Preview

Aboriginal Fault Line Analysis

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Fault Line

Aljun Lagria
11117601
5 Pages
Sept 19, 2014

The term aboriginal is used to classify the first inhabitants to occupy the landmass of what is called Canada today. The different indigenous groups classified as aboriginal of Canada lived a harmonious life, relying on the land and what it had to offer to suffice their daily need. Thousands of year later, Europeans of English and French descent began exploration and managed to touch base on land that was first inhabited by the aboriginals. Upon their arrival, the Europeans were much more civilized and advanced when it came to tools and weaponry, which they traded for fur with
…show more content…

These schools lasted from the 1880 up to the end of the 20th century with its primary objective of educating aboriginal children and take the Indian out of the child. This strategy was very damaging as children were separated from their families for extended periods and were prohibited from all cultural aspects of their aboriginal heritage. Children were severely punished for wrong doings and were subjected physical, psychological and sexual abuse. Residential schools damaged aboriginal culture and disrupted families all across Canada. The damaging effect has carried on for several generations and still exists in modern Canadian society. Since the young aboriginals were taken away at a young age, they did not have the nurturing from their families and lacked knowledge and skill on how to raise their own families. The environment of not knowing how to raise a family is very cyclical and continues to have devastating effects in today’s aboriginal communities. The implementation of residential schools was very devastating and was a form of cultural genocide (Hanson, 2011).The Canadian Government has tried resolving the issue by paying a 1.9 billion compensation package to the thousand of aboriginals affect by the Residential School system. Although the compensation budget and a formal apology by the prime minister is a kind gesture for Canada’s realization for the harm its …show more content…

