History of Indiginous People of Canada - Essay Example

First Nations---Indigenous peoples in Canada The critique surrounding First Nations people in Canada continue to be rife. As a matter of fact, the internal critique of Canadian governments, of course, has deflected attention away from the historical roots regarding contemporary administrative and governance. The long history of political, social and economic dispossession has therefore created some problems for the first nation. This is what Coulthard (2007) has termed as ‘ need for de-colonization of first nation’ (p. 281). To understand specific problems First Nations (North American Indian) face then two critical issues have to be conceptualised. To begin with, First Nations play a significant role in the Canada's formative history as well as cultural identity. Secondly, the debate among First Nations and often within indigenous has used by opponents of other rights as a justification for rejecting First Nations in favour of greater autonomy. This essay therefore critically bases the argument on the two aspects to discuss problems that First Nation people face in modern life Canada. These issues is viewed under the scope of de-colonization of indigenous Canada. Unequal access to healthcare facilities in Canada has been reported as a major cause for worry among First Nations (Coulthard, 2007). A study by Scott (2011) indicated that tracing back, First Nations’ agenda was to de-colonise instances of poor medical services. Unfortunately, currently, First Nations as a whole are still vulnerable to chronic infections such as mental illness or HIV/AIDS. The report further indicated that First Nations children as twice as likely to be taken to hospital for preventative diseases, not to mention cases where they are denied medical care altogether as a result of government loopholes as to who is responsible for paying for their coverage. If, therefore, there is one thing that First Nations needs to decolonize with regard their problems then is the Canada’s universal medical or health care system. The system is not only a mockery of them but ironic in as much as it has been extolled for its quality of care. That is, for First Nations it remains out of reach for them. Related to the issue of medical access, Truth and Reconciliation Commission released shocking information concerning residential schools, the first of which was closed in 1996: upwards of 2,500 were killed as a result of protection from fires, safeguards against failures or abuses in the enforcement of health codes (Scott, 2011). This could be just the beginning; figures are still anticipated to rise as more records from federal are analysed. In summary, the system is basically casting a dark shadow on the lives of First Nations community for the past years. In addition to this, there have been abusive practices put in place by the Canadian government as well as religious ministries that have been administering these schools so as to erase cultures as languages of First Nations. A clear case is where administrators have been lobbying for over 10,000 children to adopt the ‘dominant’ culture. Subsequently, one of the current issues that First Nations have attempted to de-colonize is the high number of unresolved cases of missing women. Scott (2011) indicated First Nations have been missing some women in controversial situations. This report pegs the figure at about 800-1000 women in the last five years. Some of the vanished women are nameless, and in as much as investigative procedures have indicated that some were murdered, the circumstance in which these problems occurred remains a mystery to First Nations. Still on issues of women, First Nations are also grappling with drug addiction, mental illness and domestic violence among women. Incontestable, it is not a challenge to confront such a painful period in the history. Even if it was the case, a majority of First Nations seems to have struggled about the history of residential schools. As in as much as residential schools have been closed for close to 20 years, the rate at which we are uncovering of the past abuse is vital to consider if Canada is to provide First Nations with the support they require to make a recovery and build a stronger future for their generation or future life. While the issue of the residential school remains to be the major problem for the First Nations, we are witnessing child welfare programs that have been slashed with no guarantee of retuning it. Indigenous Approaches (IAs) are by design, indigenous (First Nations) projects aimed at filling the gaps in the Ministry of Children and Family Development's services of children programs. For the first few years, the program provided First Nations with community garden cultivation, court assistance services and combating child hunger. However, as a result of financial mishandling it has been challenging for auditors to identify sources of expenditures. As a result, 18 programs were cut and in as much as this has hit hard on First Nations, they have not been pointed to alternate resources, and the possibility of restoration for IAs is continuously looking bleak at the best. In addition to that, the settlement agreements that were put in place were, in particular, not designed to sever all ties that existed between the Government of Canada and Yukon First Nations. Recently, the engagement of First Nations with the Indian Act has continued to draw mixed reactions. Whereas the Act was seen as a strategy for solving problems that earlier existed, it has instead, complicated the process of decolonizing minds of First Nations. To conceptualise this argument, on issues regarding membership, a process requiring First Nations to become beneficiaries under the settlement agreements has become complicated. However, it failed to make automatically First Nations people a status Indian under the Act. In summary, we are dealing with Canadian First Nations who have been engaged in difficult situations. In most cases, angry, series of negotiations with the government of regional and Canada so as to improve problems they have been facing, however, these negotiations have only succeeded in yielding frustrations with these governments and other agents of authorities thus becoming a part of their culture. References Coulthard, G. S. (2007). Subjects of empire: Indigenous peoples and the ‘politics of recognition’in Canada. Contemporary Political Theory, 6(4), 437-460. Scott, C. (Ed.). (2011). Aboriginal autonomy and development in northern Quebec and Labrador. UBC Press. Read More