Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That was meant to be funny, wasn't it? Genocide is, of course, the answer to most problems. More fool the lily livered Canadians.

I also do agree that Hollywood is a valuable resource for the serious historian.

QED

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

For those who want to learn a little more about the "First Nations problems", these links will certainly give you a little bit of background:

CBC Archives:

A Lost Heritage: Canada's Residential Schools

In 1928, a government official predicted Canada would end its "Indian problem" within two generations. Church-run, government-funded residential schools for native children were supposed to prepare them for life in white society. But the aims of assimilation meant devastation for those who were subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Decades later, aboriginal people began to share their stories and demand acknowledgement of — and compensation for — their stolen childhoods.

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-70-692/...ntial_schools/



National Film Board of Canada (NFB):

Colonialism and Racism

The film excerpts in this theme show the devastating effects of European colonialist policies on Aboriginal peoples. They also show acts of racism in which Aboriginal peoples have been victimized in their relations with whites.

http://www.nfb.ca/enclasse/doclens/v...excerpt=612143



One book I can highly recommend is The Resettlement of British Columbia by Cole Harris:

Winner, 1998 Clio Award - British Columbia, Canadian Historical Association

In this beautifully crafted collection of essays, Cole Harris reflects on the strategies of colonialism in British Columbia during the first 150 years after the arrival of European settlers. The pervasive displacement of indigenous people by the newcomers, the mechanisms by which it was accomplished, and the resulting effects on the landscape, social life, and history of Canada’s western-most province are examined through the dual lenses of post-colonial theory and empirical data. By providing a compelling look at the colonial construction of the province, the book revises existing perceptions of the history and geography of British Columbia.


http://www.ubcpress.ca/search/title_book.asp?BookID=163

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

yes -Jim Bunting Why are you on the BE Forum. Finding your way around are you.

Ruby

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Thank you for that. :thumbsup:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

The question/s of the first nations people, what and why there are problems is something that interests me. Thanks to all who have given links to reading material.

When we first came here a (British) friend was saying that they (his company) tried to employ native people, but on the whole they were very poor workers. He said they would be OK for a while but once they had received a couple of paychecks and could afford their new fridge or TV or truck they would get less and less reliable, turning up late for work, or drunk or not at all. That was one viewpoint. He seemed genuinely sad about it.

On racism, in the hospital I worked in last, one old biddy complained that it was wrong she had to share a room "with an Indian". One or two people seemed shocked at the comment. I hadn't even perceived her room-mate to be of native extraction, not like Chief Drunkenhorse in the next ward! (who was a very nice, reserved (no pun intended) and shy gentleman btw)

A young first-nations man came to our clinic with a terrible arthritic hip, which obviously needed replacing. He had a long and complex history of injury to that leg and hip sice childhood. He was under-nourished and seemed drowsy and was slurring his speech and very subdued the day he came. He was advised the only treatment would be joint replacement. He has not returned to the clinic.

So my only personal contacts with first-nations people have been rather saddening. I see them sleeping (and/or obviously under the influence) on the LRT, but then I see young white guys and those of other ethnicities as well.

I always feel sad for these people who appear to have so little joy in their lives, whatever their race.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

[QUOTE=Morwenna;5997472]The question/s of the first nations people, what and why there are problems is something that interests me. Thanks to all who have given links to reading material.

When we first came here a (British) friend was saying that they (his company) tried to employ native people, but on the whole they were very poor workers. He said they would be OK for a while but once they had received a couple of paychecks and could afford their new fridge or TV or truck they would get less and less reliable, turning up late for work, or drunk or not at all. That was one viewpoint. He seemed genuinely sad about it. QUOTE]


