Assignment 3:2\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
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2)In this lesson I say that it should be clear that the discourse on nationalism is also about ethnicity and ideologies of \u201crace.\u201d If you trace the historical overview of nationalism in Canada in the <\/span>CanLit<\/span><\/i> guide, you will find many examples of <\/span>state<\/span><\/i> legislation and policies that excluded and discriminated against certain peoples based on ideas about racial inferiority and capacities to assimilate. \u2013 and in turn, state legislation and policies that worked to try to rectify early policies of exclusion and racial discrimination. As the guide points out, the nation is an imagined community, whereas the state is a \u201cgoverned group of people.\u201d For this blog assignment, I would like you to research and summarize one of the state or governing activities, such as The Royal Proclamation 1763, the Indian Act 1876, Immigration Act 1910, or the Multiculturalism Act 1989 \u2013 you choose the legislation or policy or commission you find most interesting. Write a blog about your findings and in your conclusion comment on whether or not your findings support Coleman\u2019s argument about the project of white civility.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royal Proclamation of 1763\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royal Proclamation of 1763<\/a> is a document issued by King George 111, which established principles for governing Indigenous populations, and the \u201cconstitutional negotiation of treaties with the Indigenous populations\u201d (Hall 2019). It also provided the framework to assimilate French populations with the British, after British acquisition of Quebec.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of its specific assimilation policies included that the governor, who was appointed by the British government, would be the authority in Quebec. All French laws would be replaced by English (criminal and civil) laws, and Catholics (French majority)\u00a0 would not be able to run for public position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is important to recognize of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, is that, \u201call land would be considered Aboriginal land, until ceded by treaty\u201d (\u201c<\/span>Royal Proclamation, 1763,\u201d<\/span>). As well as, First Nations\u2019 land could only be bought by the Crown, and settlers could not claim land from Aboriginals.\u00a0 This document is recognized as a stepping stone into recognizing Aboriginal rights and acknowledgment of their land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Does the Royal Proclamation of 1763 support Coleman\u2019s arguments of the project of white civility?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now that I\u2019ve done my fair share of research into the Royal Proclamation of 1763, it\u2019s time to get into the nitty gritty and declare whether this Proclamation supports or negates Coleman\u2019s arguments of the project of white civility… unfortunately, I do believe it does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, although Aboriginal rights were beginning to be acknowledged by this Proclamation, it clearly dictates a British monopolization of the land.\u00a0 No one but the Crown could purchase lands from the First Nations, which clearly restricts Indigenous rights and ownership of the land. Also that the governor who has authority over Quebec, is appointed by the British government, paves the way to instill British values and customs, into the governed. Also, the restriction of Catholics into public positions, is also creating a white, British superiority amongst the population.\u00a0 Canadian Nationalism was born by rejecting non British values (replacement of all French laws), and creating a governance of its populations and monopolizing the land, by claiming everyone is under British protection. White civility is evident in these circumstances, because this Proclamation creates the framework to dictate what is above the law, and who is above the law, in this case, the British above all others.\u00a0 \u00a0An article I found,<\/a> highlighted the significance of white civility as tool; laws could be implemented, in order to “contain communities of colour” (Bates, 2019). The people of colour, in this case, mainly the Indigenous populations, are given the illusion of\u00a0 rights and land, handed down as a gift by the British, which in turn creates a relationship that is “unequal, racist and undemocratic” (Bates 2019).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, the goal of this Proclamation seemed to be to assimilate the bands of the Indigenous groups and French settlers, in newfound British authority of Quebec. Assimilate in the sense, is washing away Indigenous culture, and French power, to assimilate to \u201cwhite civility\u201d as put forward by British standards.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Works Cited\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Bates, Karen Grigsby. \u201cWhen Civility Is Used As A Cudgel Against People Of Color.\u201d\u00a0NPR<\/i>, NPR, 14 Mar. 2019, www.npr.org\/sections\/codeswitch\/2019\/03\/14\/700897826\/when-civility-is-used-as-a-cudgel-against-people-of-color.<\/p>\n