First Nation Assimilation: Multiculturalism Encourages Diversity Of Culture
Canadian First Nation Assimilation
The definition of Multiculturalism is that the belief that it is important and good to include people or ideas from many different countries, races, or religions in my dictionary. (Genuius English Dictionary) This is not the only and right definition, but generally, Multiculturalism allows diversity of culture. Advance of internet and the economy, modern people have more opportunity to meet people from other countries than before because of advance of science. There is little racially homogeneous nation. It is important to think about Multiculturalism to live with different race and culture. Of course, Multiculturalism is not an absolutely right, sometimes it cause opposition between races. In the past history, there were many cases that one ruled another by force …show more content…
lacking concept of Multiculturalism. Now, Canada is famous for its multicultural society. (“Today is Canadian Multiculturalism Day”, June, 27, 2013) However, from 19th century, the Canadian government practiced “aggressive assimilation” to the first nation people. This policy was a failure, and the government has since apologized.
Most anthropologists agree that North America first nations came from Siberia through the Bering Sea 10,000 ~30,000 years ago. (Government of Canada2010) There were many kinds of first nations existed when Europe explorers came Canada for the first time. Responding each area, environment, some tribes lived one place and did some agriculture, other tribes lived by hunting. (Government of Canada 2010) Some tribes were aggressive, other tribes were not. (Government of Canada 2010) They believe there is strong relationship between human and creature. (Government of Canada 2010) In their art, there are many pictures that it has human body, but the head is animal. (Government of Canada 2010) That famous Totem pole is created by first nation. (Government of Canada 2010) As stated above, they have an own culture and land, but it was about to vanish. Canadian people who came to Canada later tried to assimilate them.
Assimilation
In 19th century, Canadian government started policy which is called “aggressive assimilation”. (CBC News 2008) Basic concept is that the policy for first nation to success in modern society because government think first nation are barbarian and they need help to adopt rapidly modernizing society. (CBC News 2008) Unbelievably, government kidnapped first nation children by using snacks. (CBC News 2008) The reason they aim children is that children is easier to change than adult and if children change, whole tribes will change because they will be adult with modern culture. Children were brought to residential school by force and they had to live in there. Approximately, 150,000 children were taken in sum. (CBC News 2008) In the residential school, they had to wear formal suit substitute for their traditional cloth. Moreover, they had to speak English, not their language. If they speak their language, they were punished. There were physical abuse and mental abuse, also sexual abuse in the residential school. (CBC News 2008) They were taught Christianity and basic education. They lived in there 10 month in a year. (CBC News 2008)
The result of this assimilation was failure. Condition of the residential school was bad and educational level was also low. (CBC News 2008) As a result, after graduate the school, first nation people could not get jobs. In addition, life in residential school made them nobody. They seldom have an opportunity to send normal first nation’ life, so when they back to their home, they do not know how to behave. They did not have skill to live in nature, to help their parents and also they could not get jobs. Their lives were totally destroyed by assimilation.
After 1960’s, Canadian government made many policy to support first nation without assimilation. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) Current situation is not good comparing non-first nation people. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) There is a huge income gap between first nation and non-first nation in Canada. First nation’s GDP is almost half of non-first nation’s it. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) Moreover, their unemployment rate is 50%. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) In addition, young first nation’s suicide rate is 5-6 times higher than non-first nation. (Canadian Mental Health Association) Comparing past, they have a right to vote and welfare support, it can say their condition is improving, but there are still gap.
In, 2008 Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper apologized for assimilation. (Mark Borrie) The government recognize that assimilation was failure and absence of apologize as below
“The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian Residential Schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language. While some former students have spoken positively about their experiences at residential schools, these stories are far overshadowed by tragic accounts of the emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect of helpless children, and their separation from powerless families and communities.” (Website of Stephen Harper ) In conclusion, when assimilation had occurred, government believed it was right, but Canadian government apologized for it because now government regards that was a failure. Taking children from family is absolutely wrong apparently, people must be careful not to repeat a tragedy like the aggressive assimilation in Canada.
References
Today is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. (n.d.). CanadaVisa.com. Retrieved June, 27, 2013. from http://www.canadavisa.com/news/entry/today-is-canadian-multiculturalism-day.html
A history of residential schools in Canada.
(n.d.). CBC News Retrieved May, 16, 2008 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-residential-schools.html
About the first nations. (n.d.) Government of Canadal Retrieved April, 26, 2010 from http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/about-a_propos/faq-first_nations-indien.aspx?lang=jpn
Dr.Lou Hammond Ketilson (2001, March) A report on Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada
Current Situation and Potential for Growth Retrieved from http://www.coopscanada.coop/assets/firefly/files/files/pdfs/Research/MainReport.pdf
Suicide Among Aboriginal People in Canada. (n.d.). Canadian Mental Health Associtation
Retrieved 2013 from http://london.cmha.ca/mental_health/suicide-among-aboriginal-people-in-canada/#.Ucua2ue-2So Canada Apologizes for Century of Native Assimilation Policy (Mark Borrie) Retrieved January 12 1993 from http://www.monitor.net/monitor/9801a/canadasorry.html
Prime Minister Harper offers full apology on behalf of Canadians for the Indian Residential Schools system. (n.d.). Website of Stephan Harper June, 11, 2008 Retrieved from
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2149
The definition of Multiculturalism is that the belief that it is important and good to include people or ideas from many different countries, races, or religions in my dictionary. (Genuius English Dictionary) This is not the only and right definition, but generally, Multiculturalism allows diversity of culture. Advance of internet and the economy, modern people have more opportunity to meet people from other countries than before because of advance of science. There is little racially homogeneous nation. It is important to think about Multiculturalism to live with different race and culture. Of course, Multiculturalism is not an absolutely right, sometimes it cause opposition between races. In the past history, there were many cases that one ruled another by force …show more content…
lacking concept of Multiculturalism. Now, Canada is famous for its multicultural society. (“Today is Canadian Multiculturalism Day”, June, 27, 2013) However, from 19th century, the Canadian government practiced “aggressive assimilation” to the first nation people. This policy was a failure, and the government has since apologized.