According to Robert Bone, The term treaty generally included cash gratuities, and presents during the signing. Treaties between the two groups promised education, agricultural assistance, Rights to hunt and fish on crown land until such land was required for other purposes and land reserves to be held by the crown and entrusted to the Indian (Bone, 2011).Conflicts between the two signing parties of the treaties has arose during Canada in the 20th century as each group had different perceptions of the treaty agreements . This issue has caused a divide and has contributed tot the fault line between the two groups. The Crowns understanding of the treaties were that they would diminish aboriginal rights and their title to lands in hopes of having available land for agricultural advancements. As for the aboriginals, they understood it as an agreement to share the land and resources. With the two different perceptions of the treaties between the groups, conflict was bound to happen. An example of where conflict would occur was when government would sell crown land to corporations for extraction resources with out compensating the aboriginals. Many aboriginals lived on Crown land and the large corporations would destroy their natural way of life as they would interfere with hunting, trapping, fishing, and any many other resources needed to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the article “Improve Aboriginal Health through Oral History,” which was published in the Toronto Star on Sunday, May 2, 2010, the author Nicholas Keung discusses the childhood of aboriginal in residential school and its effect on the healthy relationships.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Series of traumatic events occurred while residential school were running, but it left a scars on aboriginal people forever. As an aboriginal women I get a lot of understanding from Pauline Johnsons “As it was in the beginning”, growing up on the Six Nation Reserve and having meet people who have experienced the same things as Pauline. Residential schools were open between the 1980’s and the 1990’s and the last school did not close until 1996, the year I was born. Pauline writes, “No more, no more the tepees; no more the wild stretch of prairie, the intoxicating fragrance of the smoke-tanned buckskin; no more the bed of buffalo hide, the soft, silent moccasin; no more the dark faces of my people, the dulcet cadence of the sweet Cree tongue”…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the past few decades, there has been many distinct perspectives and conflicts surrounding the historical context between the Indigenous peoples in Canada and the Canadian Government. In source one, the author P.J Anderson is trying to convey that the absolute goal of the Indian Residential School system in Canada has been to assimilate the Indian nation and provide them with guidance to “ forget their Indian habits”, and become educated in the “ arts of civilized life”, in order to help them integrate into society and “become one” with their “White brethren”. It is clearly evident throughout the source that the author is supportive of the Indian residential school system and strongly believes that this system was beneficial to the integration…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When the early settlers of the Americas arrived on the East coast of what is now Canada, they discovered a people that was remarkably different from their own. First impressions would deem these people as “uncivilized” (source) “savages” (source) who lived “miserable lives” (source). However, as time went on the settlers began to realize just how deeply rooted this Aboriginal culture really was. The Mi’kmaq lived a simple nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, able to recognize the stars and changing of the seasons leading them to a variety of different sources of food dependant on the season. Culturally they were a spiritual group, one that believed to live with the earth, not…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This story is important because it situates Indigenous people within the historic and contemporary nation building processes of Canada and connects their original claim to the land with the the colonial injustices of Europeans. In depicting Europeans as a settler population within Canada, Indigenous people are able to redefine their identity as intrinsically linked to their original land rights. This identification conflicts with the Eurocentric portrayal of Indigeneity, which treats Indigenous Canadians as Other. In addition, this self-segregation by Indigenous populations “…implies a high degree of solidarity among group members” (Rosenberg, 24). This is crucial in creating political unity and achieving collective political aspirations.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thesis: The government’s failure to adequately support the Indigenous peoples of Canada is highlighted in how poorly the following three cases or events were handled: residential schools, the Harper apology, and the current living conditions on reserves. The federal government excused and participated in the abuse in residential schools, failed to take action against the pain inflicted upon residential school survivors and family, and continued to allow current Indigenous peoples to live in terrible living conditions. Residential schools were a collaborative effort between the federal government and Eurocentric religious institutions to assimilate Indigenous children into the Euro-Canadian culture but had resulted in causing long-term…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First Nations people have time and again been a target of assimilation and colonization throughout history. During the time Canada took power away from Britain, First Nations people endured change in policy and again, how they were to live their lives. These changes are both good and bad, however the government never sees First Nations people for who they are: a strong and resilient people. The Bagot commission was underway and had many recommendations about First Nations people and their land. Positive policies were enforced including, acts involving the “protection of Indians”. These acts kept the land of First Nations people protected. However, the goal of the government was still assimilation and colonization. Canada made an enfranchisement law, which allowed First Nations people to give up their land in return for money and citizenship. The Bagot commission was an immense change for First Nations people.…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The aboriginal population are one of the most violently oppressed groups in Canada’s History. Some say to advance as a society and reach an equal ground we have to move on looking to a bright future, but some would say to move on we need to address the issues caused by the past that still shadow aboriginal communities today. I firmly believe that to solve the problem, we must fully realise it. I am inclined to believe that this is the land God gave to Cain. “ - Jacques Cartier. This quote from famed Canadian explorer Jacques Cartier explains his thoughts on the land found by him and his crew. It started in 1534, Jacques Cartier a french explorer took one small step for man and pushed the Canadian indigenous 50 steps back. Exploring the St. Lawrence river, Cartier set base. One year later he would find what is now Montreal, welcomed with open arms by the Iroquois people who were already settled there. Cartier and his men would soon continue to search north America for gold and diamonds. Cartier set a standard for Canadian exploration and would be followed by many others. History paints Cartier as a hero, despite the accounts of murder, rape and other crimes committed by him and his crew members. Looking back to the quote, an underlying entitlement based on faith and status must be acknowledged in able to see why the problems are still…

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beaver Cap Essay

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Indigenous people of North America were hunters. They just not hunted at will for food but also did it for cultural survival by making clothing out of animal skins. When Europe discovered Canada, meeting the aboriginals brought a new sense to both groups. The differences between them interested both cultures; However, Europeans were more weaponry…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aboriginals have inhabited the region of "Canada" as far back as historical records exist. From the first contact, Europeans have had a negative impact on Aboriginals. Disease and loss of land contributed to the rapidly declining number of Native peoples prior to the development of Canada. As opposed to the French influence, the English colonial culture was especially destructive. Aboriginals achieved some benefits by allying with the French. During New France times, the French lived among the Aboriginals and learned their culture and way of life. After the American Revolution, the British acquired land treaties with Aboriginal nations to support their growing immigration to Canada. Today, Aboriginals are still fighting for their rights and…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Canada's Natives Changes

