Tribal Stigma Racial Ethnic Issues in Canada A

“Tribal Stigma” Racial & Ethnic Issues in Canada A Minority Group Case Study

The Yellow Quill Tragedy n n n Read Globe and Mail reporter Christie Blatchford’s series on the Yellow Quill tragedy at… http: //www. theglobeandmail. com/servlet/story/RTGA M. 20080213. wblatch 13/BNStory/Front http: //www. theglobeandmail. com/servlet/story/RTGA M. 20080214. wblatch 14/BNStory/National/columnists

Case Study: Canada’s Hidden Shame: The “Indian Problem” (Augie Fleras 2005) n “Excessive emphasis on the Indian problem to the exclusion of positive dimensions has the effect of “framing” aboriginal people as a problem people…aboriginal peoples are not a problem but peoples whose lives are complicated by forces beyond their control. ” (p. 302)

A Few Facts… n n “aboriginal people as a group remain at the bottom of the socioeconomic heap” (Fleras, 2005) For example (from 2001 Census) n n n Only 42% age 15 and older are employed vs. 66% of non-Aboriginal population Average income $15994 vs. $26914 (2001 Census) Unemployment rate is 3 times national average Life expectancy – males 68. 9, females 76. 3 (5 years less than non-Aboriginals) Fertility 2. 5 children (1. 5 times national average) Median age 24. 7 in aboriginal communities compared to 37. 7 in non-aboriginal areas

Why? The Causes of Aboriginal Inequality. . n Former First Nations Chief, Matthew Coon Come (1999) states: n “…without adequate access to lands, resources, and without the jurisdiction required to benefit meaningfully and sustainably from them, we are given no choices. No number of apologies, policies, token programs, or symbolic healing funds is going to remedy this basic socio-economic fact…” (Coon Come, 1999 in Fleras, 2005)

The Main Problems… n n A 2002 U. N. report has called the maltreatment of Canada’s aboriginal people “a national tragedy and a shameful disgrace” Key problems: n n n Lack of access to land Appropriation of resources Compromised culture and identity No claim to nationhood or autonomy No self-governance

Results: n n Powerlessness because of landlessness Policy mistreatment because of “(o)ne hundred years of servitude, of protectionism and paternalism” (Buckley, 1992 in Fleras, 2005) The internalization of powerlessness and impotence has become “self-hatred” (i. e. suicide, domestic abuse, alcoholism, drug use) Erosion of cultural values and language

Reservation Life n n In past reserves were “holding pens” to make Canada “safe” for “settlers” Evolved into areas of dire poverty fraught with social consequences of the conditions n n Now, inadequate housing and basic services Less than 50% of homes (2003) have water and sewage connections On some reserves 95% unemployed or on welfare Women complain of “male-dominated” band councils, sexism, abuse i. e see CFB video “Without Fear” , for example

On-reserve vs. Off-reserve life n n Reserves seen by some as “refuge from and buffer against a hostile outside world” But reserve dysfunctions of boredom, poor conditions, inequality force many into cities Lose status benefits, suffer discrimination, forced onto welfare or into prostitution for survival Some opt to spend winter in city, summer on reserve, but lead disjointed lifestyles

Aboriginal Women n n n Cultures of past had matrilineal descent Women more power Change when “whites” came – imposed European patriarchal structure and cultural change Then 1985 Indian Act stripped status from women who married non-aboriginals (since repealed) Studies show “aboriginal women rank among the most severely disadvantaged” in Canada Suffer from violence, abuse, inadequate housing and living conditions, alcohol and drug abuse

Aboriginal Youth Problems n n Trapped between two cultures Problem of “anomie” (Durkheim) Lack positive role models and often suffer abuse Results: n n Substance and solvent abuse High suicide rates (as high as 470/100000 compared to 14/100000 in general population) Prostitution, petty crime High youth incarceration rates

Attempts to find solutions… n n Canada only country in world to have aboriginal rights entrenched in constitution Has been some progress in increasing power and economic resources, access to higher education and more Native Studies programs But reality does not live up to ideals Debate: is assimilation or self-governing autonomy better?

A New Social Contract n n One proposal is self governance for Native peoples (i. e. see Cairns, 2000, 2003; Christie, 2002; Fleras, 2005) In 1997 “Statement of Reconciliation, ” Canadian government promised to “create new partnership” with aboriginals Recognition of aboriginal identity and promise to work toward full aboriginal participation in Canadian society But progress has been slow

Four Models n n 1. Statehood with complete political independence, internally and externally 2. Nationhood, with retention of authority and jurisdiction over internal matters 3. Municipality, with control over delivery of services by way of parallel institutions 4. Institutional, with meaningful decisionmaking power in mainstream institutions

1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Proposal n n n Studied community based governance vs. nation based governance Proposed to create self governed aboriginal nations But problem of organizing 1000’s of communities into 60 -70 historical nations

The Future? n n Many Canadians alarmed by idea of self government Some aboriginal groups themselves feel not yet ready However, Canada already has long history of two nations (French and English) under one loosely structured federal government. Why not three?

More Info…. n Indian Affairs and Northern Development n n Assembly of First Nations n n www. ainc-ianc. gc. ca www. afn. ca Royal Commission on Aboriginal Affairs n www. ainc-ianc. gc. ca/ch/rcap