Aboriginal And Non-Aboriginal Relations In Canada

It is the history and values of a person that serve to build the frame of reference through which they view and function in society. Dr. Jardine, in An Invitation to Explore the Roots of Current Aboriginal/Non-Aboriginal Relations in Canada speaks of various pieces of legislation that serve to build the frame of reference for Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The legislations established who was able to own property, who was permitted to live the culture of an “Indian”. The government decided based upon the Indian Act, who would have the rights and privileges arising from the treaties with or concerning nation-to-nation relations. Fundamental rights, such as; “govern themselves as sovereign peoples, to live on their traditional lands, not to have their livelihoods interfered with and to maintain their hunting and fishing
Not being allowed to live the culture of your parents and grandparents, forcibly separating them to assimilate into a differing lifestyle; would tend to cause higher levels of anger and frustration with the system that caused it. Many ‘Non-Indians’ view the affairs of Indians do not affect them, there is a passive permissiveness allowing the ‘Indians’ to be what they want as long as it does not cost the ‘non-Indian’ much. It is ironic, Bill C31 was designed to bring the Indian Act more in alignment with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by being a compromise between the needs of aboriginals and the rest of society. As a direct result of the legislations regarding Native Identity, strong stereotypes are in place. A major consequence is each party having a negative view of the other. This brings conflict to society. This conflict can be armed violence, such as with the Oka crisis of 1990 to the political-economic confrontations regarding the Keystone pipeline project, among