I'm wondering if this could be something to do with their mind-set, their way of thinking. Not saying this very well, but these are people who have never put much stock in material possessions, brand names, the latest Must Haves, "image", whatever you want to call it. Everything they needed they got from the natural world. It was not a society that needed to earn money to exchange for Things, so maybe this is why they tend to earn what they need for what they have to buy at that time...........the incentive is short-lived. Is it our fault, in some way, trying to get them to live our way of life, rather than their own? I think in order to understand what's going on, we have to try to think like they think. Does anyone in government ever ask them what they really want, or are they afraid of the answer?
Or am I talking through a hole in the back of my head? :unsure:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

And why, when I want to include a QUOTE from someone, does it do that...see above..it doesn't change to the small blue text? :confused:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

You're missing [/ in front of QUOTE after the text you're quoting. All quotes start with a tag:

{QUOTE=oldbag;5999359}

and end with a tag

{/QUOTE}

note that the squiggly brackets in my example should be square brackets but, if I did that, the examples would go all quoty.

Like this:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Because if you look closely you deleted the square bracket and slash at the beginning of the close quote. ;)

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

[QUOTE=oldbag;5999355]The Coast Salish (The First Nation on the West Coast) had no concept of personal possessions in their traditional culture. Everything belonged to the tribe.

Every year they held a ceremony called a potlatch. This was held in a different village each year. During the ceremony each of the village chiefs would give the host chief all their village's possessions. The host village would hold the possessions until the next year when they would give them to the host village that year, and so on. The result: no one owned anything, but all were responsible for protecting everything.

Not surprisingly, the British outlawed the potlatch ceremony.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I do understand what you're are saying about differences in world view, culture and histories and there is a sort of valid point in that that can be applied in certain instances but... not all Aboriginal peoples think the same way, have the same values, live the same lifestyles, etc... nor are all Aborignal cultures a culture, eg., there are huge cultural differences between the Haida culture on the coast here is vastly different then the Innu culture of Labrador. And there are differences in the lives of FN people who live on reserves, those who chose not to but maintain their traditional ways, those who live in urban areas, those who live abroad, etc....

If anyone's notion of a First Nations person is someone living on a reserve, with little material possessions, in a shabby house... they need to shake their heads.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

[QUOTE=JonboyE;5999442]
Now I am confused....how did you get my post to look like Morwenna's??:confused:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Thank you dbd33 and Steve P............notes taken :)

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

So we maybe start to see why there's a problem.

But it's all very well saying "we shouldn't expect them to fit with our way of life", but what options do they have? They don't all want to ride around the plains driving buffalo off cliffs (presumably). They do want moden conveniences and gadgets (some do anyway). They like to feel that they have independence in how they rule themselves etc, but they are too often prey to modern afflictions and addictions, eg alcoholism and gambling.

Does anyone have any bright ideas? I have the impression that the problem is much more complicated than any one factor, eg racism from "the whites" or the mindset of "the natives".

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Well, a lot of non-natives think that natives want to get back to a way of life before modern technologies, which isn't true. Although non-natives focus on pre-modern native lifestyles, contemporary native culture is not tied to pre-modern technologies any more than any other culture. British culture is not stuck in Stonehenge or Warwick Castle. It's an entire lifestyle and mentality that they're trying to preserve, not pre-modern technologies. For hundreds of years throughout colonization, natives were using modern technologies (guns, European clothing, etc). Technologies can advance and you can still retain your culture.

First Nations (which consist of dozens of different cultures and languages as diverse as Europes varied languages and cultures) are in a recovery procress, trying to restore their broken culture, languages, and identity with dignity.

Many First Nations were screwed over by the government in a variety of ways. Breaking treaty agreements, promising them land for hunting/fishing and then giving them unproductive slivers of land, etc. All one has to do is understand Canadian history and the Royal Proclamation of 1763, and you will begin to understand how these problems began.

But the issues are so complex. The residential schooling system, which existed as late as 1986 (!!!!) is an example of Canadian government sponsored cultural genocide.

We must also remember that the First Nations were an oral society, passing on traditions and history orally. The British/Canadian government took children from their parents, forced them to learn English, banned indigenous languages, made the potlatch and powwow's illegal (imagine making Christmas and New Year's illegal), took away all indigenous cultural items, etc. Family histories that were passed on from generation to generation halted. All of a sudden the links to the past have been severed forever.

