Mostly the immigrants in Canada are not aware of the indigenous people and the Canadian culture. According to an official Environics Institute Survey, the immigrants want to show them support, and the best way to show support would be through learning about these indigenous people.
European settlers initially colonized North America, and there have been persistent negative rumors being spread about indigenous people, which have resulted in stereotypes associated with it.
Citizens and immigrants in Canada might get misled by the false information.
The government in Canada wishes to reconcile with the indigenous people and abolish any violence against these people.
Initially, the Canadian government attempted to remove the indigenous culture, and this further resulted in the introduction of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which suggested ways to reconcile with the indigenous people.
The Environics Institute Survey stated that even though immigrants are less aware of the indigenous people, immigrants usually show their support for them.
The Canadian society is full of immigrants and marks a great beginning for the reconciliation process. The newcomers on their arrival get involved with the existing issues in Canada and also share the responsibility by helping the indigenous people’s progress.
The term differences
The original people of North America are collectively referred to as indigenous people in Canada.
The indigenous population in Canada contributes to over 1.6 million people. Being an indigenous person doesn’t account for a specific experience but rather for more collective experiences concerning distinct nations, communities, families, groups, or individuals.
There are three main groups of indigenous people classified by the Canadian government including Inuit, Metis, and First Nations.
Each group is associated with its diverse culture, history, and ethnicity.
People who come under the first nation’s category belong to 630 communities in the country along with 50 nations and languages being represented. People of the Arctic region consist of collective cultures, which are referred to as Intuit. People belonging to diverse cultures came from the union of European and indigenous people and the diverse culture is known as Metis.
Sometimes, the word Indian is used to explain the indigenous people. The term “Indian” was first used by the European traveler, Christopher Columbus, who misinterpreted that he had reached India in 1492.
Currently, Canadian law uses the term Indian, irrespective of its being offensive. The term is specifically considered offensive when used by non-indigenous people to indigenous people.
Colonization in Canada- Looking at the historical aspect
Initially, North America was known as the ‘Turtle Island. The European settlers visualized Canada differently from the indigenous people in Canada. Both of these had their perceptions of the usage of resources and land stewardship.
The Indian Act was incorporated when Canada officially became a country in 1867. According to Amnesty International, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and the United Nations, the Indian Act legislation is considered a human rights abuse.
The Canadian government aimed to remove the indigenous culture through legislation under the Indian Act. This legislation further enabled the Canadian government to bring in a different form of government for the First Nations and it was called Bands. Canada’s government gets to decide who will be the band member. Traditionally, the leadership of the First Nations was passed on to the family members and this hereditary leadership continues while some bands consist of both hereditary and elected leaders as well.
First Nations operate on self-government agreements, further allowing them to develop laws, provide economic opportunities, and deliver programs through taxation money. According to the Indian Act, Indigenous children weren’t allowed to attend any other educational institution besides the residential school.
Indigenous children went through a lot as they were often separated from their parents and had to face immense torture and abuse.
Although the residential school stopped operating in 1996, the trauma faced by the children continues to haunt them to date.
Around 215 dead bodies of children were found near Kamloops, British Columbia. These remains and findings lead to a massive discussion on reconciliation in Canada.
Even though the Canadian government has taken initiative to progress toward reconciliation with the indigenous people, people continue to be oppressed under the current laws.
Despite the struggle the indigenous people face, they are trying to normalize things by bringing back their culture and language and letting their children grow up with a positive opinion about their identities.
Several indigenous cultures and events invite non-indigenous people to participate in such initiatives.
Learning about indigenous people in Canada through different resources
In today’s technical age, anybody can access the different available resources such as art, music, and other learning resources.
You can use the following resources to learn about the indigenous people:
- APTN– You can access APTN for the news, TV shows, and movies (for kids and adults). APTN is a cable network that can also stream online.
- Friendship Centre– You can also get involved in providing cultural services to indigenous people through a community called Friendship Centre. You may also host events bringing both indigenous and non-indigenous people together.
- Powwows– You can indulge in cultural events known as Powwows and engage in music, dance, regalia, crafts, and food.
Accessing general information
You can easily access general information about indigenous people from the following resources:
- Magazine– A magazine is known as the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada which consists of unique stories, and articles about the indigenous people in Canada.
- Online Course– An online course by the name of Indigenous Canada, from the University of Alberta, is presented in a video series. It talks a great deal about their history, culture, and people.
- Website– A government website of Canada, known as the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, takes care of the policies concerning the indigenous people.
- The Indian Act– You can access all the relevant information including the history and controversy through the University of British Columbia.
Research study about the relationship between the Indigenous and immigrants
Following study material can help you understand the relationship between the Indigenous and immigrants:
Indigenous Perspectives of Immigration Policy in the Settler Country- You can access this paper published in 2022 to understand the basic difference between the concepts of the Western and the Indigenous land ownership, and also the philosophy of the open-border and non-border.
The Relationships Between the Racialized Immigrants and Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A Literature Review- Melissa May Ling Chung wrote this Master thesis to share her experience as an Asian-Indigenous woman who grew up in Canada by merging it with the discussion on the relationship between the immigrants and indigenous people.
Vancouver Dialogues: First Nations, Urban Aboriginal, and Immigrant Communities– This was a project in 2011 that involved the immigrants and indigenous people mutually sharing their stories, perceptions, and unique experiences.
