The Arrival of Europeans Change - Essay Example

History Name: Course: Tutor: Date: History Before the start of the colonial era, the First Nations, now referred to as Canada, used to satisfy all their needs through the naturally available resources. Most of the First Nations inhabitants from the woodland area had independent hunting grounds whereas the First Nations inhabitants from the Iroquoian were successful farmers. On the plains, migratory groups would gather during the summer months and perform spiritual ceremonies including dances and communal hunting activities. The social organization of these people was greatly influenced by the pacific coast inhabitants. These inhabitants had an aristocratic class that was well defined1. They mainly consisted of extended families whose members claimed descent from the same ancestor. The First Nations across Canada would hunt and gather plants for medicinal purposes. The main food used by the First Nations depended on what was locally available to them. The entrance of the Europeans into Canada meant a lasting impact on the aborigines. The first fleet was a source of misunderstanding leading to hostility between the whites and the native aborigines2. Though the aborigines regarded the Europeans arrival by ship as a visit by their ancestors’ ghost, they did not expect them to cause trouble. The ‘ancestral ghosts’ were welcomed as long as they stayed peacefully with the aborigines. More trouble ensued with their cultural misunderstanding. Shaking of hands was a tradition of English, but to the aborigines it was considered as an act of aggression. The aborigines had no concept of land division and ownership. The lack of the idea to subdivide land led to more misunderstanding with the whites who were for the view of splitting the land to manageable pieces. Since the whites were farmers, they would keep livestock. The livestock, to the aborigines, was a source of ready food. They would catch the big livestock of the white settlers for their own food, and, since the animals were so valuable to the settlers they considered the killing as an attack3. More trouble was evident when the white settlers gathered and sought to eradicate groups of troublesome aborigines. Most of the aborigines were forced off their land. Many of the aboriginal tribes were forced off the rich coastal strip. This is where food was plentiful and into the more arid interior areas where food was scarce4. According to the aborigines, a connection to their homeland is of great significance. They relate it to their identity since the loss to it would be so devastating. The feelings of dispossession still linger to this day. The first fleet of Europeans to Canada brought with them diseases to the land of the aborigines. Many of the natives died of those diseases since the only remedy they sought was herbal. Aborigines were faced with real threats of death and diseases. Until 1900, it was estimated that more than 90% of the aboriginal population was lost due to diseases which they were not immune to. Diseases like flu, chicken pox, and measles eradicated the community of Tasmanian completely. More deadly diseases like smallpox could not be countered by bush medicine. The Europeans also brought food that was detrimental to the natives. The introduction of tobacco and alcohol led to addiction that has continued to affect the aborigines to the present day. The subsequent fleets of Europeans into Canada led to the introduction of new plant and animal species that led to the extinction of the native species. The increase in the whites whose interest was farming caused the reduction in the natural balance of the land and environment. Tree clearing to paved the way for agriculture was a daily activity5. The white settlers were not happy with the upbringing of the aboriginal children. They believed that the natives were incapable of raising them properly6. The dispossessed children of the aborigines were taught to be white. The same children were treated with cruelty and some as servants. The break of the link between the parents and their children led to the loss of the aboriginal culture and tradition. The children forgot their native language, their beliefs of their society and contact with their tribal leaders. They could not pass on the knowledge to the subsequent generations. When the British entered Canada, they made treaties with the First Nations. Most of the written treaties, however, did not outline all the objects of the agreement entered into. The agreement agreed upon by the natives was not reduced as a whole to the treaty. The treaty only mentioned basic rights like the continuance of fishing and hunting by the first nation and the mode of payment for the piece of land taken by the crown. The faulty drafting of the treaties has cost the federal government and the first nation a lot in trying to establish the exact contract entered into by the crown and the natives. To the First Nations, the idea of the treaty meant sharing agreements. The First Nations agreed to share and not ‘sell’ their land to the white settlers. The conception was that land could not be sold to anyone. The crown, on the other hand, believed that once the treaty has been signed, the land belonged to him. Once the land passed over to the white settlers, the settlers considered it a private property. The relationship between the crown and First Nations mainly based on commercial and military interests. The attainment of independence by America and the consequent