Discrimination In Canada Essay

1115 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Discrimination and prejudice in modern societies

We all have prejudice about members of social groups that we do not belong to, it is impossible to avoid and it is engraved into us through socialization (Sensoy & DiAngelo, 2017, p. 51). I decided to choose this topic since I often see people’s prejudice turn into discrimination, and more specifically in Canada, there is a great deal of discrimination which takes place against First Nations. This specific topic peaked my interest recently since I am taking a First Nations course, and it has allowed me to realize the extent to which the First Peoples of Canada are discriminated against through government policies, everyday occurrences and terminology on the territory that belongs to them.

In my everyday life, I have started to notice more …show more content…

71). Since this message has been ongoing since the settlers arrived in Canada, it is important to acknowledge that we may have internalized dominance towards First Nations but to not act on it. Internalized dominance and colonialism have been engraved into us from the time we are children through learning the story of how Christopher Columbus “discovered” North America and this may explain the reason many of us do not even notice we have internalized dominance against certain groups until someone points it out. The story of the “discovery” of North America teaches many that whites should control all others, just as Christians should control other religions (Bigelow, 2014, p. 70). As Bigelow explains (2014, p. 75) it is important for us to acknowledge First Nations people as being full human beings and to write this story from both perspectives, which allows for children to understand the different perspectives and does not support their internalized dominance. It is also interesting that although this passage supports that we should recognize First Nations as full human beings, the word “indigenous” is written with a lowercase “i” demonstrating that they do not recognize “indigenous peoples” as being a distinct group such as Canadians or

Show More
Related

  • Decolonization and Indigenous Peoples of Canada

    2326 Words  | 5 Pages

    First I will define the definition of terms used in this paper. When I use the word Aboriginal, I understand this as a label given from the colonizers/ Europeans to identify Indigenous peoples. Canadian legislation defines Indigenous peoples as Aboriginal, I understand this as indifferent from the dominant ideology, therefore, the colonizers named Indigenous peoples as Aboriginal. According to teachings I have been exposed to it’s a legal term and it’s associated with discrimination and oppression. However, audiences I have written for prefer the use of Aboriginal. More premise to this reference is Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Indian and Native are used interchangeable, but it should be noted these names do represent distinct differences. Furthermore, I will use Indigenous to represent an empowering way to reference a unique general culture in Canada. Under the title of Indigenous peoples in Canada, for me represents: First Nations people, Metis people and Inuit peoples. These are the two titles I will use when I reference Indigenous people from an empowering perspective and Aboriginal from a colonizer perspective.

    Read More

  • Injustices Inflicted on the First Nation People of Canada

    2727 Words  | 6 Pages

    Although the Canadian government has done a great deal to repair the injustices inflicted on the First Nations people of Canada, legislation is no where near where it needs to be to ensure future protection of aboriginal rights in the nation. An examination of the documents that comprise the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms reveal that there is very little in the supreme legal documents of the nation that protect aboriginal rights. When compared with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples it is clear that the Canadian Constitution does not acknowledge numerous provisions regarding indigenous people that the UN resolution has included. The most important of these provisions is the explicit recognition of First Nations rights to their traditional lands, which have a deep societal meaning for aboriginal groups. Several issues must be discussed to understand the complex and intimate relationship all aboriginal societies have with the earth. Exploration into the effects that the absence of these rights has had the Cree of the Eastern James Bay area, will provide a more thorough understanding of the depth of the issue. Overall, the unique cultural relationship First Nations people of Canada have with Mother Earth needs to be incorporated into the documents of the Canadian Constitution to ensure the preservation and protection of Canadian First Nations cultural and heritage rights.s

    Read More

  • Fifth Generation of Native People Fallout

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    Generations of native people in Canada have faced suffering and cultural loss as a result of European colonization of their land. Government legislation has impacted the lives of five generations of First Nations people and as a result the fifth generation (from 1980 to present) is working to recover from their crippled cultural identity (Deiter-McArthur 379-380). This current generation is living with the fallout of previous government policies and societal prejudices that linger from four generations previous. Unrepentant, Canada’s ‘Genocide’, and Saskatchewan’s Indian People – Five Generations highlight issues that negatively influence First Nations people. The fifth generation of native people struggle against tremendous adversity in regard to assimilation, integration, separation, and recovering their cultural identity with inadequate assistance from our great nation.

    Read More

  • Residential Schools in Canada

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    Living in Canada, there is a long past with the Indigenous people. The relationship between the white and First Nations community is one that is damaged because of our shameful actions in the 1800’s. Unnecessary measures were taken when the Canadian government planned to assimilate the Aboriginal people. Through the Indian Act and Residential schools the government attempted to take away their culture and “kill the Indian in the child.” The Indian Act allowed the government to take control over the people, the residential schools took away their culture and tore apart their families, and now we are left with not only a broken relationship between the First Nations people but they are trying to put back together their lives while still living with a harsh reality of their past.

