African American Contact Analysis
First Nations- European Contact
From the moment the Europeans arrived on the coast of Northern America; the Indigenous people have felt the influence of their presence. From the start, this contact was beneficial to some of the Indigenous people, as they gained an ally in warfare and received many modern metal goods in trade. However, it did not take long for the negative effects of this contact to affect the Indigenous people. The contact affected and changed the Indigenous people of Canada socially, economically, politically, and culturally. The contact between Indigenous people and Europeans in North America started at the end of fifteenth century and has continued ever since. The Indigenous people welcomed the visitors, inviting them …show more content…
to participate in their existing economic and trading structures. They showed the sailors the best places to fish, hunt and how to survive cold, Canadian winters. Europeans gained many valuable things from Indigenous people: metal kettles, knives, guns, blankets, and other items. In return, the Indigenous people gave the Europeans animal furs, which the Europeans turned into coats and hats, and above all the skills needed to survive in an extensive land. The first French explorer that set foot in Canada and was socially active with the Indigenous people was Jacques Cartier. He made three trips to Canada. His first voyage was in 1534, his second voyage was in 1535 and his last voyage was in 1541. During his first voyage, he brought two ships with him and sixty-one men on board. Jacques Cartier and his men socialized with the Mi'kmaq (Indigenous tribe) and traded small items, in exchange for their friendship. As he leaves, returned home and makes his second voyage, he returned with three ships and brought 111 men on board. He explored further up the St. Lawrence River to the village of Stadacona (Quebec City) and Hochelaga (Montreal), unfortunately, Jacques Cartier and his men was not able to get his ships out of the St. Lawrence River before the ice formed, they were not prepared. Most of Cartier’s men were ill and dying of scurvy until the Iroquois showed them how to boil fronds of the white Cedar tree to produce a vitamin rich brew, which fought off the disease. After the devastating winter, he returned home and makes his last voyage. He was trying to set up a permanent colony in Canada, but he wasn't successful. They were hit by a devastating winter, which the food that he saved for him and his men was running low. There were also ongoing hostilities with the Iroquois and many people from Jacques Cartier and the Iroquois were killed. He returned home and it was his last trip to Canada. Warfare also promoted contact, at least with some Indigenous groups. Just as Europeans nations fought for variety of reasons, Indigenous groups fought among themselves for many reasons as well, such as, to acquire better hunting and fishing sites, to show courage and earn power, prestige, to take prisoners, and so on. Indigenous people then realized that the Europeans, with their guns, would make useful allies in war. Since the French were trading partners with Huron and Algonquin, they became allies and fought their enemies together. Later when French and English colonist had war the Indigenous people became allies with the French and it was the war of 1812. In regards to their contact, the Indigenous and Europeans traded their ideas, wealth and technologies to benefit from each other. However, it wasn’t all beneficial for both parties; they also faced negative effects from the contact such as measles, influenza and smallpox. These diseases sailed across Canada killing about half of the Huron people, as well as large numbers of Montagnais living coast of St. Lawrence River. When the disease spread, the indigenous people have come to realization to cut the ties they bind with the European. In addition, the fur trade was led to a pause, which did not benefit the Europeans at all. In mid-1800, after the war of 1812 was finished, French missionaries were on a mission to convert Christianity because they think that the indigenous religion were merely a superstition. These French missionaries were often referred to as black robes. This started the residential school to convert all indigenous to Christians. Children in residential schools were often harshly punished for practicing traditional spiritual beliefs. The indigenous sent their children to these schools for them to receive education, but they were mistaken. Life at schools was often dangerous and strict. Most of the days were learning Christian religious instruction, learning English or French, doing chores such as laundry, kitchen work and learning some practical skills. Boys were taught to of farming, carpentry, blacksmith and trading skills. Girls were taught household skills such as sewing and cooking, although they were taught skills, many of the students think that they were not prepared for life outside the schools. Many children died of illness or caught diseases such as tuberculosis which destroy their health. In a place where children aren’t taken care properly, the students did not learn well. The school broke the connection between children and their parents and culture. They were unable to reconnect with their families and culture and others suffered with physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Socially there are benefits from the contact such as the trades and ideas, but the negative effects are seen more because we care about these people. The presence of the Europeans provided a little disruption to traditional patterns of economic activity and expanded opportunities (and items) for trade, the creation of the fur trade has more impactful for many aboriginal people, because they earned items that made their life easier such as, Metal kettles, knives and other items. However, the fur trade also disrupted other economic resources such as fishing and hunting. Another economic impact was the income gap. Income inconsistency between aboriginal people and other Canadians is decreasing but remains “important and troubling” and will continue for decades without government support. Without government support, it will take 63 years for the income gap between first nations, metis, and Inuit and their non- aboriginal counterparts to disappear, e.g. In 1996 the average income of aboriginal Canadians was $12003; this was $9428 lower than the average income of other Canadians. Five years later, the average aboriginal income had grown to $16036, but it was still $9045 behind of other Canadians. By 2006, the gap had narrowed to $8135 when the average income of aboriginal increase to $18962. Not only did the Europeans disrupt their economic system, but the aboriginals were criticized and treated unfairly economically. The Europeans also impacted the indigenous politics with treaties, land claims, reserves etc. A treaty is a contract or legal document between two countries. The most common treaty is a peace treaty which includes, the return of conquered land, the return of prisoners and payments for certain damages. Other treaties are signed for collaboration and partnership which includes, fighting with each other in the event of a war, participating in a major construction project and trade. Regardless of what the treaty is, each party is responsible for following the rules and requirement of the treaty. This is a legal document that both parties agreed to honor. In 1608, the French were in control of New France.
During this time, the relationship of indigenous and French people was informal. There was no evidence regarding how the French were going to use the native land or the resources that they found there. In 1756 the New France and British were at war. The British won. As part of their peace treaty new France was transferred to British. They named it Quebec. When British took over they made a more formal relationship with the indigenous people with regards to the use of their land. In 1763 they signed the first treaty with the indigenous and it was known as royal proclamation of 1763. There are numerous of treaties created by the British government; however these treaties can be misinterpreted. The British and Canadian government had a misinterpretation of the treaty. The British thought that the native lands would be transferred over to them while the indigenous government did not believe in the concept of land ownership, for the treaties were an agreement to share their land to the British government. Another political impact was the 1969 white paper. The white paper is a law or act of parliament takes years to develop. Plenty of people in government must work for many years to get all their ideas together. During this time of information gathering a document of ideas emerges. The idea of white paper came from the Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He believes in a just society and democracy, where all of Canada’s citizens could participate equally. The aim or goal of the white paper was “to enable the aboriginal people to be free to develop Indian culture in an environment of legal, social and economic equality with other Canadians.” Although the indigenous saw this to assimilate them and that if this happens they will lose their right for the land. Harold Cardinal was a native leader that wrote the book unjust society to contradict Pierre Trudeau’s white paper. Another political impact is the Indian act. When
Canada became an independent country, it was in 1867 and in 1876, a federal law known as the Indian act was created. The Indian act consist of status Indians and non- status Indians. A status Indian is an aboriginal person whose ancestors signed one of the treaties. These people have the right to services that were promised to them through the treaties. They were not treated fairly. They did not have the right to vote, if they intended to, they would have to give up their status. This meant they could no longer get services promised to them in the treaties. It was not until 1960 that the aboriginal people could vote without having to give up their status. There are also some ways of losing a status such as earning a university degree, marrying a non-native man and being a soldier. Also, the politics of the indigenous dealt with land claims specifically comprehensive land claims when the Europeans impacted Canada. The James Bay and northern Quebec agreement was the first major comprehensive land claim. It began in 1971, when hydro Quebec was going to build hydroelectric dams of east of James Bay. These dams would have flooded over 10,000 square kilometers of land. The 10,000 Cree and Inuit people that