Genocide in Genocide in Canada?Canada?

Prior to European contact Prior to European contact Aboriginal people occupied Aboriginal people occupied every region of Canada. Their every region of Canada. Their total population was estimated total population was estimated to be around two million. to be around two million.

Approximately 85 percent of the Approximately 85 percent of the Aboriginal population died Aboriginal population died immediately following European immediately following European contactcontact

Before ColonizationBefore Colonization

Newcomers relied on the first nations Newcomers relied on the first nations for the fur trade.for the fur trade.

Aboriginal people were valued for Aboriginal people were valued for their vast knowledge of the region, their vast knowledge of the region, navigation and survival skills, etc. navigation and survival skills, etc.

European men often married Aboriginal European men often married Aboriginal women and started families. women and started families.

In the War of 1812, Aboriginal people In the War of 1812, Aboriginal people played a key role in helping to played a key role in helping to defeat the invading Americansdefeat the invading Americans

ColonizationColonization

When the fur trade declined land When the fur trade declined land for settlement became the primary for settlement became the primary goal of the Canadian governmentgoal of the Canadian government

First Nation peoples have since First Nation peoples have since lost 98 percent of their original lost 98 percent of their original lands through various legal means lands through various legal means such as treaties and the Indian such as treaties and the Indian ActAct

Indian Act: put all Aboriginal Indian Act: put all Aboriginal people under the control of the people under the control of the federal governmentfederal government

Europeans categorized themselves as the Europeans categorized themselves as the “civilized” and Indigenous peoples as the “civilized” and Indigenous peoples as the “savages” “savages”

Settlers argued that Aboriginal people Settlers argued that Aboriginal people were incapable of properly looking after were incapable of properly looking after themselves; they were unable to control themselves; they were unable to control their communities and institutions, buy their communities and institutions, buy land, arrange bank-loans, or buy alcohol.land, arrange bank-loans, or buy alcohol.

Totem poles, ceremonial objects such as Totem poles, ceremonial objects such as masks, and regalia were destroyed or sold masks, and regalia were destroyed or sold to collectors. to collectors.

ColonizationColonization The main goal of government policy was The main goal of government policy was assimilation. assimilation.

Underlying this goal was the desire for control Underlying this goal was the desire for control over landover land

Since the Aboriginal people were considered Since the Aboriginal people were considered 'heathen', their territory was not considered 'heathen', their territory was not considered 'settled' in a manner that required the respect 'settled' in a manner that required the respect of Christian nations.of Christian nations.

Many communities were forcibly re-located from Many communities were forcibly re-located from traditional locales to tiny reserves that had traditional locales to tiny reserves that had little resources to ensure the continued little resources to ensure the continued survival of the community;survival of the community;

Major attempts were made to displace traditional Major attempts were made to displace traditional aboriginal customs with Western ones. aboriginal customs with Western ones.

Residential SchoolsResidential Schools The purpose of the residential schools was The purpose of the residential schools was to educate and civilize the First Nation to educate and civilize the First Nation peoples and encourage them to adopt a peoples and encourage them to adopt a European lifestyle. European lifestyle.

Children were separated from their parents Children were separated from their parents and religion was forced on them. and religion was forced on them.

Speaking of Native Languages was forbiddenSpeaking of Native Languages was forbidden Many of the students were subjected to Many of the students were subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

It is estimated that 50,000 aboriginal It is estimated that 50,000 aboriginal children died or were killed in Indian children died or were killed in Indian residential schools across Canada residential schools across Canada

““I was just eight, and they’d shipped us I was just eight, and they’d shipped us down from the Anglican residential school down from the Anglican residential school in Alert Bay to the Nanaimo Indian in Alert Bay to the Nanaimo Indian Hospital, the one run by the United Church. Hospital, the one run by the United Church. They kept me isolated in a tiny room there They kept me isolated in a tiny room there for more than three years, like I was a lab for more than three years, like I was a lab rat, feeding me these pills, giving me rat, feeding me these pills, giving me shots that made me sick. Two of my cousins shots that made me sick. Two of my cousins made a big fuss, screaming and fighting made a big fuss, screaming and fighting back all the time, so the nurses gave them back all the time, so the nurses gave them shots, and they both died right away. It shots, and they both died right away. It was done to silence them.” (November 10, was done to silence them.” (November 10, 2000)2000)

