Aboriginal Issue Primers
Since I began this blog, I have endeavoured to create resources for people unfamiliar with specific aboriginal topics. I like to call them Aboriginal Issue Primers, because they are introductions to topics you could spend a lifetime specialising in. Not every post I put up is a Primer, so I’ve decided to list them below topically, for ease of reference (and so I remember what I’ve already addressed!).
My focus is very much on what I call “myth debunking”. I have found it very difficult over the years to have discussions about anything related to indigenous peoples because so many bizarre beliefs get in the way. Try discussing what happened at Oka, for example, and you’ll quickly realise you’ve got to explain a lot of history and address a lot of misunderstandings before you can even get to that topic.
For me, this is a time saving device. A series of resources for myself and anyone else who wants them, so that some of the most prevalent myths can be quickly and clearly addressed, allowing a bigger conversation to (hopefully) happen.
Identity and Culture
- Aboriginal, Indian, First Nations? What To Call Us.
- Does traditional mean “frozen in time”?
- Issues in Defining Métis Identity.
- What is cultural appropriation?
- How to sniff out fake “Native American” stories/legends and why you should.
- Two-Spirit identity.
Aboriginal Law and Treaties
- A brief intro to: approaches to Treaty Making in Canada.
- The Nature of Aboriginal Law and Historical/Contemporary Treaties.
- Without Prejudice Agreements as a Method of Denying Aboriginal Rights.
- The White Paper and the First Nations Property Ownership Act.
- Understanding the Navajo trademark and restrictions on claiming “Native made” in US.
Historic and Continuing Injustice
- Canada’s closets are packed with skeletons
- Residential Schools (introduction)
- Some of the arguments used to deny Aboriginal rights (heavy satire).
- The 60s scoop and present day Child Welfare problems, our stolen generations.
- High Arctic relocation.
- First Nations farming in the Prairies.
- What was the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples?
- Ruby’s Story
Specific Myths or Misunderstandings
- An Explanation of Indian Status.
- First Nation Taxation.
- “Free Housing for Indians” is a myth.
- The Stereotype of the “Drunken Indian”.
Indigenous Health and Safety
- Access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities
- OxyContin, targeting First Nations on issues of abuse
Hi, did you know that your links on this page are all to missing pages? Looked like some pretty cool articles too, not sure if they got moved or were deleted.
Thank you very much for letting me know! The links must have been broken in the move. When I have a moment, I’ll fix it all up!
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Thank you! We need a Primer.
Maybe I am a tad off base here, as many movies previously show First Nations travesties.
One wonders if anyone after watching the 1980s movie “Red Dawn” where Communist forces invaded the USA. Then take the movie “Red Dawn” reshoot it and put it in the 16th century (without the helicopter gunships etc) .
Replace the premise of invading Communist forces with Europeans and replace US Citizens with First Nations peoples. Betcha that would put a unique perspective.
Just sayin………….
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Excellent site. The treaties need to be framed in contract form that we all might understand. Canada has been “leased” to european settlers for certain treaty rights like education, health care and resource useage. Deciding not to live up to our end of the bargain means the bargain is null and void. I wonder if Europe or Asia would accept most of us back and how we would fare if we returned.
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FANTASTIC site. I’m forcing as many people as I can to read everything on this site.
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Article: American History As It Should Be Taught
“Historians often overlook the fact that the early explorers found, not a savage people ready to kill and scalp them, but a peace-loving, hospitable people ready to love them and who welcomed them to their land. When there was a time of famine among the early whites, who was it who brought them meat, corn and fish? It was only after guns were given the Indian with which to kill his brother, liquor was fed him to make his mind weak, his country was taken from him, treaties were violated by those whom we call civilized, and his people were driven from place to place, that he became the savage that we read of in history. Of the causes of his savagery, little or nothing is mentioned!
“If we continue to think of the Indian as a savage, should we not hide our heads in shame when we look at the horrors of modern warfare? Did the so-called savage Indians invent poisonous gases that would sweep away whole villages of people? Did he invent the modern bombs, cannons, tanks, machine guns, submarines, warships and other implements that are being used in every country that today calls itself civilized! Well might the Indian laugh at some teachers when they call his ancient ancestors warlike savages!”
—Aren Akweks, The Native Voice, March 1950, p16 (http://nativevoice.bc.ca/)
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
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