lived in the area never signed a treaty with any government and believed that they still had title to the land. Not wanting to risk a battle in the courts, the federal government agreed to negotiate with the Cree and Inuit people. The James Bay and northern Quebec agreement of 1975 resulted from these negotiations. In these agreements, the Cree and the Inuit received: 232.5 million over 20 years, special economic assistance, ownership of 5,500 square kilometers of undeveloped land, hunting and fishing rights over 129500 square kilometers of undeveloped land, and a veto over mineral resource development. This is just one example of a land claim; another example is specific land claims. It occurs when a treaty has already been signed but the aboriginal people feel that some of the provisions in the treaty have not been met or have been violated by either the federal or provincial governments. In a specific land claim, the main issue must do with land. Specifically, the aboriginal people feel that the amount of land that makes up their reserve is not what original promised to them in the treaty. Finally, are the reserves. They are found across Canada and they are the small areas of land. The reserves are large enough for the native people to carry on the traditional hunting and fishing practices. However, on most reserves, there is not much more to do. The reserves that are in the northern regions of Canada or on the Canadian Shield do not have the climate to or soil to support the agriculture. Some reserve is isolated that the only way to get there is by plane. This increase the cost of living as everything needs to be flown into the community. In the winter, a path can be cleared on the frozen rivers and lakes and trucks can drive supplies to the reserves. These are called winter roads. Not all reserves are economically poor. Some reserves in the south have excellent land for agriculture. From social, economic, and political factors that happen from the impact it leads to the changed of their culture. The change of their culture was based by the missionaries and residential schools. The French missionaries set foot to change the indigenous religion to Christianity because they thought that it was merely a superstition. Beginning in the nineteenth century the children were forced away from their families and attended residential schools which also forced them to abandon their culture and forbid to speak on their own language. This led the indigenous people to have different language and different tradition. Also, when residential school occurred their tradition was not practiced, as they practice the rule of Christianity. These four aspect that was affected by the Europeans shaped what Canada is now, although we see it as a positive result there is always negative consequences such residential schools, the diseases and so on. However, let's also consider the fact that the European became a teacher of Canada to regulate the law and rules by putting up treaties, without treaties we would have chaos in our society. The relationship of the indigenous people and Europeans was a significant piece of Canada’s history as it shaped its country socially, economically, politically and culturally.
From the moment the Europeans arrived on the coast of Northern America; the Indigenous people have felt the influence of their presence. From the start, this contact was beneficial to some of the Indigenous people, as they gained an ally in warfare and received many modern metal goods in trade. However, it did not take long for the negative effects of this contact to affect the Indigenous people. The contact affected and changed the Indigenous people of Canada socially, economically, politically, and culturally. The contact between Indigenous people and Europeans in North America started at the end of fifteenth century and has continued ever since. The Indigenous people welcomed the visitors, inviting them …show more content…
to participate in their existing economic and trading structures. They showed the sailors the best places to fish, hunt and how to survive cold, Canadian winters. Europeans gained many valuable things from Indigenous people: metal kettles, knives, guns, blankets, and other items. In return, the Indigenous people gave the Europeans animal furs, which the Europeans turned into coats and hats, and above all the skills needed to survive in an extensive land. The first French explorer that set foot in Canada and was socially active with the Indigenous people was Jacques Cartier. He made three trips to Canada. His first voyage was in 1534, his second voyage was in 1535 and his last voyage was in 1541. During his first voyage, he brought two ships with him and sixty-one men on board. Jacques Cartier and his men socialized with the Mi'kmaq (Indigenous tribe) and traded small items, in exchange for their friendship. As he leaves, returned home and makes his second voyage, he returned with three ships and brought 111 men on board. He explored further up the St. Lawrence River to the village of Stadacona (Quebec City) and Hochelaga (Montreal), unfortunately, Jacques Cartier and his men was not able to get his ships out of the St. Lawrence River before the ice formed, they were not prepared. Most of Cartier’s men were ill and dying of scurvy until the Iroquois showed them how to boil fronds of