Examples Of Misconceptions About Aboriginal People

I believe that there are numerous misconceptions regarding Aboriginal people that non-Aboriginals seem to have. Many issues of misunderstandings about Aboriginal peoples in Canada are based on stereotyping and lack of information. There is an abundance of popularly held myths and misconceptions regarding First Nations that range from getting free education and free housing, to not having paying taxes to no restrictions on reserve lands, and many others. These misconceptions have serious consequences and are often at the root of racism and discrimination that Aboriginal peoples continue to experience today. Other stereotypes I have heard may include describing Aboriginals as lazy, dependent, and unwilling to improve their own lives. For employers,

For example, in the beginning of 8th Fire Wab Kinew discusses the phrase he often hears- “Get over it!” This belief can be related to the thought that residential schools are history, and everyone should just forget it. This statement is of course, entirely false. The earliest residential school was found in 1620 and last closed in 1996. Not even that long ago, children were forcibly removed from their families, as the system was compulsory and not just some “boarding school”. Children’s names were taken away and new names and numbers were given in their place. In 8th Fire a residential school cemetery has proof where language, culture and religion were beaten and humiliated out of them with the purpose of “killing the Indian in the child”. Often, this would result in killing the child instead. In some schools, half of the children died from tuberculosis, malnutrition, or other diseases. Also, many suffered the worst kinds of abuse at the hands of school authorities. The education received was never intended to be on par with the mainstream, and therefore, countless survivors haven’t been able to gain decent employment or take their rightful place in Canadian

“They get everything for free. Why don’t they just go home?” First Nations people enjoy the same fundamental benefits as all other Canadians, including Child Tax Benefit, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance. Where constitutionally-protected Aboriginal rights exist, First Nations people do have priority over others (for example, the right to hunt and fish for subsistence), but even these rights are subject to regulation. Furthermore, another myth says that First Nations people don’t pay taxes. All Inuit, Métis, and Non-Status Indians pay taxes, and Status Indians who live off- reserve pay taxes. The only Aboriginal people who are exempt from paying income tax are Status Indians who earn their income on a reserve for a company or organization located on the reserve. John Lagimodiere, a Métis from Saskatoon explains the basics of this troubled relationship. Lagomodiere makes the point that unlike the non- Aboriginal Frank, Lagomodiere’s ancestors had every detail of their lives prescribed by a special law. Natives were isolated group inside of a community that was put on reserves that were not legally allowed to even leave the reserve that had administrative people that administrated their banks that left them perennially poor. The Indian Act of 1876, which still governs life on reserves held fast to John A. Mcdonald's declaration to do away with