Indigenous Challenges

Contemporary indigenous challenges are a result of issues that Colonialism has put forward. Some of these issues pertain to the definition and identification of Indigenous groups, and the racist, prejudiced, incorrect or incomplete assumptions and perceptions of Indigenous groups as they occur in North America.

Marginalization of Indigenous Canadians

It is important to note the marginalization that Indigenous citizens face on a daily basis. Unfair and unjustified assumptions of Indigenous people, as well as racism, play a heavy role in the mistreatment of so many people. Through the lack of sovereignty and power, especially seen in the lack of land rights examined further below, indigenous populations are heavily marginalized. [1] This stems from colonization, and a dark series of events that have transformed Canada since then. Most notable since colonization is likely the residential school system, a very recent occurrence which stripped any post-colonial power that had been left with Canada's First Nations. The residential schools took children from their homes, placing them in boarding schools where English was the main language.

This created a distinct divide between children and their families, as their native tongue was often lost and thus communication was lacking from then on. The schools were run entirely by white Canadians, often religious, figures. Most commonly criticized is the sexual abuse that occurred in countless cases in countless residential schools. This abuse of vulnerable children is a major example of the power contrast that exists today between indigenous groups and descendants of European colonies. Indigenous populations were forced to assimilate to western culture through residential schools, and with young children placed in such facilities, it would prove difficult for the children to continue to carry their own tradition and beliefs. [2] Indigenous populations still face overwhelming amounts of poverty and health issues, especially in the communities that they live in, secluded from Canada's main cities.

Indigenous Canadians live in communities that are full of political corruption, and being hidden far from the main cities of Canada, many of these occurrences don't appear on mainstream media. These communities are built on lands that oil companies are looking to work on, therefore payout large sums to the Chief of the communities to "rent" the land. Instead of using this money towards helping the community with their health, infrastructure and/or any other issues, the Chief keeps sums of money to himself. Therefore you would be able to witness huge wealth gaps between the members of the community itself. Outside of that, the wealth gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous are high due to the resources available to the people to develop their skills. These wealth gaps leads to issues within the community, as neccessary resources are not provided to the general members. This may lead to clashes between members, or even shootings from built up frustration by members. [3]

Relevant Literature and Recent Developments

"A Necessary Inclusion: Native Literature in Native Studies" by Renate Eigenford highlights the importance of "cross-cultural and interdisciplinary scholarship" to understanding some of the deeper challenges in order to have a complete picture of the challenges and issues that are major issues in the contemporary period.^[1] https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~rnelson/asail/SAIL2/221.pdf

Eigenford also cites a quote from Daniel Heath Justice, who illustrates the "living realities of struggle and possibility among Indigenous peo- ples; they challenge both Natives and non-Natives to surrender ste- reotypes, committing ourselves instead to untangling colonialism from our minds, spirits, and bodies". This illustrates the challenge of both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples to surrender stereotypes, while pursuing the complex task of "untangling colonialism" from issues today.

Indigenous Rights and Human Rights

Sovereignty and self-determination are rights of indigenous groups; these groups often confront their level of political autonomy in conjunction with other issues including land rights, and ownership rights. Discrimination, poverty, and health factors affect some indigenous groups' ability to successfully obtain their rights.

Most issues surrounding contemporary indigenous groups are due to their ability to act as sovereign groups, and maintain the sustainability of the environment and natural resources. This often puts some groups in conflicting positions of governments (municipal through national), and with business and development corporations who often don't have the best interests of the environment at the centre. Interaction between indigenous and non-indigenous groups adds complexity to conflicts that arise; much of this is a result of colonialism. Warry's book: "Ending Denial: Understanding Aboriginal Issues" illustrates the above issues as they occur in Canada http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ubc/reader.action?docID=10303713

Two major issues, which most other conflicts have a basis in, are:

Sovereignty

Closely tied to the right to self-determination, and issues resulting from decolonization. Audrey Jane Roy illustrates the interplay of these topics in her work "Sovereignty and Decolonization: Realizing Indigenous Self-Determination at the United Nations and in Canada".

Environmental Sustainability

Closely related to indigenous land ownership rights, and religious or spiritual freedom. Sarah B. Gordon explains the effects that federal development have on religious freedom, and the idea of public lands vs. sacred sites in her work "Indian Religious Freedom and Governmental Development of Public Lands".

Land Title

The Lubicon Cree are one of many nations that have suffered for living on lands containing vast mineral wealth. The Governments of Canada and Alberta have insisted that the Lubicon Cree have no rights to their traditional land, as their status is governed by a 1899 treaty--which the Government of Canada admits was never signed by the Lubicon Cree. ^[2] While initially settled on marginally productive lands adjacent to the Lubicon Lake, the Government of Canada has made repeated efforts to displace the community when oil was discovered on reserve lands.

