Slide 1

The Politics of Aboriginality: Repairing the Relationship Slide 2 Bonus assignment Worth 2 marks submit one page summary of three key points in video. One week deadline. NFB video The People of the Kattawapiskat River by Alanis Obomsawin. Free streaming ends on January 18. google: nfb.ca or http://thetyee.ca/video/2013/01/11 Slide 3 Competing Narratives THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE CHALLENGING Success - Osoyoos Dysfunctions - Attawapiskat Challenges - Caledonia Slide 4 Core Insights # 1 Canadas Aboriginal Peoples = Indigenous Peoples 350 million everywhere Original inhabitants Colonization = deep persistent inequities Get out of existing relations ( vs get in for immi Slide 5 LEGACY OF COLONIALISM Colonialism and its Aftermath What is colonialism Fundamentally exploitive and controlling relationship By which indigenous society is transformed and dominated According to priorities, interests, and superiorities of the colonizer Effects Indigenous peoples forcibly incorporated + loss of land, identity, and political voice + marginalized or encapsulated status Impact Structures/legacy of colonialism persists Slide 6 THE POLITICS OF INDIGENEITY/ABORIGINALITY Pre colonialColonialismNeo Colonialism -Same game -Same rules -Different conventions -Different players Post Colonialism Slide 7 Slide 8 Core Insight no 2 Canadas Difference Model (p.176) ABORIGINAL PEOPLESIMMIGRANTS (multicultural minorities) Sociological Status Constitutional Status Core Problem Proposed solutions Anticipated Outcomes Slide 9 Core Insight No 3: Diversity in Inequality Internal Diversity - Legal and Constitutional Status - historical, cultural and social differences - reserves, rural, urban - youth - women Slide 10 Constitutional and Legal Status STATUS INDIANS + REGISTERED INDIANS + NORTH AMERICAN IND. METISINUIT + NON STATUS INDIANS Slide 11 Patterns of Aboriginal Inequality SOCIOECONOMIC - demographic - income/poverty -employment/unemployment -Education -housing HEALTH - violence -Suicide -diseases OFF RESERVE -Discrimination -Access to services -Lack of human capital COMMUNITY /RESERVE DYSFUNCTIONS -Band governance -Boredom/Lack of opportunity -powerlessness -Location/Remoteness -Dependency Slide 12 Urban Aboriginal (Identity) Population, Selected Cities, 2006. Slide 13 Thinking about urban Aboriginal peoples 1950s-1980s caught between two worlds Moving to escape poor social conditions on-reserve Caught up in poor conditions in the city (Indians on Skid Row) 1980s-1990s Less emphasis on cultural conflict A disadvantaged group, along with others More practical concern with outcomes, policies/programmes Circular movement 2000s Increased recognition of urban spaces as Aboriginal spaces Hybrid identities and biculturalism (not cultural conflict) Happiness factor Slide 14 Intersecting cycle of poverty and powerlessness Poor living conditions Poverty/powerlessness health, violence etc Poor parenting, school failures Slide 15 Grassy Narrows/Attawapiskat What are causes of socio-economic-cultural problems? - an Indian problem? - a Canada problem - a Canada/Indian problem What are solutions - assimilation, autonomy, accommodation Slide 16 Poison stronger than love WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR READING Different levels of meaning in the title What is the nature of the problems on the Grassy Narrows Reserve What are the causes? What policy framework best explains situation? What are solutions depending on how the problem is defined: assimilation, autonomy, accommodation? Slide 17 Slide 18 Core Insight NO 4 Contesting the problem definition/ Proposing Solutions ASSIMILATIONIST (Functionalism) (so called) INDIAN PROBLEM Problem = Blame the victim /people with needs Solution = Modernize (more like us) ACCOMMODATIONIST (Symbolic Interactionism) CANADA-INDIAN PROBLEM Problem = Blame the relationship/situation Solution = Relations Repair + Improve situation mutual adjustment/citizens +) AUTONOMISTS (Conflict Theory) CANADA PROBLEM Problem = Blame the system/colonization Solution = Indigenize (less like you) + Separation Slide 19 Competing Models (p225) ModelAssimilation Indian Problem Functionalism Autonomy Canada problem Conflict theory Accommodation Can-Indian prob Symbolic Interaction Who to blame/cause/Respo nsibility Problem Source Solution Means Results Outcomes Slide 20 Core Insight No 5 Aboriginal Policy: Friend or Foe? Historical relations As instrument of progress or regress? At worst, disempower and destroy No more Indians Assimilation/self sufficiency At best smoothing the pillow of a dying race (progress) Canada = logic: white supremacist society Slide 21 Comparing Aboriginal peoples Policy Perceived Status of Aboriginal Peoples Underlying Assumptions behind Policy Proposed Policy Goals Proposed means to achieve policy goals Assimilation Integration Devolution Conditional autonomy Slide 22 Indian Act 1876 Exercise in micro management Reserves =multiple meanings Slide 23 Accommodation (1760s-1830s) Royal Proclamation (1763) Slide 24 C-31 Inheritance Rules Status Man Status Woman (Married before 1985) 6.1 Status Non- Status Spouse 6.1 Status (if b. Pre 1985) 6.2 Status (if b. After 1985) 6.1 Status woman Non-Status Man 6.2 Status Non-Status Spouse Non-Status 6.2 Status 6.1 Status Continues to be gender-discriminatory The cousins problem Slide 25 Summing Up Overview: You got it You took it. Aboriginal Policy = contested site/competing agendas = Assimilation x Accommodation x Autonomy Drivers of Aboriginal Policy a)Constitution Act, Indian Act, Court Rulings b)Treaty Obligations c)Imposition of Certainty d)Canadas international reputation/ UN Scrutiny e)Political Ideology FEAR Aboriginal Militancy Not another Ipperwash/Oka Slide 26 Slide 27 Towards a Reconciliation/ Relations Repair Taking ABORIGINAL DIFFERENCE seriously ABORIGINAL TITLE AND TREATY RIGHTS ABORIGINAL MODELS OF SELF DETERMINING AUTONOMY / SELF GOVERNANCE Slide 28 Pre and Post-Confederation Treaties National Resources Canada www.nrcan.gc.ca Slide 29 Modern Treaties (as of 2010) Indian and Northern Affairs Canada www.ainc- inac.gc.ca Slide 30 Slide 31 Aboriginal Title and Treaty Rights Towards a treaty based relationship Proclamation Act Three types of treaty claims 1.Specific Treaty Claims 2.Comprehensive (modern) Treaty Claims 3.Compensation Claims (Six Nations) Aboriginal title Slide 32 Aboriginal Title Customary right rooted in common and international law If prove continuous occupation and use prior to European contact, aboriginal peoples are en-title-ed to land and resources Freedom of use, except... Crown usurpation of title but only if 1.National Interests 2.Consultations, (consent) and compensation Realistic Compromise ? Slide 33 Models of Self Determining Autonomy or Models of Self Government Statehood (Complete sovereignty)Nationhood (Strings Attached Sovereignty) Community/Municipal Level (embedded)Institutional Level (nominal) Slide 34 Core Insight No 6: Unblocking the Impasse REPAIRING THE RELATIONSHIP From a Colonial relationship /social contract A neo-colonial relationship at present (same game, same rules, different conventions, different players ) Towards a post colonial social contract (different game, different rules, different players) Principles of Constructive Engagement - partnership - power sharing - participation - property return Slide 35 Towards Relations- Repair Model Principles of constructive engagement/see also RCAP (p 201-202) De facto sovereignty Relations repair Peoples with (aboriginal) rights Political communities Power sharing/partnership Living together jurisdictionally Aboriginal models of self determining autonomy Belonging/citizenship thru nations Difference matters Reconciliation and property return Slide 36 COLONIAL PARADIGM (old social contract from Indian Act to White Paper) NEO COLONIAL PARADIGM (current social contract based on the principle of indirect rule) POST COLONIAL PARADIGM (proposed social contract based on pples of RCAP + constructive engagement) STATUS ChildrenCitizens plus Peoples/nations/political communities RIGHTS Wards of the state: From citizen minus to equal citizenship rights Delegated rights and responsibilities Inherent and collective indigenous rights ENTITLEMENTSSocial problems with needsA minority problem with rightsIndigenous peoples with rights NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP Parent-child guardianshipPartnership (senior-junior partners) Nation to nation; Government to govt; Peoples to peoples RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Paternalistic (do for)Partnership (senior-junior-partners)Partnership (work with) POWER DISTRIBUTIONPower deficitDelegate powerPower sharing POLICY APPROACH Canada knows what is best (obey/conform) We know what is best but we have duty to consult + administrate what we say Indigenous peoples know what is best + work together POLICY GOAL Assimilation (protection until absorption and normalization) Integration (conditional autonomy + state determination) Relational Self determining autonomy without domination UNDERLYING POLICY ASSUMPTIONS AbsorptionModernize Indigenize indigenous difference as basis for rewards, recognition, and relations ANIMATING LOGICEliminate Indian problemControl problem by coexistenceCo-sovereign coexistence ANTICIPATED OUTCOMESIndividual self sufficiencyCommunity self sufficiency Self determining autonomy as basis for living separately together CORE LOGIC Foundational principles/rules of a colonial constitutional order are uncontested Conventions that inform the rules/foundational principles of a neo colonial constitutional order are modified nt this. Challenge the rules/foundational principles underlying constitutional order to create post colonial contract REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT: EVOLVING PARADIGMS IN the RELATIONAL STATUS of ABORIGINAL PEOPLES (p 220)