Ottawa Tries to Turn the Page on ‘colonial’ Ways of Past Governments

WHITE PAPER

What is the main claim? What is the evidence of the claim? Why do you think the reading was assigned? How does this reading connect to a previous reading from this course?

The main claim of this article is about the Indigenous people and how to achieve the same equality as any other Canadians.  The White Paper, is an idea that was basically the complete legal adjustment of indigenous peoples. Harold Cardinal, who talked about the opposition thinking in his 1969 book, The Unjust Society. “We would rather continue to live in bondage under the inequitable Indian Act than surrender our sacred rights,” he wrote. “Any time the government wants to honour its obligation to us we are more than ready to help devise new Indian legislation.” Also Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approached the indigenous policy in a different way than his father. Instead of killing the concept of indigenous nation, he wanted to strengthen it by creating two new government ministries; indigenous services and crown- indigenous relations and taking away the Indigenous Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).  I believe that the reading was assigned because having our rights taken away harms the society and the environment that we live in. Meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples aims to secure their free, prior, and informed consent when Canada proposes to take actions which impact them and their rights on their lands, territories, and resources. This reading connects to another reading called Heavy Lies the Head that Wears the Crown: SCC Delivers Clyde River and Chippewa’s Judgments. Clyde River Inuit raised concerns about the Project’s impact on marine life and Inuit harvesting. HTOs are authorized by the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement to control the rights of their members relating to wildlife harvesting. Clyde river Inuit depend on marine mammals including bowhead whales, narwhals, seals and polar bears for food security as well as economic, cultural, and spiritual well being. This relates this article because both the indigenous and the Inuit were fighting for their rights and their lives were impacted by these higher authorities.

Reference

A.Ballingall, “Ottawa tries to turn the page on ‘colonial’ ways of past governments,” The Toronto Star, September 4, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/09/03/ottawatries-to-turn-the-page-on-colonial-ways-of-pastgovernments.html