The dispossession towards the Indigenous Peoples has continued throughout Canadian history as evident in the cruelties committed against them. Upon analysis, the stories portrayed in two narratives “This Place” by Alicia Elliot as well as “ Reconciliation Manifesto” by Arthur Manuel describe the problems the Indigenous communities fought not only throughout history but unfortunately, even to this day. Dispossession has been an ongoing issue in the Indigenous communities which has caused many disturbances. Throughout history, they feel unwelcome from their own land knowing they have always been stripped away from it. Canada has oppressed the Indigenous Peoples as their communities face dispossession, caused permanent affliction over them; and …show more content…
To start off, Alicia Elliot illustrates in this particular section of her book how everything was taken away from the indigenous peoples, as well as the children that took no part in the disagreements happening between the two parties. In this chapter, we notice how the children in this story are being used, treated terribly, overworked as well as “[stolen]”... from their “families, language, and culture” (146). The story described in the text demonstrates how the children of the Indigenous people face dispossession as their childhood was being ripped from their hands as well as being taken away from their families leading to …show more content…
Elliot explains how these communities have accepted but not forgotten the dispossession as many took it upon themselves to recover from the suffering, torture, and dehumanization. Despite the fact that The Indigenous Peoples had already fought enough to the point where there was nothing left in their control to implement, many “decided [they] couldn't let [this] happen again.” (164). Though there is not a simple “solution” for the oppression, Indigenous communities have taken a step forward to reconnect with who they are and take pride. Furthermore, this same occurrence is also portrayed by Arthur Manuel as he emphasizes possible measures to help eliminate the burden of overhead. As Indigenous are still traumatized by the affliction, the bare minimum Canada can do “is to get rid of the deadening weight of colonialism” including the idea of allowing them ”to once again have access to [their] land[,] and for the settlers to recognize at [least their] Creator-given title to it” (71). Collaboratively, Elliot and Aurther’s narratives present the importance of the Indigenous Peoples culture and how the dispossession of it cannot just be put aside but instead acknowledged to help cope with the
Colonialism, a long-standing issue that originated centuries ago, continues to plague Indigenous populations today. One example is in Canada where Indigenous groups have experienced immense suffering as a result of the loss of their cultural heritage and forced assimilation into the mainstream society. Through "Moon of the Crusted Snow," Waubgeshig Rice presents a modern perspective on the history of colonialism, giving readers an insightful understanding of the ongoing trauma caused by oppression and violence in Anishinaabe communities. In Waubgeshig Rice's novel "Moon of the Crusted Snow," the character of Justin Scott serves as a complex and nuanced representation of the ongoing effects of racism on the Anishinaabe community.
Simpson’s book tells the story of the Mohawks and their story of survivance amid the radical transformation brought about by settler colonialism. Her book discusses their struggle, fighting to keep their right to sovereignty as a Nation, separate from the US and Canada. Simpson illustrates the lives of the Mohawks in their reservation, and shows that they are more than the ironworkers that have come to be the stereotype for the Mohawk people. She argues that the Mohawks’ ongoing struggle proves that Settler Colonialism continues to exist, and continues to fail to eliminate and assimilate Indigenous people. Simpson begins by addressing the “question of membership,” that is, the criteria for political membership and formal recognition within
In Lee Maracles’s interview with Context: Beyond the Headlines, Maracle explains the healing properties of literature and how expression through poetry has helped her advocate for Indigenous people. The medicinal properties of literature are a sacred belief of the Stó:lō peoples. The power of poetry helps relieve the chronic wounding created by the colonizers. Maracle begins by addressing how the movement of colonialism caused irreversible intergenerational trauma among the Indigenous communities. She shames the Canadian government because none of the real people who evoked the damage had ever faced confrontation.
The significance of Indigenous Themes in Indian Horse, Dead White Writer on the Floor, and The Inconvenient Indian. Indigenous literatures address ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous Communities in Canada. The Indigenous theme of Decolonization is explored in Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian and Drew Hayden Taylor’s Dead White Writer on the Floor (DWWOTF). The theme of racism in Indigenous communities is evident in Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse and The Inconvenient Indian.
This is the exact tactic Canada used on Indigenous people” (Elliott 105). This quote illuminates how the structural genocide by the Canadian government caused Indigenous people to become reliant on them. Under those circumstances, their freedom, autonomy, and agency are stripped away. In her essay “Not your noble savage”, Elliott discusses how Trudeau pretends to be pro-Indigenous but his government is not doing enough for reconciliation: “True reconciliation with Native peoples requires Canada to stop its paternalistic, discriminatory policies and, most important, stop interfering with our sovereignty over our identities, communities, and lands. These are by no means easy or comfortable actions for Canadians to undertake, but they must be undertaken regardless” (Elliott 163).
