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Dispossession Of Indigenous People In This Place By Alicia Elliot

1019 Words5 Pages

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

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