Preview

Aboriginal Inequality

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2010 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Aboriginal Inequality
Social Inequality with Canadian Aboriginals

SOC 300
Dr. Kelly Train

Milica Rados
500460778

Different ethnic backgrounds immigrate to Canada making it a very multicultural society. Immigrants coming to Canada have made it progress to a more multicultural society, making other nations believe that this is the case, however this does not include native societies that have been living in Canada for the longest period of time. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how Aboriginals live in Canada. This paper argues that aboriginals in Canada are not treated with the same equality as non-aboriginals livening in Canada, even though Canada is known as a multicultural society. By studying the history of Aboriginal settlement in Canada and understanding their connection to the land there is a better understanding of why taking over their land is a social issue. By taking over their land their sense of connection to nature was taken away which was a big part of the Aboriginal culture. This caused educational inequality and also the inequality they face within their workplace and the wages they receive. By studying history, their culture, education and their current economic state it becomes more clear why this is a social issue in Canada and how that takes away from the multiculturalism Canada is known for.
Aboriginals, which include first nations people, were the first people of Canada however, the treatment they receive today shows otherwise. Aboriginal treaties, Westphalia Treaty of 1648, that were established in Canada in the mid-seventeenth century were used to “harmonize discovery and conquest principles” (Frideres, 2000). The land that Aboriginals occupied was more than just land to them, they felt a connection with Mother Nature and they established roles in their families that helped them create a working community. Without even trying to understand how Aboriginals felt about their treaties and their land the British Common Law abolished Aboriginal



References: Frideres, James S. 2000. Aboriginal Tenure in the Constitution of Canada. Canadian Ethnic Studies Frideres, James S. 2008. Aboriginal Identity in the Canadian Context. The Canadian Journal of Narrative Studies Maxim P, White P, Beavon D, Whitehead P. 2001. Dispersion and polarization of income among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians Mills, Suzanne E. 2006. Segregation of Women and Aboriginal People Within Canada’s Forest Sector by Industry and Occupation

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    She showed how her knowledge from Western schooling pushed her to learn more about Indigenous knowledge and how both forms can have a strong impact on the world. Also, it took a vast amount of strength for Gehl to overcome her position in society according to the Indian Act and fight against the government to achieve for herself, the good life. In this book, many topics are touched upon that bring to surface the problems within the Canadian government and the issues the government imposes onto the Aboriginal population. Lynn Gehl in Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit proves that sexism within the Indian Act of 1876, racialization and discrimination, colonialism through unfair treaties and denial of traditional Aboriginal land are all issues that affect the lives of the Aboriginal community and make their struggle towards Aboriginal status and mino-pimadiziwin much greater. In my analysis, I will show how racialization, discrimination, and colonialism has affected the Indigenous community and how sexism has both directly affected women in the Aboriginal community and Gehl in the process of achieving Indian…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In today’s modern Canadian society every group is fighting for their rights to be heard, acknowledged and more importantly respected. In Canadian history one group has had to fight harder than anyone else to receive a voice to be heard and that is the Aboriginals. The question that needs to be asked is, do they really have a voice at all? Throughout this paper I will highlight three areas of aboriginal political uprising, First the history, secondly successful initiatives for the betterment of aboriginals and finally unsuccessful actions in the political landscape.…

    • 2478 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This essay is in regard to the issues being brought forth to the Crown and Canadian Government by the First Nations in Canada.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aboriginal people are very passionate about their culture and traditions and believe that they are an important part of Canada’s past. Although their customs shaped Canada into a great nation, they are slowly fading into the background while competing with the French and English cultures. “Such an understanding gives no consideration to the presence and role of Aboriginal groups throughout history.” First Nation’s people do not receive a just amount of respect and equality in terms of their rights for land and freedom. Over the past century there have been several brutal protests that promote a negative, violent appearance towards all Aboriginals. In order to advance within society and claim land that is rightfully theirs, Natives have had to resort to planning court dates, forming petitions and writing threatening letters to the government. The Canadian government found ways to deceive the Aboriginals and get through loopholes to avoid granting reasonable wishes and staying true to their agreement. It is obvious that this Aboriginal versus government battle has been going on for far too long and it is an unfair challenge to the virtually helpless group of minorities.…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Political Scientists, Thomas Flanagan and Roger Townshend explain the key to the big question: “Can a Native State Exist Within a Canadian State?” in the readings: “The Case for Native Sovereignty” and “Native Sovereignty: Does Anyone Really Want an Aboriginal Archipelago?”. The essay will outline and provide evidence to both sides, whether there could or could not exist a Native State in Canada. The document will argue that Natives are not organized enough to form their own government. Throughout the decades, Natives have agonized many savageries at the hands of the European settlers. The essay will take Flanagan’s side with the belief that Natives should not be sovereign, using the textbooks “Principles of Comparative Politics”, and “Contemporary Political Issues”. According to Weber’s definition of the state, the state is “a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory,” (Clark, Golder, & Golder, pp. 92).…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the article “Why Multiculturalism Can’t End Racism,” Marlene Nourbese Philip discusses how multiculturalism promotes discrimination opposed to stopping it. Philip explains that there is inequality between different cultures and races in Canada; the Canadian government only recognizes the French and English in the constitution. Examples of genocidal practices against natives, past treatment of Chinese and Indian immigrants, and the preference of white European immigrants are used to explain unfairness amongst cultures in Canada and white supremacy. Philip believes Canadians can one day achieve equality among races but only if a strong, united effort is made.…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    [ 2 ]. James S Frideres and Rene R. Gadacz, Aboriginal Peoples in Canada (Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005) 326…

    • 2104 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    First Peoples have been treated with repugnant unfairness for centuries around the globe. They are even unable to escape this malicious inequality in one of the world’s most diverse and multicultural countries, Canada. Canada’s progress in the advancement of the rights of First Nations who live on the country’s own soil is disgracefully slow. This atrocious behaviour “on a number of occasions has been criticized in international forums for the miserable conditions that affect… First Nations peoples, conditions that are comparable to those of developing countries” (“Prejudices”). Canadian Aboriginals have been treated with the utmost disrespect in their native country.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In conclusion, it has been shown above that multiculturalism as an official policy for races and ethnicity in Canada provides a large number of advantages for both the visible minority population and native-born Canadians. Despite of some drawbacks…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The reality is consistently worsening throughout the years. One must first recognize the possible theories as to why this is happening in order to come up with solutions. Three major theories were identified as the culture clash, socio-economic status and colonialism. These explanations for overrepresentation also pose solutions and these must be followed in order to improve Canada’s current situation. In the context of a discussion of Aboriginal overrepresentation the court stated the case quite dramatically, “These findings cry out for recognition of the magnitude and gravity of the problem, and for responses to alleviate it. The figures are stark and reflect what may fairly be termed a crisis in the Canadian justice system.” The mass incarceration and overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the Canadian criminal justice system has been deemed as a crisis. The criminal law need not be changed, but rather simple mentalities and treatment changes within the criminal justice system need to…

    • 1198 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Native Land Claims

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Canadian government says that it is dedicated to making its obligations to First Nations by discussing issues and bringing closure to all claims. Canada likes to underlie that by looking at the historic inequality and building strong partnerships among First Nations people; governments, and the private sector are emerging. Nevertheless, the current progress of First Nations Land Claims is very unhurried and seems to be deliberately painstaking.…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Every part of the world has indigenous people whose rights have been deprived. In the beginning, they have free access of the land they inhabit and possess all valuable resources within it but after a contact with European and/or American colonization, they struggle to live freely because of the self-centered actions of these colonizers. One of these indigenous people are the first people of Canada, or most commonly referred as First Nations and/or Aboriginals. Over the past decades, First Nations have been battling for their rights, most specifically to their rights toward education; one of the most obvious reason for this unending battle is the disparity in school funding of First Nation and any other provincial schools. Secondly, the government violates some Indigenous Human Rights declared by United Nations specifically toward the health and education of First Nations. Finally, most of their schools have inadequate access to new equipment suitable for the learning of their children. These reasons reveal the reality of inequality and relaxed response of the government toward the alarming crisis in First Nation’s education.…

    • 1796 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    The First Nation

    • 1177 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Aboriginal people may consider themselves as minority indigenous people because due to the tragic history majority of them are now known as the scoundrels of Canada, even though they are called the “Fathers of Canada” only four percent of the total Canadian population is free while ten percent are in jail (Huffington Post). The Aboriginals felt unappreciated because they had restricted rights, they worked towards getting self-government and so they formed The Aboriginal Rights; which are generally seen…

    • 1177 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the history of contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada, there has been an imbalance in acculturative influences. Generally, Aboriginal peoples have been changed substantially, with serious erosion of their cultures and identities. However, this dominance by Euro Canadian peoples has also been met by resistance by Aboriginal peoples. Policy and programme changes to alter the relationship between these two sets of people are suggested, including a reduction in pressures toward assimilation and segregation which have historically resulted in the marginalization of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.…

    • 2696 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Jim Kanepetetek Case Study

    • 1653 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Cree people have an important part within Canadian history. I will prepare an essay based on important points as well as the maintenance of both oral and written history. In the following, I will highlight portions of Cree history to establish an understanding of such a rich culture. I will focus on the teachings of Jim Kanepetetew and how “The Ten Treaty Sticks” have established a foundation of Cree culture. As a basis for guidelines, I will follow the oral teachings of Jim Kanepetetew. As per Jim Kanepetetew of the Onion Lake First Nation, there are unwritten words of history. In this case, where Kanepetetew explains “The Ten Treaty Sticks” it is clear the Cree people had instilled their own culture and beliefs within the treaties and for this essay’s purposes, I will examine the extended implication these practices have had on the Cree people both pre- and post-contact. From this I will create adapt these teachings to those covered throughout the class material.…

    • 1653 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays