Colonialism In Canada

Canada is a nation that prides itself on opportunity and freedom. However, the treatment of Canada’s aboriginal community says otherwise. Although Canada is incredibly welcoming to new immigrants that want a fresh start, the original occupants, Aboriginal people, are still being mistreated today. Aboriginal people are described as the original people or indigenous occupants of a particular country (Hutchings, 2016). Unfortunately, Aboriginal people have been exploited in Canada for decades, which has resulted in high levels of gender and class oppression. The long history of colonialism, in combination with Capitalism, has heavily influenced how Aboriginal people are viewed and treated in Canadian society. The daily struggles, injustices,

If parents failed to send their children to school, they would be punished. If children did not behave to the rules, they would be punished. This power the government held gave the Aboriginals no choice but to oblige. The Daddies by Kent Monkman effectively illustrates the loss of culture forced by the Canadian Government. The acrylic painting displays a large group of white men outnumbering a single aboriginal. I believe that the white men represent the Canadian government, and the aboriginal represents the meager indigenous community. The number of men vs. Aboriginals illustrates the power difference between the Government and the Aboriginal community, and highlights the weakness the Aboriginals are forced to adhere to. The group of white men in the painting are all wearing suits and the Aboriginal person is seen wearing no clothes, which I believe is to demonstrate the differences of class between the the two groups. The Aboriginal person being presented in no clothes illustrates the vulnerability the indigenous community has. The painting if effective at demonstrating the power difference the Canadian government holds which has been reflected through the use of residential schools in

The painting demonstrates a young ‘virgin’ girl in a hospital bed surrounded by her indigenous community attempting to revive her and her culture. I think this painting is incredibly eye opening as it demonstrates the loss of children and culture that the residential schools enforced. The young girl, represents the innocence of the children when they were sent away, and the title Death of a Virgin further reinforces this. Since children sent to residential schools were abused emotionally, physically, and sexually, this painting highlights this abuse. The other Aboriginals in the painting are trying to revive the young girl, from her mistreatment at the schools but also from her loss of culture. I believe that the painting effectively illustrates the theme of oppression and hardship the indigenous community has faced throughout the