    Read More

  • Employment Discrimination In Canada

    1987 Words  | 4 Pages

    In a study, Li writes, “Healthcare team performance may be hindered due to the different cultural backgrounds of the nurses” (2014, p. 316). A report mentions that the IENs have less confidence in providing culturally competent care to the patients of the different culture due to lack of understanding of health beliefs, values and behaviors of that culture (Lampley, 2008). For instance, in Philippines, most of the decisions are made by the doctors. Nurses just follow doctors’ order in decision making (Tregunno, et al., 2009). But in Canada nurses are required to be more assertive and actively involved in decision-making and have more responsibility and accountability regarding patient care. Further, Canada is a multicultural country and

    Read More

  • Aboriginal Women In Canada

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Neylan (2013) suggests that the Aboriginal women of Vancouver have perhaps experienced a similar and lingering attitude to those of the colonists. As well, it seems the Canadian justice system has also retained some of the same cruel and biased ideologies as its earlier colonialists. Neylan identifies a parallel here, explaining both colonists and the current justice system treat natives in a demeaning manner, disregarding the value of human life because of an indigenous lab...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Pierre Trudeau's The Unjust Society

    1614 Words  | 4 Pages

    Canada likes to paint an image of peace, justice and equality for all, when, in reality, the treatment of Aboriginal peoples in our country has been anything but. Laden with incomprehensible assimilation and destruction, the history of Canada is a shameful story of dismantlement of Indian rights, of blatant lies and mistrust, and of complete lack of interest in the well-being of First Nations peoples. Though some breakthroughs were made over the years, the overall arching story fits into Cardinal’s description exactly. “Clearly something must be done,” states Murray Sinclair (p. 184, 1994). And that ‘something’ he refers to is drastic change. It is evident, therefore, that Harold Cardinal’s statement is an accurate summarization of the Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationship in

    Read More

  • Drew Hayden Taylor's Essays

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... a variety of readers, Drew Hayden Taylor uses a variety of tones. His views on First Nations stereotypes are expressed through his essays “What’s an Indian worth These Days” and “Why did the Indian block the Road”, and through his use of humorous, which shows how ridiculous stereotypes are, informative, which gives disproves stereotypes through evidence, and sarcastic tone, which stretches a reader’s understanding about a topic, he is able to challenge and contradict stereotypes about First Nations people.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of You Re Not The Indian I Had In Mind By Thomas King

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thomas King uses an oral story-telling style of writing mingled with western narrative in his article “You’re Not the Indian I Had in Mind” to explain that Indians are not on the brink of extinction. Through this article in the Racism, Colonialism, and Indigeneity in Canada textbook, King also brings some focus to the topic of what it means to be “Indian” through the eyes of an actual Aboriginal versus how Aboriginals are viewed by other races of people. With his unique style of writing, King is able to bring the reader into the situations he describes because he writes about it like a story he is telling.

    Read More

  • Myth Of Progress: Discrimination In Canada

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Canadians view themselves as morally correct, yet the Indigenous peoples are oppressed and discriminated by Canadians. The Aboriginal peoples culture would last longer without Canada since Canada wants to control first, but not by understanding the culture and heritage. Aboriginal peoples express how they felt about the Canadian “Myth of Progress”. Some other works take a more satirical look like “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” but the points still stand. One of the points is Canadians are discriminating the Indigenous peoples to be lazy and corrupt.

    Read More

  • Why We Should Not Be Proud Of Canada

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Do you know that despite Canada being called multicultural and accepting, Canada’s history reveals many secrets that contradicts this statement? Such an example are Canadian aboriginals, who have faced many struggles by Canadian society; losing their rights, freedoms and almost, their culture. However, Native people still made many contributions to Canadian society. Despite the efforts being made to recognize aboriginals in the present day; the attitudes of European Canadians, acts of discrimination from the government, and the effects caused by the past still seen today have proven that Canadians should not be proud of Canada’s history with respect to human rights since 1914. First, is because of the attitudes of European Canadians towards aboriginals, which were mostly cruel and inhumane.

    Read More

  • Neil Thompson Pcs Model Summary

    983 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Canadian society there exists millions of people of which majority are white people scientifically referred to as Caucasian, there too exists black people whom are referred to as ethnically African people and of course our case study today Aborigines whom have been Canada’s marginalized minority that have suffered social injustice across the board.

    Read More

  • Decriminalization Of Indigenous People In Canada

    945 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ever since the first contact that settlers had with indigenous or Aboriginal people, there has always been discrimination towards those natives because they were thought to be lesser individuals. This is the first time in Canadian history where a certain social group were marginalized, this is because the white people that first settled in Canada looked at indigenous people and they believed that didn’t belong in their newly established society. In todays society we have laws that prevent decriminalization but, that still does not resolve the problem because indigenous people are being murdered, assaulted, raped and treated as second class citizens. The underlying problems that help illustrate why so many missing and murdered indigenous woman,

    Read More

  • Reflection Essay: What Is Anti-Oppression?

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the main components of oppression is stereotypes. Stereotypes can be troublesome because there are widely held beliefs about a group of people that may not always be true about some of the people that fit into that group. This can be detrimental because if you are a member of a group who is being stereotyped, you might feel the need to prove that you are not your stereotype, or you might feel the need to conform to your stereotype. However, the lessons we had where we learnt about the racism that people experienced in Canada through the Japanese Internment, the Chinese Head Tax, Africville, Nova Scotia, and the colonization/ assimilation of Canada’s Aboriginal people truly surprised me and caused me to think about this country in a new light.

    Read More

  • Gender Discrimination In Canada

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gender discrimination is a massive problem in today’s society. Gender discrimination is discrimination based on one’s gender or sex, which is seen more in females than in males (Gender Discrimination In Canada). In consequence of gender discrimination, females do not have the same opportunities as males. The Catholic perspective is against gender discrimination and views it as an unethical issue breaking the Catholic faith. God wants us to follow the Golden Rule which is to treat others the way we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12, Bible Gateway), but the issue of discrimination is breaking this rule.

    Read More

More about Discrimination In Canada Essay

Open Document