s perspective would consider indigenous to be uncivilized and

animalistic.
On the other hand, on Pollandri’s First Nations Identity and Reserve Life The Mikmaq of Nova Scotia, the tone shifts to focus on Indigenous perspectives within the reserves.

Since this text is recent text, the perspective of the text becomes more central and considerate to Indigenous. Though resentment remains present to the settlers and government for their laws, there is more consideration to Indigenous about their lifestyles and how culturally they are viewed. They are able to act their cultures without the laws bidding them down.
Through these two comparison of texts, this shows the cultural differences between two different groups of people. Because of their different cultural groups, getting along became difficult for the two groups. The two texts shows how the settlers treat Indigenous poorly and without regard of respect towards them. Even today much of the settlers living here still regard Indigenous poorly. The history between the two groups still bring tension to each

other.
Another difference from the two textbooks is the laws. Fisher’s Contract and Conflict: Indian European Relations in British Columbia, 1774-1890 is the time of constant development of relationships between the settlers and Indigenous peoples. However around the mid 1800s when the Confederation is in place, the freedom of Indigenous caused them to force to abide to the laws. The settlers still continued with their own development, whereas none of the laws go in favour with the Indigenous. Whereas in Pollandri’s First Nations Identity and Reserve Life The Mikmaq of Nova Scotia, the text describes a little more freedom in the reserves where they have the freedom to fight back their rights to get back what they need. Although there is still restriction to the laws, there are beginnings of showing to acceptance from the laws. For example, back in the 1900s, women who were married outside of the reserves no longer hold their Indian status and are forced to abandon it. In 1985, the government of Canada amended those laws to allow First Nations’ women to regain their Indian’ status so they can re-identify themselves as Indigenous. This is a beginning step of change to the government. There will be a continuous improvement to the laws to Indigenous so they would eventually gain recognition in society as an individual cultured group.
Finally there are similarities to the two textbooks. To Fisher, there are narration of politicians who fought back against the laws of that time period to regain the rights back to Indigenous, to compensate more towards the people. They felt there is ignorance of Indigenous peoples so they would use the law to help the fight of their rights. (p224) For Pollandri, she explains about the deprivation of Indigenous peoples suffering from mentality and of drugs. She narrates the experience of an elder living in Brook about the social problems Indigenous peoples have because there are much fighting and drugging of the younger people of the reserves. It is getting worse for the people living there. (p62) The government, however, is doing nothing to these matters. Carleton would see this as a problem to indigenous people society for it would indicate them to be violent and unstable. (p122) Indigenous are not violent and unstable for reality does not allow them to maintain their culture.
Overall the two textbooks, Contract and Conflict: Indian European Relations in British Columbia, 1774-1890 and First Nations Identity and Reserve Life The Mikmaq of Nova Scotia explains the big contrast between the settlers and Indigenous peoples. Through the struggles the two cultured groups faced, there still maintains a struggle still even today. With the laws set in place to keep them at bay and at times attitude, there should be a shift to how the settlers should view Indigenous peoples. Carleton would agree to maintaining a balance within the tension so both groups can bring an understanding to each other. Thus, the relationships between the two groups are to be examined.