Also, these children were taken away from the parents. When they themselves had children, they had no parenting skills.

After generations of broken government promises, being ignored, residential schools (full of physical, sexual and emotional abuse), and having your culture made illegal, you end up with an entire nation of people who have no link to their past heritage, who have lost thousands of years of history and identity. I can only imagine how wary they are of the government. The government hoped these people would disappear or assimilate, but it never happened.

Right now I think we're in the process of recovery, hence the myriad of apparent social problems. It's recovering and healing from the loss of an identity. Many natives find it a hopeless situation.

Of course, I should also mention that the Canadian government gives anybody with native heritage (directly or indirectly) "Indian status" which gives them certain rights. Off the top of my head, they are able to hunt or fish at times and in areas which are often off limits to non-native Canadians. They are exempt from certain taxes and they get free education, etc. However, I think these special agreements are only valid if they live on a reservation. But reservations, which are federal jurisdiction, are often so full of poverty.

As well, there are often conflicts between provincial jurisdiction and federal jurisdiction, so such issues can be complicated. And then you have Canadians who just see natives as being freeloaders, or who disagree with them getting special treatment. But the natives fully take advantage of their special rights because its one of the few forms of empowerment they're able to take advantage of.

Anyhow, I am rambling on and on, but perhaps it will give a few people a hint of this "tip of the iceberg".

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Thank you Lychee. I think you put that very well.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

.... and that's the saddest thing. Thank you for your informative contribution.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I'm glad you did ramble on and on. Thats a very powerful post and it summarised so many points. I want to know more and I now have an idea of where to look. I hope others do too.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Thank you for your informative ramble.........karma for putting into words what I was trying to say, but lacked the knowledge and eloquence :)

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Let's hope things get sorted out soon so the powers that be can get over their collective guilt and start putting something a bit more interesting in the museums. I think I've seen enough reconstructions of the inside of a native home to last me a lifetime.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

A friend in US told me his grand father had been promised 40 acres and a mle when he was released from slavery. Of course he never got the 40 acres, nor the mule.
Although the movie is about the australian government and what they did to the aboriginals it is very much the same. Anyone who wants to gain a sliver of understanding of aboriginals/first nations in today's society should see "Rabbit Proof Fence"

It should be compulsory viewing in schools.

I too thank you for your rambles.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

We watched this. Mrs Bazzz was very disappointed by the lack of bunny rabbits.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Do you have to try hard to be silly, or does it come naturally? :huh:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

He's making a point

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

You think? :huh:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Which is?

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

North-by-north-west.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I find this thread so far interesting and predictably it deals with indians, natives, first nations, whatever the term.

But what of the newcomers, the ones that got off the boat more recently. Those non-caucasians from Africa, Asia and Latin America?

Does anyone here know what some of them have to put up with?

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

My friend cruikshank is Indian, her husband Swedish, their children are lighter skinned than her and so she is taken to be their nanny. I imagine that's quite awkward.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I'm white, English, reasonably intelligent and articulate, reasonably well educated (60's grammar school and college), held fairly demanding and responsible jobs in the UK, but cannot get work - at all, of any kind - in this town, and have been told to my face that I "should lose my accent", and "the Brits are not very popular here" (although I'm not told why)......is this racism? :huh:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

yes.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

That's horrendous. Yes it's racism. Come to Calgary. I for one have never encountered anything like that here! :thumbup:

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

It is certainly horrendous as Morwenna said. It is stupid, ignorant, bigoted, small minded and intolerant. It is also not typical of the Canada I have experienced. However, unless you are a different race from the townsfolk, it's not racism.

Have you ever thought of moving?