The Musqueam Indian Band is the site of one of Canada's most important land claim cases. In 1956, the Indian Agent appointed to Musqueam by the Canadian government negotiated a 75-year lease with Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club for the purpose of building a golf course. Though the band consented under the terms that fair market value would be paid and renegotiated every ten years, the agent subsequently discounted the rent to 10% of fair market value, cheating the Musqueam Indian Band out of much-needed revenues. In the subsequent trial, R. v Guerin, the courts found that the Government of Canada had a fiduciary (trust-like) responsibility towards Musqueam, which it had violated. Today, R. v Guerin forms one of the legal foundations for indigenous self-governance and aboriginal rights in Canada. ^[3]

Proposed Solutions and Possible Developments

Many international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations are heavily involved in striving for indigenous rights, including:

U.N.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a source of documentation on human rights through the context of international indigenous rights. The United Nations Permanent forum on Indigenous Issues "discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, and health and human rights" http://undesadspd.org/indigenouspeoples.aspx

I.L.O.

The International Labour Organization focuses its work with indigenous groups on Conventions to end discrimination, child labour, and forced labour. Information on Conventions and areas of focus can be accessed here: http://www.ilo.org/indigenous/lang--en/index.htm

NGOs

Hannum explains that NGOs have been a major source of assertion for indigenous rights at the international, national, and regional levels in his work: http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/vajint28&div=24&id=&page=

Role in Environmental Practices

Warry illustrates in his work Ending Denial: Understanding Aboriginal Issues that, nationally, indigenous groups are highly involved in processes that could compromise the environment through less environmentally friendly or sustainable practices. Warry illustrates in his novel that the misconception that indigenous groups are opposed to economic development is untrue and unfair; many groups are simply opposed to economic development at any cost. Because of many indigenous groups' close ties to the land for spiritual reasons, contemporary indigenous leaders and groups could be used as discussion and risk-assessment committees along with developers (Warry, 2008). Because the sustainability of the environment in the long run is a contemporary concern, indigenous will to find sustainable and productive practices should be addressed and utilized; this is the idea of "indigenous knowledge", and it encourages partnerships with corporations and development groups (Warry, 2008). http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ubc/reader.action?docID=10303713

Indigenous Influence in Western Education

One significant issue facing Indigenous communities in Canada as a result of Colonial oppression is a lack of inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (“IK”) within contemporary Western curriculam^[4]. Within the hierarchical structure of the Western educational system, Western science is accepted as a superior claim to legitimate knowledge, creating a situation in which only those who have access to the privileged position of knowledge creation are able to justify their claims and access educational influence^[4]. However, experiential and traditional Indigenous knowledge have proved valuable in a variety of contexts, most evidently development science. As Indigenous groups are the original inhabitants of lands now occupied by the Western settler states, their historical knowledge allows them a more complete perspective related to development. Indigenous knowledge allows a relevant, if not superior, perspective pertaining to land treatment and development. Despite this fact, Indigenous knowledge is viewed as separate and inferior to Western science. While recent movements have increased the consideration of Indigenous knowledge within developmental science, the Western infrastructure continues to exclude these perspectives from serious consideration, particularly when they contradict Western scientific views^[4]. Despite these exclusions, Indigenous influences on Western education are beginning to be more visible. The University of British Columbia offers a variety of courses engaging in issues of Indigeneity, often with direct influence from Indigenous instructors, ensuring the inclusion of these viewpoints^[5]^[6]. As the campus is located on the un-ceded territory of the Coast Salish Musqueam people, Indigenous influences are visible, and further symbols of Indigeneity such as those evident at the UBC Museum of Anthropology provide markers of the growing Indigenous influence within the hierarchy of the Western educational system^[7].

It is important to note that many post-secondary institutions face an overwhelming under representation of Indigenous-identified individuals. The under representation of Indigenous knowledge within post-secondary institutions is largely to blame, however, rather than create a hybrid education system that allows for multiple Indigenous perspectives, post-secondary institutions such as UBC have implemented reduced academic requirements^[8]. While lowering the criteria for admission into UBC for Aboriginal-identified students has likely increased the numbers of Aboriginal applicants, by lowering the requirement for Aboriginal peoples UBC inadvertently describes Aboriginal students as low-achievers and non-academic. The under representation of Aboriginal students in post-secondary institutions is in stark contrast to the over representation of Aboriginal people within prison and correctional institutions^[9]. Perhaps rather than attempt to pave roads and create barriers, we can look at the larger picture of devaluation of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in scholarship and academia.