Q2:
Nationalism is an umbrella term that encompasses such a vast amount of knowledge, feelings, ideas and concepts. Sometimes this term is used for the better in a positive light, but in regard to the Aboriginal people of Canada, this is often seen as a discriminatory concept that encompasses ethnicity and race in a demeaning way. Since settlers came to Canada in the 1600’s, the First Peoples have been persecuted and disregarded due to their lack of “Nationalism” and assimilation to white European Culture. This concept is perhaps exemplified most by The Indian Act of 1876, which essentially clamed First Nations people in North America as wards of the state.
The Indian Act of 1876 sought to assimilate First Nations people into White European Culture and essentially strip them of their Aboriginal Identity. The Indian Act not only establish First Nations peoples as “other” but even further separated women as not being able to hold their own status. This oppressive legislature established itself as one of the most notoriously “white washing” documents, especially within Canada, which brought with it many horrors.
Under the Indian Act of 1876, residential schools were created to assimilate First Nations children into white culture. The schools involved stripping children from their families, abuse to enforce “white behaviour”, and discrimination against any Indigenous culture. I grew up learning about these schools, and truly there is nothing that makes me more ashamed to be Canadian. The abuse and oppression present during the time of the Indian Act is extensive and horrific. I have always found that learning about something from an academic point of view is a very different experience compared to learning about something from an emotional point of view, which is why I searched for an article on first hand accounts of people who experienced residential schools. This article illustrates the depth of hurt that the Indian Act and its legislature caused on First Nations people as a whole.
The Indian Act also came with the amendment of banning Potlaches, a sacred ceremony between bands that shared wealth, food and gifts that was banned by the government in an attempt for assimilation. The Potlatch was crucial to coastal First Nations bands sharing wealth and establishing relationships, so by stripping them of this right it was a huge step in oppressing and assimilating First Nations culture.
The Parliament of Canada passed the Indian act in an attempt to unify Canada, with the idea of Nationalism in mind, which reinforces the misconceptions of what Nationalism should be. The Indian Act fully reinforces many of the claims that Coleman is making in his book White Civility on the critique of Nationalism, civility and white culture.
The Indian Act exemplifies a point made by Coleman, where he states that “No nation possesses an ethnic base naturally.” (7) The Canadian Parliament made a choice to discriminate against First Nations culture in favour of “Nationalism”, in favour of unifying and assimilating Aboriginal people into white European culture. There was no need for assimilation of culture in Canada, which I would say present day, though still flawed, we have more of an understanding of the multicultural mosaic we need to embrace rather than the melting pot that The Indian Act of 1876 sought to create.
Bibliography
Chapman, Daniel. “White Civility: The Literary Project of English Canada.” White Civility , University of Toronto Press, 2006, pp. 3–12.
Hansen, Erin, and Karrmen Crey. “The Indian Act.” Indigenousfoundations, First Nations Studies UBC, 2009, indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_indian_act/.
Pressprogress. “14 First-Hand Stories Underlining How Residential Schools Tried to ‘Get Rid’ of Indigenous Cultures.” PressProgress, 16 Dec. 2016, pressprogress.ca/14_first_hand_stories_underlining_how_residential_schools_tried_to_get_rid_of_indigenous_cultures/.
jade greer
March 4, 2020 — 6:50 pm
Hi Grace,
Great post.
You word the complexities of nationalism very well, and I agree that it often is a discriminatory term. Nationalism, especially in Canada, tries to dictate who belongs and who doesn’t. Those who don’t belong and subsequently assimilated in order to mimic those who do belong.
You bring up an interesting point about learning about Indigenous Residential School experiences from an emotional rather than an academic point of view. I’m curious how the other things we have read in this class, for example, Green Grass Running Water, changes the way you understand some of the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada?
Looking forward to working with you on the group project!
-Jade 🙂
grace owens
March 13, 2020 — 12:25 pm
Hi Jade,
I have definitely already learned a lot in this class. Things such as Green Grass, Running Water have been really enjoyable for me to read, as I have never really had the chance through school to read some real stories, legends and tales from a first hand First Nations account. I have enjoyed reading the different tales of Coyote and have enjoyed expanding my knowledge base of First Nations culture. I look forward to the upcoming readings, assignments and our project to keep expanding my understanding of experiences of First Nations people in Canada.
Have a great week,
Grace
Indra Isita
March 4, 2020 — 11:04 pm
Hi Grace,
I definitely agree with you that learning about things from an academic perspective is much different than learning by more personal, direct means. I’m curious as to what you have found to be more engaging throughout this course so far – the academic and historical research we do, such as for this assignment, or the readings by Indigenous authors that we have done?
Cheers!
Indra
grace owens
March 13, 2020 — 12:16 pm
Hi Indra,
I have really enjoyed more personal readings by Indigenous authors the best for sure! As an English Literature major I have found that I really love stories of the fictitious nature, or of the emotionally bonding nature much more than those based on historical/academic events. For me literature is a form of escapism so I enjoy reading literature that allows me to feel the way someone else has or explore things that I haven’t personally done so. I have always loved story telling so I definitely have enjoyed the personal readings and stories from Indigenous authors much better.
Thanks for your response!
Grace