Imposition of Liberalism Specific Outcome 2.11 – Students will examine perspectives on the imposition of liberalism (Aboriginal experiences, contemporary events)

First Nations, Inuit and Métis people?

To what extent, and for whom, has the imposition of liberalism affected various people?

Differing worldviews• NA First Nations • Live in peace and harmony

for survival • Co-operation brings group

strength • Traditional territories used

to benefit the collective • Share land and resources to

provide necessities of life• Individuals are given the

choice to learn to live in respectful relationships• Each person is sacred and

complete

• European liberal worldview • Keep the peace• Gain allies to use

strategically • Acquire land and

resources/private property • Capitalism/competition • Change = progress• Self-Interest

• Differing aspects of worldview that have influenced the relationships between Europeans and First Nations in Canada from the mid-1600’s to the present.

• The imposition of liberal understandings of treaties by the government of Canada was compounded by some government leaders who did not honour treaties. The believed that their European liberal ideology was superior to that of the First Nations and did not consider First Nations people to be ‘sovereign’.

First Nations Government of Canada

• Treaties are agreements made between sovereign nations, upheld by oral tradition

• Relationship with the land is of a collective and spiritual nature; land is provided by the creator, and people are to exist in harmony with the land

• Treaties were established to share the land with the newcomers

• Treaties are agreements made by interested parties, upheld by written documents

• Land is a resource that can be owned by individuals for their exclusive use

• Treaties were established to “clear the way” for European settlement

Indian Act of 1876• The Royal proclamation of 1763 determined that First

Nations had the right to govern themselves and negotiate with the crown as sovereign nations, The government could not just take land without negotiating and purchasing the land or reaching an agreement through a treaty.

• HOWEVER, after the introduction of the Indian Act of 1876 governments could ignore First Nations political institutions and other forms of government.

• The Indian Act of 1876 was used to control the behavior of First Nations People and remove cultural traditions and customs. It actively eroded First Nations peoples’ collective rights through its policies of assimilating FN people into the more individualistic liberal society.

Perspectives on the Indian Act Today • The Indian Act of 1876 has been amended many

times, but never abolished. • While it was intended as an instrument of

assimilation, the Indian Act also provides certain perspectives for First Nations. These conflicting goals, along with multiple perspectives of Aboriginal self government, make changing the Indian Act complicated.

• First nations leaders have resisted the application of all aspects of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to First Nations. The Charter imposes Western Liberal Values, some f which, conflict with their own and restrict their ability to be self-governing.

The Potlatch pg. 2251. Choose 3 sources to compare and contrast each view of the potlatch using this chart:

2. How could the banning of the potlatch by the government be seen as an imposition of liberal worldview and values of individualism?3. Which source and POV most strongly aligns with your own?

Source

For/Against

Reasoning

Aspects of Worldview that are reflected

Imposing Liberalism by the use of force• Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan page 235• Source Analysis of cartoons on page 235

Indonesia and Rwanda• Page 236-237

Polygamy • Hand out and article review