Most anthropologists agree that North America first nations came from Siberia through the Bering Sea 10,000 ~30,000 years ago. (Government of Canada2010) There were many kinds of first nations existed when Europe explorers came Canada for the first time. Responding each area, environment, some tribes lived one place and did some agriculture, other tribes lived by hunting. (Government of Canada 2010) Some tribes were aggressive, other tribes were not. (Government of Canada 2010) They believe there is strong relationship between human and creature. (Government of Canada 2010) In their art, there are many pictures that it has human body, but the head is animal. (Government of Canada 2010) That famous Totem pole is created by first nation. (Government of Canada 2010) As stated above, they have an own culture and land, but it was about to vanish. Canadian people who came to Canada later tried to assimilate them.
Assimilation
In 19th century, Canadian government started policy which is called “aggressive assimilation”. (CBC News 2008) Basic concept is that the policy for first nation to success in modern society because government think first nation are barbarian and they need help to adopt rapidly modernizing society. (CBC News 2008) Unbelievably, government kidnapped first nation children by using snacks. (CBC News 2008) The reason they aim children is that children is easier to change than adult and if children change, whole tribes will change because they will be adult with modern culture. Children were brought to residential school by force and they had to live in there. Approximately, 150,000 children were taken in sum. (CBC News 2008) In the residential school, they had to wear formal suit substitute for their traditional cloth. Moreover, they had to speak English, not their language. If they speak their language, they were punished. There were physical abuse and mental abuse, also sexual abuse in the residential school. (CBC News 2008) They were taught Christianity and basic education. They lived in there 10 month in a year. (CBC News 2008)
The result of this assimilation was failure. Condition of the residential school was bad and educational level was also low. (CBC News 2008) As a result, after graduate the school, first nation people could not get jobs. In addition, life in residential school made them nobody. They seldom have an opportunity to send normal first nation’ life, so when they back to their home, they do not know how to behave. They did not have skill to live in nature, to help their parents and also they could not get jobs. Their lives were totally destroyed by assimilation.
After 1960’s, Canadian government made many policy to support first nation without assimilation. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) Current situation is not good comparing non-first nation people. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) There is a huge income gap between first nation and non-first nation in Canada. First nation’s GDP is almost half of non-first nation’s it. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) Moreover, their unemployment rate is 50%. (Lou Hammond Ketilson, 2001) In addition, young first nation’s suicide rate is 5-6 times higher than non-first nation. (Canadian Mental Health Association) Comparing past, they have a right to vote and welfare support, it can say their condition is improving, but there are still gap.
In, 2008 Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper apologized for assimilation. (Mark Borrie) The government recognize that assimilation was failure and absence of apologize as below
“The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian Residential Schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language. While some former students have spoken positively about their experiences at residential schools, these stories are far overshadowed by tragic accounts of the emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect of helpless children, and their separation from powerless families and communities.” (Website of Stephen Harper ) In conclusion, when assimilation had occurred, government believed it was right, but Canadian government apologized for it because now government regards that was a failure. Taking children from family is absolutely wrong apparently, people must be careful not to repeat a tragedy like the aggressive assimilation in Canada.
References
Today is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. (n.d.). CanadaVisa.com. Retrieved June, 27, 2013. from http://www.canadavisa.com/news/entry/today-is-canadian-multiculturalism-day.html
A history of residential schools in Canada.
(n.d.). CBC News Retrieved May, 16, 2008 from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-residential-schools.html
About the first nations. (n.d.) Government of Canadal Retrieved April, 26, 2010 from http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/about-a_propos/faq-first_nations-indien.aspx?lang=jpn
Dr.Lou Hammond Ketilson (2001, March) A report on Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada
Current Situation and Potential for Growth Retrieved from http://www.coopscanada.coop/assets/firefly/files/files/pdfs/Research/MainReport.pdf
Suicide Among Aboriginal People in Canada. (n.d.). Canadian Mental Health Associtation
Retrieved 2013 from http://london.cmha.ca/mental_health/suicide-among-aboriginal-people-in-canada/#.Ucua2ue-2So Canada Apologizes for Century of Native Assimilation Policy (Mark Borrie) Retrieved January 12 1993 from http://www.monitor.net/monitor/9801a/canadasorry.html
Prime Minister Harper offers full apology on behalf of Canadians for the Indian Residential Schools system. (n.d.). Website of Stephan Harper June, 11, 2008 Retrieved from
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2149