How Did Marginalization Affect Aboriginal People's Identity

Friedrich Nietzsche once said,“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” He insinuated that facing severe damages and devastations in many ways promotes and strengthens self development. Similarly, the Indigenous peoples of Canada were invaded by European colonizers that were essentially trying to strip them of their identities. During colonization, the Europeans were forcing their lifestyle onto the indigenous people, they were taking away many of the basic rights of the Indigenous people, and were exploiting all of the Native land. Under those oppressing circumstances, the aboriginal people endured a major loss in their traditional and cultural beliefs. Therefore, the Indigenous people’s identities were greatly affected by marginalization,
The Europeans abused the resources and property they unrightfully stole from the Natives. The destruction of their lands made Aboriginal people feel violated and threatened. They were essentially being forced to watch their land be stripped of it’s life. This only made them more protective of the land they cherished. They did not join in the exploitation; instead they continued to keep their conservationist way of life, trying to preserve all they could. George Schofeild explains that every railroad tie was, “pounded into place”(line 11). His use of the word ‘pounded’ shows that the industrialization was being forced into the pure lands. He goes on to say that the railroad ties were “linking each stolen province.”(line 12). He shows his remorse towards the fact that first the Europeans stole their land, and then took it for granted. Similarly, Chief Dan George speaks to the fact that he see[s] [the white people] tearing things from the bosom of mother earth as though she were a monster…” One can almost hear the disappointment and anger in his voice directed towards the fact that the land ,that was once his peoples’, had been ruined. He says “ it is hard for [him] to understand a culture that…attacks nature and abuses her.” He shows his confusion towards this behavior and wants nothing to do with it. His love for Mother Nature has been violated and he is fighting back with his words. The environmentalistic ways of the Indigenous people were also displayed in the story, “Another Great Moment in Canadian Indian History”. A group from Fort Goodweatherday had, “closed the logging road…to protest the clearcutting of tribal land…”(pg.212). They tried to preserve as much land as they could to attempt to save it from the misuse and