Multiculturalism Report

Similar to the benefits of the universal healthcare system, Canada prides itself on the great variety of cultures, ethnicities and religions that are present within the country. In 1971, the Canadian government began to recognize the value of all diversities and officially adopted the Multiculturalism policy. In consideration of this policy, Canada has been nicknamed the mosaic (Pohorelic) since the nation continually strives to embrace and promote multiculturalism. For instance, all citizens who reside in Canada are able to have an identity, feel accepted and take pride in their ancestry. In addition, on July 12, 1988, the House of Commons passed the Bill C-93: “An Act for the preservation and enhancement of multiculturalism in Canada” (Legislative

For instance, the people of Canada have acknowledged the immorality and are now working their way to reconciliation for the past failures towards Indigenous peoples. Before Europeans arrived in North America, Indigenous people were able to satisfy the living requirements through the resources of the natural environment. These people educated their youth in a complex and traditional matter such as participation in cultural and spiritual rituals, group socialization and oral teachings. These techniques provide children the beliefs, skills and knowledge considered necessary for adult life in their bands. All of these techniques continue today, but the importance of these specific characteristics have been significantly reduced due to the effects of residential schools. In the 1800’s, the European people created Residential schools to assimilate First Nations children or in other words, taking the Indian out of the child. As a result, the era of residential schools left a long lasting impact on the Indigenous culture and identity. Several years after the last residential school closed in 1996, the Canadian government formally acknowledged the First Nations traumatic past involving residential schools through an apology. On behalf of the Canadian government, Stephen Harper apologized to all aboriginal people for their role in residential schools (Government of

The government of Canada understands treaties as “constitutionally recognized agreements” (Government of Canada) between the Crown and Aboriginal peoples. Furthermore, most agreements were described as exchanges that the Indigenous people made in return for set out promises, obligations and benefits. Treaties were signed to determine the rights of Indigenous people and governments to use lands that the First nations people occupied. In 1870, one of the negotiated treaties was the right to educate. This study “focussed on the expectations of education as a treaty right by the original signatories and the current divergent understandings” (Carr-Stewart). These requirements of the treaty include educational services for students that provide First Nations people with the knowledge and skills necessary to prosper in the community. With this, Indigenous and Northern Affairs fund status First Nations or people who are recognized by the federal government as Aboriginal for post-secondary education. Canada’s obligation of maintaining the rights of the Aboriginal people not only provide educational opportunities to all citizens in Canada, but present the country 's willingness to make up for past