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the documentary, Cottagers and Indians, by CBC and the newspaper article, “Indigenous Agriculture is a Land Back Issue,” written by Nicole Davis. These two media representations both discuss the topic(s) of Indigenous agriculture, and the theme(s) of land reclamation and authority. The article outlines and discusses the importance of Indigenous agricultural practices and the importance of reclaiming their ancestral lands, while the documentary provides a visual representation of the challenges experienced by the Indigenous communities in their agricultural tradition. As Nicole Davies emphasizes in her article, "For Indigenous people, seed and garden stewardship is a site of decolonial governance.
In terms of indigenous nations taking part in constituting a political community with the rest of Canada, the land issue is one of the most prominent issues in which the colonizers exploited leading to continuous tensions with the federal government and the fragility in Canada’s political community. For indigenous nations, colonization deprived them of the relationship with their land in which indigenous identities are defined along (Hudson & MacDonald, 2012, p. 429). Although indigenous people and the British had treaty-like agreements, much of those treaties were ignored and the indigenous land was taken without the consent of the indigenous nations. An example of a treaty that was ignored by the colonizers is the Royal Proclamation of 1763
To be undone by another is a primary necessity, an anguish, to be sure, but also a chance-to be addressed, claimed, bound to what is not me, but also to be moved, to be prompted to act, to address myself elsewhere, and so to vacate the self-sufficient “I” as a kind of possession.” It is this undoing and resisting my own resistance that I have chosen to remain in spaces where I work further to decolonize the construction of my “white identity” and to begin to examine in relationship with others the work that needs to be done within my own predominantly white community of Bainbridge Island. These experiences are important to include as they situate me in the present and inform the parameters that I aspire to in the research that I have done for my winter 2018 Ethnographic Field Techniques
The story is set in an isolated Indigenous village in northern Ontario, Canada, and it explores how the community of individuals deals with a sudden social breakdown as well as the obstacles they encounter in protecting their society. As the community deals with the consequences of societal breakdown, they recognize the value of interdependence and mutual assistance. The community gathers together to share resources, talents, and labour, forging a cooperative and solidaristic collective identity. They overcome difficulties and maintain their way of life by working together. Individual and community identities can be reinforced and redefined as a result of the community's response to the crisis.
The indigenous people are literally crashing into the buildings produced by the colonizing culture, “Look out! Bob shouts. There are Indians flying into the skyscrapers and falling on the sidewalk.” (King 63) and it adequately represents the lack of adaptability of the Native Canadians. Thomas King taps again into the effects of colonialism and notions the indigenous people as uneducated and an untamed species.
This connects to the recurring theme in the story, the Theme of Survival in a crisis. The book repeatedly presents the adaptability of indigenous people in crisis throughout history using examples of the residential schools in Canada and the challenges the characters in the book are currently
The chapter vividly portrays the silencing of Indigenous voices, leaving these students feeling alone and without agency. The separation from their culture and identity further intensified the sense of dislocation and isolation experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools. Therefore, through this chapter, Downie highlights the need for awareness and understanding of the trauma experienced by Indigenous children, which has long-lasting effects, ultimately leading to the importance of reconciliation with
Although the treaties were supposed to be bilateral accords, they have frequently been disregarded by the Canadian government. The speaker emphasizes that the treaties encompassed more than just land arrangements and included promises to treat and respect Indigenous peoples. The failure to keep these promises has led to catastrophic outcomes, such as loss of land and resources and the ongoing marginalization of Indigenous peoples. The breach of these treaties has sustained the systemic oppression and disempowerment of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
In the past, the government has broken apart Aboriginal families and communities, leaving many women of this race vulnerable to exploitation and attack. For years families of these victims have been protesting for justice, for Canadians to care, and for
Modernity has been mainly characterized by its imperialistic policies and colonizing endeavors, which while creating the current legal organization of the world have largely marginalized the many indigenous groups who originally occupied the conquered lands (Andrews and Walton 600). Although post-modern societies have seen an increase in the awareness of these matters, American-Canadian author Thomas King has dedicated his work to throwing light on issues still not tackled. In his short story “Borders”, King tells the adventure of a Blackfoot mother and her child, who try to cross the border to the U.S. but refuse to declare their nationality. It is through his masterful choice of narrator and the careful depiction of the mother’s struggle to maintain her Blackfoot identity that the author conveys the many difficulties First Nations face in their effort to keep their heritages alive.