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

now you're just being pedantic for the sake of it.technically not racist but prejudiced against the nationality in the same manner as if it were the colour of her skin or race,which in fact in this case her race being British.please don't point out my lack of grammar and capitals,I am typing this on my itouch and can't be added shifting all the time as it's of something which slows things down on a tiny screen.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I think you will have gathered simply from the fact that I post on BE (which means Britsh expats, doesn't it?), and live in Canada, that I probably am a different race from these townsfolk! You surprise me with your pedantry - tut tut. ;) Yes, it does feel like racism to me and my OH, and it's difficult not to feel embittered by it.......however, by plastering a smile on my face and being pleasant, even though it kills me, I feel I'm being better than they are. I was told, just after we moved here, by another British Expat that we would never, ever get work here because we are Brits - the same thing happened to her and her daughter, so they opened a business, which the "good" townsfolk have been tying to shut down ever since! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it's like something out of a Stephen King book; I keep expecting him to creep out of a dark corner one of these days!
This is not the Canada we experienced back in the 80's. Yes we have thought about moving.....eastwards by a few thousand miles!

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

It is hard to tell from your post whether it is not more a matter of ageism than anything else. I assume you are part of the over 50 crowd, thus 'good for the rubbish heap'.

I too am white and a product of a grammar school in the sixties.

Perhaps it is a matter of sounding Canadian. For instance that actor Hugh Laurie, who is on that medical show 'House', does quite a convincing job of coming across as a yank.

Seems to me you had better move to the big city where accent is not an issue.

Is it racism? I very much doubt it. More likely prejudice. In the long run it amounts to the same thing.

PS .. I first encountered prejuduce at age 5 in 1948 in Middlesex. Got hit by a stone as I was called filthy f.cking foreigner. I still bear the scar. My dad was East European although my mum was born in Stepney, East London.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

I doubt if it's ageism - which is also illegal, especially in connection with employment - otherwise comments regarding the unpopularity of Brits would not be made. :huh: As you say, it amounts to the same thing and it saddens and disappoints me; we don't seem to have come far as a species; Racism, prejudice,bigotry, whatever label you give it is born out of ignorance and fear :(

Oh - and by the way, Hugh Laurie's fake American accent makes me cringe!

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Actually I think his accent is quite convincing especially when I think of what he really sounds like, English upper class.

Yes ageism is illegal but it is subtle, widely practised. How often in the last 15 years or more have I been told I am 'over qualified' for a well paying position ($75K) or, even more creative, that it would 'not be much of a challenge' when all the while I know, and so do they, that I would take the job in a second if it were offered.

Even more appalling were a few instances back in the UK, circa 1999, where one had to provide ones date of birth of the job application form plus, worse still, had to fill in this government imposed ethnic origin questionnaire (I wrote in 'white - european').

To clarify, I had then considered going back, me and the whole family, but it was not to be. Just as well!

Racism and prejudice are part of every day life, part of the human condition. One can not legislate 'love thy neighbour'. Some nasty habits still prevail. Makes me think of female genital mutilation (circumsion of young girls) and satee (widow jumping on hubby's funeral pyre in India). Both despicable. Both outlawed. Both still practised.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

Its discrimination.

Racism is a misnomer anyway as we are all only one race, human. The rest is ethnicity, what makes up different socially, our behaviour, values, etc.

Prejudice is judging without any knowledge.

Discrimination is acting on it, selecting by differences, such as ethnicity, "race", gender, disability, religion, age, shoe size. To judge someone better than another on these grounds is morally wrong and often illegal. It is in Canada and the UK.

Well, thats how I see it.

Re: How do you deal with the racism in Canada?
 

To continue ... the explanation I was given as to this 'ethnicity form' in the UK was that some little bureaucrat would do the rounds from time to time to ensure that people of different races/ethnicities applied, were interviewed, and some actually got hired.

In other words if a town had 15 percent of people from this background/race/country of origin than one in seven got hired so as to reflect the ethnic make up of the neighbourhood.

That in itself may have been noble in intent but whatever became of the notion that the most qualified suitable person gets hired?

The bureacrats call this 'positive discrimination'.

Go figure!