RACISM AMONG THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA

RACISM AMONG THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA

Racism is a tool used in a society that creates a strong sense of national identity in safeguarding the citizen’s interests. The primary approach of racism is to make use of hate and marginalization of persons that defy the vastly acceptable norm of society in any form. The phenomena not only restricted in Canada but all over the world for a lot of centuries. Racism and anti-foreign sentiments in the 1900s were due to job insecurity that did exist locally from the situation of incoming migrant workers[1]. Nonnatives were highly discouraged in the nation as strain presented itself primarily due to the immigrants, thus affecting the social resources. The propaganda that is provocative and highly motivated had a role to play by developing a racial bias attitude amongst the public. In the twentieth century, the notions of racism and nativism were popular as they showcased the cynical nature of human beings that presented an opportunity of the superiority of certain races and values, bringing about the rejection of persons who did not share the common principles. The treatment of the individuals brought about the unfairness of the people in the nation, bringing about segregation.

The actions of racism eventually brought about xenophobia in the public that made it hard for immigrants that were present in the country, Canada. Racism and anti-foreign sentiments in the ancient 1900 were brought about due to job insecurity occurring in the local citizens that were being affected by the immigrant workers accessing the country[2]. The twentieth century was engraved with a lot of events that were in the occurrence that motivated and altered the political landscapes of nations all over the world, and this was the case in Canada too. Non-Anglo-Saxon immigrants in the early periods of the twentieth century had racist treatment by the locals of the area that they were in. The harsh treatment was due to the new immigrants not wanting to assimilate into the Anglo-Saxon community that was dominating and thus posing a threat to its core values. Other than this issue, another incidence of worry was due to the new immigrants taking over the labor work that had been for the locals in the previous periods. The Chinese immigrants were an excellent example of this scenario that was distinctly popular and desired amongst merchants as they were a prudent source for merchants to make a profit and, at the same time, easily groom able.

The racism was not only in the street but also in the famous Victoria Gazette that emphasized that the Chinese had done more harm than good. This sentiment was brought about due to the claim that they degraded the portion of labor by generally being acceptors of low wages. It made sense as the Chinese were more sensible with money as they did not spend money as severely as the locals who spent openly on drinking and gambling. This Chinese way of living enabled them to survive on minimum wages that they got from their earnings. Sinophobia in the western culture made the Chinese live with harsh racism that was directed at them by society. According to Walker, discrimination was also prevalent by high-rank government officials on numerous different occasions with the colonial government naming the Chinese nuisances, moral scourges, and a curse with significant concerns on their rapid population growth.

Aboriginal people have been in enslavement to the wills of the racially preferred. This notion is visible in the Aboriginal people not being treated with equality, a reason there have been residential schools. The particular scenario showcases meritocracy present in the country. The residential schools were open in the 1840 and closed in the 1990s; however, the state treated them harshly, with over six thousand children dying while attending the residential schools[3]. The government forced the Aboriginal to learn the culture and language of the country, having to separate the children from their families and prohibiting them from seeing them at all. According to Currie et al., the treatment caused the children to suffer from a lack of socializing and the segregation from their own families, for as long as a year. The children were kept in school and had to stay for about ten months to a year before seeing their families.

The racism was so harsh that the government did not even recognize the suffering of the Aboriginals for generations to generations, and this was mainly made possible by the White Paper[4]. This act was one that caused the aboriginal people to be treated as minorities, with them having to be denied their Indian status, thus losing land claims and reserves[5]. The government chose not to pay attention to the Aboriginal people’s rights for equality, and this situation only goes ahead to showcase the meritocracy present. The meritocracy only goes forward to be seen in the youth, showing them to have significant financial afflictions due to the accumulation of debt and are at an unfair advantage[6]. The percentage of youth of about sixty percent face this issue that is comparable to the world. In a study conducted, forty percent expressed fears of being in financial troubles due to the interest rates that keep on rising. In the study, it was also evident that the youth, or rather, one in every three, felt that they might be financially bankrupt in the future due to debt servicing expenses. All these scenarios showcase the meritocracy present in the nation and the adverse effects it brings about, such as poor mental state and affected wellbeing.

The scenarios describe racism in that era and also showcases the behavior by the local people with respect to the insecurities they had to endure, together with integrating into two of the groups. The new immigrant laborers had far more motivation to labor while in contrast to the local people. The idea of an immigration of the non-Anglo-Saxions origins was not only meant to make up a whole society blinded by the similar core values but was also going to promote the dominating aspect of culture and religion at the same time[7]. The new immigrants were not only discouraged from coming to Canada, but a lot of the immigrants were deported when in the country. The deportations were mostly centered towards disabled people who were made out to be burdens on society’s resources. A lot of the deportations were ruled based on people’s physical and mental health status. People that were feebleminded, ill or insane were quick to be deported back to their native nations.

Also, in the ancient 20th century, deportations ratio were so high that the Department of Immigration had no deportations records[8]. This goes on to show that it was keeping up to the interest of the majority of the Anglo-Saxon community that wanted to safeguard the fundamental AngloSaxion values. Deporting of the people was also systematically planned as there was a network in place consisting of immigrating agents, conductors of the railroad, and so many others, who escorted unwanted immigrants to be deported out of the nation. The deporting was not limited to disabled people, but it was also extended down to the women as the female was specifically exposed to the consequences of sexual or social deviance. This mostly has to do with the position in society as at the time they worked domestically, and it was in their utmost interest to avoid any stain on their moral characters as this could cost them their job.