Department of Indian Department of Indian Affairs Superintendent Affairs Superintendent

D.C. Scott, D.C. Scott, April 12, 1910April 12, 1910 ““It is readily acknowledged that It is readily acknowledged that

Indian children lose their natural Indian children lose their natural resistance to illness by habitating resistance to illness by habitating so closely in these schools, and so closely in these schools, and that they die at a much higher rate that they die at a much higher rate than in their villages. But this than in their villages. But this alone does not justify a change in alone does not justify a change in the policy of this Department, which the policy of this Department, which is geared towards the final solution is geared towards the final solution of our Indian Problem.” (. ).of our Indian Problem.” (. ).

Banning of the PotlatchBanning of the Potlatch

Potlatch ceremony banned in Potlatch ceremony banned in 18851885

Ceremony was seen as wasteful Ceremony was seen as wasteful and unproductive which was not and unproductive which was not part of "civilized" valuespart of "civilized" values

Enforced well into the 20th Enforced well into the 20th centurycentury

Participants who were caught Participants who were caught were jailed and/or finedwere jailed and/or fined

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Tlingit Chiefs, dressed in full regalia, are gathered at a Potlatch ceremony in Sitka in 1904.

Aboriginal People and Aboriginal People and WWIIWWII

During WWII the Canadian government During WWII the Canadian government needed to establish a military needed to establish a military presence in the north.presence in the north.

In 1941 they implemented a disc In 1941 they implemented a disc system which required all system which required all Aboriginal people in the area to Aboriginal people in the area to carry disks with them stating their carry disks with them stating their identityidentity

They were required to carry these They were required to carry these disks with them at all times. disks with them at all times.

White PaperWhite Paper

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced the White Paper in 1969introduced the White Paper in 1969

This policy document ended the This policy document ended the existence of Indian Affairs. existence of Indian Affairs.

The document stated that Aboriginal The document stated that Aboriginal people would gradually take over people would gradually take over their lands. their lands.

Rid any legal distinction between Rid any legal distinction between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people. people.

Royal Commission on Royal Commission on Aboriginal PeoplesAboriginal Peoples

Commission undertaken by the Commission undertaken by the Government of Canada in the 1990s. Government of Canada in the 1990s.

The commission assessed past The commission assessed past government policies toward government policies toward Aboriginal people, such as Aboriginal people, such as residential schools, and provided residential schools, and provided policy recommendations policy recommendations

However, many recommendations made However, many recommendations made by the RCAP have not seen by the RCAP have not seen implemented to dateimplemented to date

Aboriginal People in Aboriginal People in Canada TodayCanada Today

In 2006 there were over 1,172,790 Aboriginal In 2006 there were over 1,172,790 Aboriginal people in Canada. Aboriginal people in Canada people in Canada. Aboriginal people in Canada represent 3.8% of the country's total population.represent 3.8% of the country's total population.

The standard of living of Canadian Indians today The standard of living of Canadian Indians today ranks sixty-fourth in the world, below that of ranks sixty-fourth in the world, below that of Mexico and Thailand Mexico and Thailand

Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected Aboriginal people are disproportionately affected by many social, economic and behavioral factors. by many social, economic and behavioral factors. These include higher rates of poverty, substance These include higher rates of poverty, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, limited abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, limited access to health care access to health care

These miserable conditions in one of the world’s These miserable conditions in one of the world’s richest nations are caused by the theft of native richest nations are caused by the theft of native lands and resources lands and resources

National Apology National Apology On July 11 2008 hundreds gathered outside of On July 11 2008 hundreds gathered outside of Parliament Hill in Ottawa as for the first time in Parliament Hill in Ottawa as for the first time in Canadian history, the Prime Minister of Canada Canadian history, the Prime Minister of Canada made a historic apology to the Aboriginal Peoplesmade a historic apology to the Aboriginal Peoples