identification of it by the British as an independent state brought more impact on the First Nations7. The loss of America as a colony brought thousands of refugees to Canada who asked the crown to reward them with pieces of land as appreciation for their support of the British cause. The British continued to reserve the military alliance with the First Nations. The fear of future conflict with the newly formed United States of America saw the need keep the First Nations soldiers to defend their colonies. The First Nations soldiers were put to test by the British when they fought against America in 1812. The invasion of the Americans into southern Ontario was successfully prevented by the combined effort of the British and First Nations soldiers. On the return of peace to the northern parts of America, more immigrants continued to move Canada. The First Nations population was outnumbered by the settlers in the great lake basin. The only land available to the new immigrants was that owned by the First Nations. The lands surrendered included all the lands from the southern productive agricultural lands to the rich Georgian bay lands. As the demand, for property by the white settlers increased, their colonial masters were forced to eject the First Nations. They often regarded them as dependants other than allies. The treaties entered into did not consider reserve of land for the First Nations. The First Nations continued to lose access to the fishing and hunting grounds. As the crown continued with finalization of the land surrender, the First Nations kept living destitute lives on their own land. In the 1850’s, the crown for the first time, turned the focus to the northern areas of Canada that was rich in minerals. The minerals in the shoreline of Lake Huron and Lake Superior saw the signing of the Robinson- Huron, Robinson -Superior treaties. After 1876, the colonialist introduced pieces of legislation that deeply affected the First Nations. The Indian act created in 1876 consolidated many of the legislations that had earlier on been created to govern the First Nations8. However, the Act gave so much power to the Indian department of internal affairs in Canada. The department would intervene in many affairs that internally affected the natives and most of the decisions were made and upheld by the Indians. The Indian act was meant to give authority to the crown to protect the First Nations. The responsibility included acting as a guardian to the First Nations until a time when the First Nations would fully integrate to Canadian society. The amendments were much concerned with restricting and imposing controls on the lives of the First Nations. A new system of governance was introduced. The act advocated for the abandonment of the native way of life, introducing bans on the religious ceremonies including potlatch and sun dance. The new act introduced automatic enfranchisement of the First Nations to allow them to vote and be citizens. A further amendment to the Indian Act made it compulsory for the First Nations member obtaining a degree to be enfranchised. The numerous land claims in British Colombia were forbidden by the amendment of the act. The Act made it necessary for any member of the first nation pursuing a land claim to seek permission from the department of Indian Affairs. The outbreak of the First World War and the Korean War saw the recruitment of the aboriginals to fight for the British. Despite the aboriginals making formal complaints to a committee created at the House of Commons and also the Senate, the recommendations of the board were not heeded to and the provisions of the act remained to be the same as before. The First Nations wanted the powers vested in the government be reversed back to their chiefs9. The only recommendations that were effected were the ones concerning involuntary enfranchisement and the sections banning potlatch and other traditional ceremonies. The ban on fundraising to gather for land claims was also lifted. Despite the limitations by the Indian act, by 1960 there was a significant improvement on the social and economic conditions. The right to vote at federal elections was extended to the First Nations. It was quite unfair for the people who helped to fight in both World Wars to be denied their right to vote. They were further provided with better health services that led to the increase in the Indian population. Access to education was similar to all inhabitants including the aboriginals’ children. In general, despite all these major changes, the living conditions of the First Nations were still far from better compared to the lives of other Canadians. References Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, AANDA. (2011). First Nations in Canada, Retrieved 9 April 2012, from< http://www.aadnc- andc.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710%5C> Dickason, Olive P., and Newbigging William. A Concise History of Canada's First Nations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Miller, Frederic., Vandome, Agnes and McBrewster, John. First Nations. New York: VDM Verlag, 2010. Patterson II and E. Palmer, the Canadian Indian: A History since 1500. Toronto: Collier- Macmillan Canada Ltd, 1972. Ponting, Rick. First Nations in Canada: perspectives on opportunity, empowerment, and self- determination. New York: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1997. Timpson, May. First Nations, First Thoughts: The Impact of Indigenous Thought in Canada. UBC Press, 2009. Read More