This goes in-depth to illustrate how deporting was the means that the government usually used to get rid of persons that it proved undesirable and who are considered to be liabilities on the system. Nonetheless, it additionally connects back to the primary idea that these actions were performed to raise a homogeneous community that shares and practices similar sets of beliefs.

Provoking and very motivational propaganda orchestrated an essential role in the development of a racially biased attitude amongst the public. When World War I started, bits of racism and also nativism sprouted fast due to the propaganda that was being fed to the public community to make up a sense of national identity[9]. Consequently, the propagandas also brought about racism against persons belonging to nations that Canada was fighting against. This scenario only brought about racism towards the enemy aliens but also resulted in an ever-growing sense of national identity, which made the issue worse. The department of immigration then systematically commenced the deportations of individuals because of political belief and activities[10]. The acts brought about undermining the rights of the citizens but additionally went further beyond any ethical and moral standards. Also, the many losses of lives and financial acumen in the world war resulted in the sense wariness against the invisible enemies, which heavily relayed and highlighted by the propaganda, brought on a sense of patriotism and the urge to have the protection of the nation from threat inside the country border[11]. The welcoming of people who would not share similar values and beliefs that made them be targeted for hate and discrimination. As a result of its nature, what had taken an enormous toll on every single family and had an effect on a lot of people on a very personal basis, therefore triggering reactions towards foreigners. Additionally, the threat of Reds that looms and their doctrine spread among the community was a huge source of worry for the officials at the time of the Great Depression. Communist ideologies during the great depression spread like wildfire as it appealed to a lot of individuals.

Communities wanted to be relieved of and end their misery by having a robust solution to the economic crisis that Canada and the nation’s citizens were going through, but because the government failed to have the provision of a relief of the ideology became more and more apparent and a gain of traction amongst the public members. Communism gave the doctrine of dignity and equity to the working class who previously were going through hardship and treatment that was not fair[12]. The seekers were going for a ray of sunshine, and it was handed on a silver plate to them by the persons following communism. Furthermore, to make a stop and putting an end to the threats, countermeasure was brought up by getting rid of political non-desires without the cost of charging the community with hate crimes or keeping them in prison. This scenario thus brought into being a culture of fear amongst the community thus feeding into the narrative of division which in the end brought about racism to flourish and allow for a hate crime to be part of the population[13]. The argument showcased following evidence provided proving that the racism and additional nativism in the country Canada in the period from the early 1900s was visibly linked to the social and economic activity which played a massive part in the growth and development of a racial rhetorical aspect among the people[14]. Furthermore, the building of a concrete national identity which was made upon the basis around the core values present in AngloSaxion idea, rejected any person who did not assimilate or blend in with the cultural aspect—making it clear on the notion that racism and nativity in Canada was a fusion of political motivation together with a prospect to have the community made stronger.

A lot of things triggered racism and anti-foreign sentiments in ancient 1900. One of the items was the threats of job insecurity that was suffered by the local community from the migrants coming in to work, who were coming into the country from all over the whole world attempting to find a future that is better in terms of all the country’s aspects. The ideology of nonnatives was very highly discouraged because of the straining that the immigrating individuals put on the community’s resources, and finally, provocative and vastly motivational propaganda played a significant role in the development of a racial bias attitude toward foreigners who came in the nation. It is believed that racism and nativism are dualist notions that were very popular in the ancient 1990s but have ceased down in recent times. The cynical and self-taught nature of humans had more to do with the superiority of an individual’s own race and values, which openly reject the persons who do not share those same beliefs and common principles.

Bibliography

Brockman, Morrison, T., and Melanie. “Exploring the Roots of Prejudice Toward Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.” The Canadian Journal of Native Studies 36, no.2 (2016):13-42

Carr T., “Racism and Social Inequality in Canada.” Book Reviews/ Recensions, 1999.

Currie, C L, Wiild, C, Schopflocher, C P, Laing, L, Veugelers, P. “Racial Discrimination Experienced by Aboriginal University Students in Canada,” 2012.

Currie C. L, Copeland J. L, Metzc G. A. “Childhood racial discrimination and adult allostatic load: The role of Indigenous cultural continuity in allostatic resiliency,” 2019.

Vang, Z M, Chang Y. “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada: Unpacking the Contributions of Assimilation, Race, and Early Socialization.” 2018.

Walker B. “The History of Immigration and Racism in Canada.” Essential Readings Front Cover Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2008.

[1] Walker B. “The History of Immigration and Racism in Canada: Essential Readings Front Cover Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2008.

[2] Walker. “The History of Immigration and Racism in Canada.”

[3] Currie C. L, Copeland J. L, Metzc G. A. “Childhood racial discrimination and adult allostatic load: The role of Indigenous cultural continuity in allostatic resiliency,” 2019.

[4] Currie, “Childhood racial discrimination and adult allostatic load.”

[5] Carr T., “Racism and Social Inequality in Canada.” Book Reviews/ Recensions, 1999.

[6] Currie, “Childhood racial discrimination and adult allostatic load.”

[7] Vang, Z M, Chang Y. “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada: Unpacking the Contributions of Assimilation, Race, and Early Socialization.” 2018.

[8] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”

[9] Carr, “Racism and Social Inequality in Canada.”

[10] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”

[11] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”

[12] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”

[13] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”

[14] Vang, “Immigrants’ Experiences of Everyday Discrimination in Canada,”