““On behalf of the government of Canada and all On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so central to our life as a country, to apologize to central to our life as a country, to apologize to Aboriginal peoples for Canada’s role in the Indian Aboriginal peoples for Canada’s role in the Indian residential schools system…We now recognize that residential schools system…We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many likes and communities, and we void in many likes and communities, and we apologize for having done this”apologize for having done this”

The apology included a compensation package worth The apology included a compensation package worth over four billion dollarsover four billion dollars

FactsFacts Aboriginal people are three times more Aboriginal people are three times more likely than non-Aboriginals to be victims likely than non-Aboriginals to be victims of violent crime.of violent crime.

They account for 18% of those who are They account for 18% of those who are incarcerated in federal institutions. In incarcerated in federal institutions. In the Prairie Provinces, 50% of prisoners the Prairie Provinces, 50% of prisoners are Aboriginals. are Aboriginals.

Aboriginal people living in urban areas Aboriginal people living in urban areas were more than twice as likely to live in were more than twice as likely to live in poverty as non-Aboriginal people.poverty as non-Aboriginal people.

The number of Aboriginal children The number of Aboriginal children involved with the child welfare system involved with the child welfare system across Canada is also growing, and it across Canada is also growing, and it rose by 71.5% between 1995 and 2001.rose by 71.5% between 1995 and 2001.

Facts Continued…Facts Continued… 13 percent of Aboriginal people are 13 percent of Aboriginal people are currently unemployed while only 6% of the currently unemployed while only 6% of the non-Aboriginal people are without work. non-Aboriginal people are without work.

50% of Aboriginal people in Canada have 50% of Aboriginal people in Canada have not graduated from high school, compared not graduated from high school, compared to 30% of non-Aboriginal people. to 30% of non-Aboriginal people.

Only 4.4 percent of Aboriginal people Only 4.4 percent of Aboriginal people attend university, compared with 15.4% of attend university, compared with 15.4% of the non-Aboriginal populationthe non-Aboriginal population

In 2002 Aboriginal persons accounted for In 2002 Aboriginal persons accounted for 14.1% of the total reported AIDS cases in 14.1% of the total reported AIDS cases in CanadaCanada

Aboriginal People TodayAboriginal People Today

The main goal of many Aboriginal The main goal of many Aboriginal groups today is to operate as an groups today is to operate as an independent nation on equal footing independent nation on equal footing with the Canadian governmentwith the Canadian government

Definition of Nation- “A community Definition of Nation- “A community of people whose members are bound of people whose members are bound together by a sense of solidarity together by a sense of solidarity rooted in a historic attachment to rooted in a historic attachment to a homeland and a common culture, a homeland and a common culture, and by a sense of consciousness of and by a sense of consciousness of being different from other nations”being different from other nations”

Reflection…Reflection…

Reflection: write a page reflection discussing Reflection: write a page reflection discussing the question ‘Is genocide occurring in Canada?’the question ‘Is genocide occurring in Canada?’

Questions to think about when forming your Questions to think about when forming your argument:argument:

• Is the Canadian government taking the necessary Is the Canadian government taking the necessary steps to compensate Aboriginal people for the steps to compensate Aboriginal people for the injustice they have suffered in the past?injustice they have suffered in the past?

• Should the Canadian government be taking more Should the Canadian government be taking more responsibility for the negative situation of responsibility for the negative situation of Aboriginal people today?Aboriginal people today?

• Is apologizing for past actions enough?Is apologizing for past actions enough?• Is money a good way to compensate for past Is money a good way to compensate for past injustice?injustice?

Questions to Consider…Questions to Consider…

• Are the current actions/ lack Are the current actions/ lack of action taken by the Canadian of action taken by the Canadian government leading to the dying government leading to the dying out of Aboriginal populations out of Aboriginal populations and/or their culture?and/or their culture?

• If you do not believe that If you do not believe that genocide is currently genocide is currently occurring, do you think it was occurring, do you think it was in the past?in the past?

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