the white Cedar tree to produce a vitamin rich brew, which fought off the disease. After the devastating winter, he returned home and makes his last voyage. He was trying to set up a permanent colony in Canada, but he wasn't successful. They were hit by a devastating winter, which the food that he saved for him and his men was running low. There were also ongoing hostilities with the Iroquois and many people from Jacques Cartier and the Iroquois were killed. He returned home and it was his last trip to Canada. Warfare also promoted contact, at least with some Indigenous groups. Just as Europeans nations fought for variety of reasons, Indigenous groups fought among themselves for many reasons as well, such as, to acquire better hunting and fishing sites, to show courage and earn power, prestige, to take prisoners, and so on. Indigenous people then realized that the Europeans, with their guns, would make useful allies in war. Since the French were trading partners with Huron and Algonquin, they became allies and fought their enemies together. Later when French and English colonist had war the Indigenous people became allies with the French and it was the war of 1812. In regards to their contact, the Indigenous and Europeans traded their ideas, wealth and technologies to benefit from each other. However, it wasn’t all beneficial for both parties; they also faced negative effects from the contact such as measles, influenza and smallpox. These diseases sailed across Canada killing about half of the Huron people, as well as large numbers of Montagnais living coast of St. Lawrence River. When the disease spread, the indigenous people have come to realization to cut the ties they bind with the European. In addition, the fur trade was led to a pause, which did not benefit the Europeans at all. In mid-1800, after the war of 1812 was finished, French missionaries were on a mission to convert Christianity because they think that the indigenous religion were merely a superstition. These French missionaries were often referred to as black robes. This started the residential school to convert all indigenous to Christians. Children in residential schools were often harshly punished for practicing traditional spiritual beliefs. The indigenous sent their children to these schools for them to receive education, but they were mistaken. Life at schools was often dangerous and strict. Most of the days were learning Christian religious instruction, learning English or French, doing chores such as laundry, kitchen work and learning some practical skills. Boys were taught to of farming, carpentry, blacksmith and trading skills. Girls were taught household skills such as sewing and cooking, although they were taught skills, many of the students think that they were not prepared for life outside the schools. Many children died of illness or caught diseases such as tuberculosis which destroy their health. In a place where children aren’t taken care properly, the students did not learn well. The school broke the connection between children and their parents and culture. They were unable to reconnect with their families and culture and others suffered with physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Socially there are benefits from the contact such as the trades and ideas, but the negative effects are seen more because we care about these people. The presence of the Europeans provided a little disruption to traditional patterns of economic activity and expanded opportunities (and items) for trade, the creation of the fur trade has more impactful for many aboriginal people, because they earned items that made their life easier such as, Metal kettles, knives and other items. However, the fur trade also disrupted other economic resources such as fishing and hunting. Another economic impact was the income gap. Income inconsistency between aboriginal people and other Canadians is decreasing but remains “important and troubling” and will continue for decades without government support. Without government support, it will take 63 years for the income gap between first nations, metis, and Inuit and their non- aboriginal counterparts to disappear, e.g. In 1996 the average income of aboriginal Canadians was $12003; this was $9428 lower than the average income of other Canadians. Five years later, the average aboriginal income had grown to $16036, but it was still $9045 behind of other Canadians. By 2006, the gap had narrowed to $8135 when the average income of aboriginal increase to $18962. Not only did the Europeans disrupt their economic system, but the aboriginals were criticized and treated unfairly economically. The Europeans also impacted the indigenous politics with treaties, land claims, reserves etc. A treaty is a contract or legal document between two countries. The most common treaty is a peace treaty which includes, the return of conquered land, the return of prisoners and payments for certain damages. Other treaties are signed for collaboration and partnership which includes, fighting with each other in the event of a war, participating in a major construction project and trade. Regardless of what the treaty is, each party is responsible for following the rules and requirement of the treaty. This is a legal document that both parties agreed to honor. In 1608, the French were in control of New France.
