by - MJ Samuel

A glance at the history of native peoples, facts and how it touches us.

[French version]

Recently the Canadian and Australian governments made a big deal about publicly apologizing for crimes against its relative native peoples. But these declarations of remorse are more aptly termed as regrettable acts, since less than a year ago both nations refused to sign the United Nations proposed declaration of rights for indigenous peoples.
(Ironically sole four countries to refuse to sign are former British Colonies). Also, financial recompensations, promised by Canada, are less than half the value promised by Paul Martin's liberal government in 2005 for Native programs.

Taking a closer look at Canadian history, the press would have you believe that this is ancient history, focusing on the personal stories of the oldest survivors, or the children of survivors. Yet the last school remained open until the late 1990s in Manitoba. Still, nobody visited the Manitoba prisons and asked inmates how many have traded one institution for another.

The number lost over the generations is innumerable. Before mandatory attendance in 1920, reports show that 35 – 60 % of students died at school. After 1920, parents of 6- 15 year olds could be imprisoned if they refused to hand over their children to the state sanctioned schools. In the 1950s schools were so under-funded, that they were little better than work camps. Corporal punishment was standard and sexual abuse was common. And even if the school was above board, its very existence still constitutes child abuse. Children were separated from their families for months if not years at a time and taught that they were inferior, and to be ashamed of their language, culture and identity.

Cultural genocide is no less terrible than outright genocide. Denying a populace its right to peaceful existence is simply wrong. The occident world is the first to condemn other nations for what they deem are violations of human rights, while in the same breath they excuse themselves for un-provoked pre-emptive attacks on other cultures. This hypocritical behaviour can no longer be hidden. It’s time to stop blaming all the problems of the world on others and start taking serious responsibility for our actions, before everyone else bands together to stand up to the bully.

The natives are but one small group that has been victimized. These days virtually everyone has been victimized, manipulated or violated. We are violated of our dignity, our humanity as we are manipulated to see only differences, searching for someone to blame, to victimize, for the sufferance that is to one degree or another shared by the masses. If we can find our strength and courage, we can lift off the blinds of fear and prejudice and finally join hands against oppression. But a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and we as a society are all weak links. So if we truly want things to change, if have to start setting the example by treating others as we want to be treated. It’s time to learn from the ancient native ways, to seek harmony, to take only what we need from this world and to waste nothing. Time that we abandon our aggressive greed and start to share with more equality, before there is nothing left for anyone.

http://archives.radio-canada.ca/societe/education/dossiers/711/