To anyone scrolling by wanting to take an intro to Indigenous history crash course, Indigenous Canada is offered free through coursera and the University of Alberta. 12 modules over 2 weeks (flexible). Can recommend.
I’m a bit mixed on this one.
Canada, and the US, right up to 1978, without a doubt enacted systemic genocide against the indigenous people of North America. And after this point, there was a systematic effort to avoid responsibility for it, while the victims were still dealing with the fallout.
In fact, you could argue that even the reservation laws (you needed to live on the reservation to claim indigenous status) were genocidal, especially as the reserves were often moved to places difficult to survive, and often places with limited available drinking water.
But the determination here appears to conflate avoiding responsibility with the actual act itself. This makes it much more difficult to get politicians to actually accept responsibility and ensure that the genocidal acts are stopped at the policy level and the immediate results of the policies are dealt with — because the list of reparations could be infinite.
In most cases, indigenous communities are actually asking for LESS in reparations than is warranted by the documented acts. But they’re not even going to get a recognition of wrongdoing if the result isn’t something that can be decidedly acted upon. And so everyone loses.
“The suicide rate for children and youth was previously reported to be 10 times higher among males and 22 times higher among females between 2005 and 2007 in areas with a high percentage of First Nations people compared with low-percentage areas. In Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland made up of the Inuvialuit Region (northwest part of Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Québec), and Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador), the suicide rate among children and youth was 33 times higher than for the rest of Canada between 2004 and 2008.” ~ https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/99-011-x/99-011-x2019001-eng.htm
The act of genocide is ongoing, and will continue to be so long as this remains a settler-colonial state. Their conditions are worse on purpose, their options are limited on purpose. “Avoiding responsibility” is the same thing as fucking genocide; why do you think they’d have to avoid responsibility if they did not intend to benefit from those previous actions? You think Doug Ford doesn’t realize the Ring of Fire is First Nations territory legally? You think Mark Carney isn’t thinking about the Indian Act when his govt is slashing environmental protections with the explicit intent to construct extractive infrastructure without First Nations consultation?
“The list of reparations could be infinite.” But they’re not, and indigenous peoples across North America have been very clear about what reconciliation would take. You have inadvertently acknowledged that Land Back poses an existential crisis for US and Canadian imperialism, because the idea of shared relationship and respect for the land is the same as an infinite cost.
I know you people aren’t too stupid to understand how actions correlate with consequences, not intent. So, I know there’s a reason why you’ve chosen to suspend your object permanence when it comes to settler-colonialism. You know what it is, you just don’t like how comfortable you are benefiting from it. Wait 'till you hear about what Canada does internationally.
Tell those fucking kids who are killing themselves because of Canadian imperialism and settler-colonialism about how it’s actually been over for fifty years and they should just stop asking for the criminals to accept justice. Disgusting. Spineless.
Never been to a remote community. Drinking is higher and real remote suicide is higher. There is nothing to do but drink fuck and fight. And I’m sick of this Nobel savage bull shit and your so racist you don’t even know it. They are humans and just as fucked up as the rest of us.
“You’re racist for recognizing systemic violence.” People like you disgust me. Not only are you spineless and (actually) racist, you don’t even have the stomach to shut the fuck up and continue to benefit from a fundamentally violent and unequal system. If you want to be a moral person, stop being how you are now.
This is horrible, what was done to the Indigenous peoples in Canada. It’s horrible if done to any people. I think the word genocide is a bit strong in this case but, to open a can of worms, at what point are we no longer responsible for the sins of our fathers?
at what point are we no longer responsible for the sins of our fathers?
When everyone is living well.
The article after giving context about genocide by mentionning the grave of indigenous children talk about recent genocidal policies effective today. So yeah the article is not about blaming today people for the sins of their fathers like you claimed
“Genocide” is in fact appropriate when speaking of some specific tribes—ask any Beothuk. Oh, wait . . .
Granted, not many tribes were completely destroyed, so the pedantically correct charge in most cases is probably attempted (but not successful) genocide. At what point does the government, and by extension the non-indigenous population of Canada, cease to be held responsible? All I can say is, not yet. The last residential schools didn’t close all that long ago, and the government is still periodically lashing out in court against its treaty obligations toward Indigenous peoples. At minimum, we have several more generations to go.
I agree, and nicely stated.
and the government is still periodically lashing out in court against its treaty obligations toward Indigenous peoples.
Some provincial governments (hello Alberta) are doing that and worse.
“How terrible, but not that bad.” Yup, that’s a Canadian.
Changing what I said is what the billionaire media does. Good on you, you have big aspirations.
“You’re working for the billionaires by recognizing genocide of indigenous peoples.” How tf don’t you drown in the shower?
Because when I shower I let people know, so I can be revived. How can you not see that? You need to try and expand your thoughts to more than just disdain and insults. Go have some fun!
Feels like a cheap use of the word genocide