During this time, the relationship of indigenous and French people was informal. There was no evidence regarding how the French were going to use the native land or the resources that they found there. In 1756 the New France and British were at war. The British won. As part of their peace treaty new France was transferred to British. They named it Quebec. When British took over they made a more formal relationship with the indigenous people with regards to the use of their land. In 1763 they signed the first treaty with the indigenous and it was known as royal proclamation of 1763. There are numerous of treaties created by the British government; however these treaties can be misinterpreted. The British and Canadian government had a misinterpretation of the treaty. The British thought that the native lands would be transferred over to them while the indigenous government did not believe in the concept of land ownership, for the treaties were an agreement to share their land to the British government. Another political impact was the 1969 white paper. The white paper is a law or act of parliament takes years to develop. Plenty of people in government must work for many years to get all their ideas together. During this time of information gathering a document of ideas emerges. The idea of white paper came from the Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He believes in a just society and democracy, where all of Canada’s citizens could participate equally. The aim or goal of the white paper was “to enable the aboriginal people to be free to develop Indian culture in an environment of legal, social and economic equality with other Canadians.” Although the indigenous saw this to assimilate them and that if this happens they will lose their right for the land. Harold Cardinal was a native leader that wrote the book unjust society to contradict Pierre Trudeau’s white paper. Another political impact is the Indian act. When
Canada became an independent country, it was in 1867 and in 1876, a federal law known as the Indian act was created. The Indian act consist of status Indians and non- status Indians. A status Indian is an aboriginal person whose ancestors signed one of the treaties. These people have the right to services that were promised to them through the treaties. They were not treated fairly. They did not have the right to vote, if they intended to, they would have to give up their status. This meant they could no longer get services promised to them in the treaties. It was not until 1960 that the aboriginal people could vote without having to give up their status. There are also some ways of losing a status such as earning a university degree, marrying a non-native man and being a soldier. Also, the politics of the indigenous dealt with land claims specifically comprehensive land claims when the Europeans impacted Canada. The James Bay and northern Quebec agreement was the first major comprehensive land claim. It began in 1971, when hydro Quebec was going to build hydroelectric dams of east of James Bay. These dams would have flooded over 10,000 square kilometers of land. The 10,000 Cree and Inuit people that lived in the area never signed a treaty with any government and believed that they still had title to the land. Not wanting to risk a battle in the courts, the federal government agreed to negotiate with the Cree and Inuit people. The James Bay and northern Quebec agreement of 1975 resulted from these negotiations. In these agreements, the Cree and the Inuit received: 232.5 million over 20 years, special economic assistance, ownership of 5,500 square kilometers of undeveloped land, hunting and fishing rights over 129500 square kilometers of undeveloped land, and a veto over mineral resource development. This is just one example of a land claim; another example is specific land claims. It occurs when a treaty has already been signed but the aboriginal people feel that some of the provisions in the treaty have not been met or have been violated by either the federal or provincial governments. In a specific land claim, the main issue must do with land. Specifically, the aboriginal people feel that the amount of land that makes up their reserve is not what original promised to them in the treaty. Finally, are the reserves. They are found across Canada and they are the small areas of land. The reserves are large enough for the native people to carry on the traditional hunting and fishing practices. However, on most reserves, there is not much more to do. The reserves that are in the northern regions of Canada or on the Canadian Shield do not have the climate to or soil to support the agriculture. Some reserve is isolated that the only way to get there is by plane. This increase the cost of living as everything needs to be flown into the community. In the winter, a path can be cleared on the frozen rivers and lakes and trucks can drive supplies to the reserves. These are called winter roads. Not all reserves are economically poor. Some reserves in the south have excellent land for agriculture. From social, economic, and political factors that happen from the impact it leads to the changed of their culture. The change of their culture was based by the missionaries and residential schools. The French missionaries set foot to change the indigenous religion to Christianity because they thought that it was merely a superstition. Beginning in the nineteenth century the children were forced away from their families and attended residential schools which also forced them to abandon their culture and forbid to speak on their own language. This led the indigenous people to have different language and different tradition. Also, when residential school occurred their tradition was not practiced, as they practice the rule of Christianity. These four aspect that was affected by the Europeans shaped what Canada is now, although we see it as a positive result there is always negative consequences such residential schools, the diseases and so on. However, let's also consider the fact that the European became a teacher of Canada to regulate the law and rules by putting up treaties, without treaties we would have chaos in our society. The relationship of the indigenous people and Europeans was a significant piece of Canada’s history as it shaped its country socially, economically, politically and culturally.