    • 1812 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Throughout history, mankind attempted to explore and discover everything in this world. The Europeans, for example, attempted to discover further than Europe. From Western Europe, the French reached Canada, and since then, many changes were occurred to Canada’s natives. Since the first encounter between the French settlers and Indigenous people, numerous drastic and irreversible changes to the land and society occurred. These changes include the creation of a complex and interdependent relationship between both groups. For example, the French were introduced to a completely different environment, where the natives had to face and adjust to an entirely different race in their land. The aboriginals were fascinated by the French’s unique merchandize…

    • 1812 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    This view translated into the founding of a school system, recognized as the residential school system. Originally opening in Eastern Canadian provinces beginning in the 1880s, residential schools flourished and rapidly spread across the nation, and during its peak period of the 1930s, established over eighty operating institutions country-wide (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2008). Residential schools were introduced by the Department of Indian Affairs as a way of “integration” of Indigenous peoples into Euro-Canadian society, through schooling Indigenous youth (usually seven to fifteen-year-olds) Canadian practices and “formal” education, being taught by missionaries of various Christian denominations. Children were removed from their family (in some cases, through force), and sent to attend residential schools, where they were forbidden to speak their native languages, or to observe their Indigenous customs, traditions, and practices. The goals of the residential schools were simple – to “kill the Indian in the child” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada).…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    However Canada tries to hide a dirty little secret, and that happens to be residential school. Residential schools came to into effect in the early 1870s and the last one was not close until 1996.("The Residential School System."). As mentioned earlier, the charter was no created until 1982, this means Canadians were breaking the first section of the charter, which are the fundamental freedoms ("Rights and Freedoms in Canada."). Residential schools were designed to "kill the Indian in the child"("The Residential School System."). Contrary to what the public believed back in the 1870s, these schools were not always the best for the children, they were taking from their families and force to follow a religion and language that was not their own.("The Residential School System.") Canadian aboriginals were subjected to all kinds of abuse while attending these schools. ("The Residential School System.") Emotional, Psychological, physical and most importantly sexual abuse were found in almost every school.("The Residential School System.") Many Canadians are under the notion that residential schools were designed to teach aboriginal children about catholic religion, this is not the truth.The truth is that residential schools were also underfunded compared to the white schools.("The Residential School System.") and although the children were taught Christianity, the children were groomed to became house maids or farmers.("The Residential School System.") The majority of children who were sent away at the age of 18 only had a fifth-grade education. ("The Residential School System.")this type of Trauma had to be endured by many generations of Canadian aboriginals. The so call " free" education came with a deadly price.In 1907, medical inspector P.H. Bryce reported that 24 percent aboriginal children were dying in residential homes, this number did not counter in the number of death of children…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Aboriginal Inequality

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Aboriginals, which include first nations people, were the first people of Canada however, the treatment they receive today shows otherwise. Aboriginal treaties, Westphalia Treaty of 1648, that were established in Canada in the mid-seventeenth century were used to “harmonize discovery and conquest principles” (Frideres, 2000). The land that Aboriginals occupied was more than just land to them, they felt a connection with Mother Nature and they established roles in their families that helped them create a working community. Without even trying to understand how Aboriginals felt about their treaties and their land the British Common Law abolished Aboriginal…

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    When Europeans first came to the New World, there was a language barrier between them and the aboriginals. To show peace, each side would trade some goods to create a bond between them and show that they can trust each other. The Europeans would trade tools and other European goods for furs from the Aboriginals. The Aboriginals needed the tools and the Europeans wanted the furs to make a big profit. With the great demand for furs from Europe and the Aboriginal need for the tools, the fur trade became a major part of the relationship between the Europeans and Aboriginals. While the Europeans made a lot of money and thrived in the fur trade, the Aboriginals did not fair as well. The fur trade was a like a business and there was a lot of competition between the Aboriginal tribes. Aboriginal tribes would frequently get into conflicts with each other. The Aboriginals would also get sick after making contact with the European traders. The European goods that were traded to them were also bad for the Aboriginals and demoralized their culture. The fur trade was a devastating time for the Aboriginals that caused the deaths of many, conflict between them, and it caused them to lose their way of life.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays