I want to get rid of the Indian

“I want to get rid of the Indian problem. Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question. Education is in the forefront of their requirements now. ” Duncan Campbell Scott, Deputy Superintendant of Indian Affairs from 1913 to 1932

Residential Schools 1884, Indian Act was amended Attendance in Indian Schools is mandatory for status Indians until they reach 18 years of age Created government-funded, church-run Residential Schools Located in all provinces except Newfoundland, N. B. & PEI Between 1884 and 1996 – 136 Residential Schools in Canada Students are forced to stay in residences located on school ground Forcibly removed from their homes

Residential Schools (cont’d) Parents of children who did not go to school were fined or jailed Students could go up to 10 months without any contact with their parents Not allowed to speak First Nations languages or Inuktitut in the schools Siblings were usually placed on different floors Not allowed to play traditional aboriginal games they may have learned at home Severed punishment was doled out to those who broke these rules

Social Consequences of Residential Schools Many of the social problems that Aboriginal communities face today are consequences of the residential school system and the policy of assimilation Physical and emotional abuse was only part of the problem “Take the Indian out of the Indian” Matthew Coon Come, Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Treatment in Residential Schools -Separation from Community -Separation from family -Prohibition against speaking Aboriginal languages -Exposure to negative views about Aboriginal cultures -Harsh conditions -Physical and sexual abuse Effects on Individuals & Communities -Poor self-esteem -Lack of positive role models -Loss of parenting skills -Inability to speak own language -Loss of culture and Identity -Separation from Community & family -Feeling of being unloved, uncared for

Other Consequences Higher suicide rate in Aboriginal communities Depression, alcohol & drug abuse, family violence, etc. Can you think of other possible consequences?

Government Response 1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal People 1998 – Canadian government issues an apology to former students of residential schools Many churches also offer their apologies Creation of an Aboriginal Healing Fund $245 million in funding for counseling and other programs former students 2001 – New department to speed up the process of settling lawsuits 2005 – agreement between First Nations & federal government Improved compensation process, $10 000 lump sum payment to all former students of Res. Schools, $60 million to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, more $$$ longer

So… 86 000 former students are eligible for compensation By accepting it, they do not have to give up their right to seek redress (the righting of past wrongs) for physical and sexual abuse Releases the government and churches from all other claims relating to the Residential Schools

The Oka Crisis March 1990 – Mohawk First Nations at Kanesatake opposed plans to build a golf course Claimed the land was once a burial ground and contained sacred grove of pine trees planted by their ancestors They barricaded a road and occupied an area of land near the town of Oka, Quebec Plans for the golf course expansion were made without consulting the Mohawks The land was part of a larger piece of land claimed by the Mohawks since 1717 Police attempted to break up the barricade - one police office was killed in the stand-off Other Aboriginal groups joined the Mohawk on the barricades while others displayed acts of solidarity.

The Oka Crisis (cont’d) August 1990 – the military is called in September 1990 – Mohawks had enough Destroyed their weapons, ceremonially burned tobacco, and walked out of the pines to the reserve Many were arrested, but none ever convicted The Aftermath Golf course expansion was cancelled Criticized Canada for its handling of the crisis (military) TURNING POINT in the treatment of Aboriginal Land Claims First Nations Policing Policy Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Other violent protests involving First Nations later took place at Ipperwash, ON(1995), Burnt Church, NB (2000), and Caledonia,

Civil Stride in the Deomcratic Republic of Congo (DRC) DRC was once a colony of Belgium DRC is rich in many resources, including gold, copper, diamonds, and cobalt, Yet, one of the poorest countries on the planet 1885 – King Leopold II of Belgium acquired as his personal possession, the Congo Free State Reign of Terror (between 3 and 22 million dead) Enslaved the Congolese people Death toll due to disease; Starvation, Exhaustion, Exposure; Murder; and Plummeting Birth Rate

Civil Strife in DRC (cont’d) 1908 – CFS is handed over to the Belgian gov’t (colony) 1960 – Gained its independence 5 years of unstable gov’t & rebellions follow Military coup allowed Joseph Desire Mobutu to gain power (1965 -1997) In the 1970 s, country renamed Zaire Africanisation policy All citizens must take African names Joseph himself became Mobutu Sese Seko Mobutu is supported by the US and other Western powers Tortured and kill thousands of civilians and members of opposition groups

Civil Strife in DRC (cont’d) Mobutu also ruined the countries finance (Kleptocracy) He amassed a fortune for himself through complete corruption Led to an economic crisis in the 1970 s DRC today Corruption and repression continued after Mobutu was deposed 1998 -2001 – Civil war divided the country into 3 segments Estimates have at least 3. 8 million killed since the beginning of the war in 1998 Severe human rights violations, armed conflict, and corruption still remains common of DRC today HOPE – DRC President negotiated a peace accord with neighboring countries and has begun to institute democratic reforms in the country

The Zapatista Movement In Chiapas, southeastern region of Mexico 4 million people, 33% of Mayan descent 40% suffer from malnutrition Poverty and lack of opportunity in Chiapas have their roots in the conquest by the Spanish some 500 years ago Mayan suffered greatly at the hands of the Spanish in the 16 th century Took over fertile lowlands for plantations and cattle ranches Forced to grow their subsistence crops on much less fertile land Ignored by the gov’t and the world 1994 – Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Stopped subsidizing Indigenous farm co-operatives

The Zapatista Movement (cont’d) The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) Declared war on the Mexican gov’t (response to NAFTA) Took over 5 towns in the Chiapas New Tactics: Non-violence No military or terrorist actions against the government Invite people to see for themselves the poverty and desperation in Chiapas Using the tools of Globalization, appealed for international support for their cause New tactic = success International delegations help the Zapatistas develop Mexican gov’t helps the Chiapas region