Thread: Canada Day

Originally Posted by STF

I am willing to admit I may be wrong but your statement that the First Nations in Canada were mistreated by the Europeans didn't sound right to me so I did a bit of digging.

Most people immigrating to Canada were from European countries up until about the 1960s when immigration patterns changed and more from non European countries started to immigrate. To say that Europeans mistreated the First Nations is, I think, basically correct as Canadians of European ancestry made up the bulk of Canada's population and still do.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/...016006-eng.htm

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Most people immigrating to Canada were from European countries up until about the 1960s when immigration patterns changed and more from non European countries started to immigrate. To say that Europeans mistreated the First Nations is, I think, basically correct as Canadians of European ancestry made up the bulk of Canada's population and still do.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/...016006-eng.htm

Bob

I understand what you're saying Bob but I think that saying Europeans and their offspring were responsible might be debatable. If it weren't for European immigration there would be no Canada, there isn't a person in this country except for First Nation that isn't of foreign ancestry.
i really don't think after immigrating from England it could be said if I had done something as awful as the residential schools it was because I am English or that it was the fault of the English after upping sticks and making a life here. I honestly think it was a Canadian problem regardless of the origins of the people involved, unless because most people coming from Europe means that Canada doesn't really exist except as a home away from home for us lot.

No disrespect intended of course Bob, I thought it was an interesting point.

Originally Posted by STF

I understand what you're saying Bob but I think that saying Europeans and their offspring were responsible might be debatable. If it weren't for European immigration there would be no Canada, there isn't a person in this country except for First Nation that isn't of foreign ancestry.
i really don't think after immigrating from England it could be said if I had done something as awful as the residential schools it was because I am English or that it was the fault of the English after upping sticks and making a life here. I honestly think it was a Canadian problem regardless of the origins of the people involved, unless because most people coming from Europe means that Canada doesn't really exist except as a home away from home for us lot.

No disrespect intended of course Bob, I thought it was an interesting point.

Europeans and their offspring controlled what happened in what we now call Canada from long before Confederation. Granted it took a while for that control to go from coast to coast as the Confederation grew. It is just the standard pattern of treatment of indigenous peoples seen around the globe in countries colonised by Europeans. I am sure that until recently most Canadians were blissfully unaware of full extent of the conditions First Nations people lived under. Being first generation Canadian of European dissent I was vaguely aware of the Indian Act but not what I had done to the indigenous peoples of Canada. I had little reason to know as it did not directly concern me nor was it taught in any real detail while I was in school. At this point I don't think any Canadian can not know what happened to our indigenous citizens and is still happening to them. The only thing that can be done now is to recognise this issue, the government apologise for it and hope both sides can work together to reconcile and move forward to actually improving conditions.

Bob

I have seen studies of skeletal remains, particularly skulls that showed that there is evidence that migration occurred on North and South America much earlier by Pacific Islanders as well as Egyptian mariners. I'll have to see if I can find it. So there's that.
Also, it has always seemed interesting to me that the only group that receives shame for abuses are Europeans. The abuses by American Indians on each other were at least equal if not worse in terms of severity. Truth is the European settlers we're just more successful. I'm not condoning abuse. I just will not participate in one sided self loathing. I didn't do any of it and neither did any of you. ALL people are fallen imperfect creatures and none are more upright than any other.

War is a defining trait of humans. No matter where you go or when you go it's always someone wanting to wipe this group out or that group out whether it's for economic reasons or cultural reasons or religious reasons or just good old fashioned hatred.

Sure, the various tribes had to defend their territories from others and they had definite opinions about their opponents but this was small potatoes compared to a Govt with an unofficial policy to wipe all of the natives out and a citizenry who thought they were just savages.

In the US "schools" were established to force natives to become whites. In many cases the Indian was beaten out of them. These schools were either run by religious groups or the govt itself. As in Canada we are finding unmarked graves at the sites of these schools with who knows how many bodies.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

War is a defining trait of humans. No matter where you go or when you go it's always someone wanting to wipe this group out or that group out whether it's for economic reasons or cultural reasons or religious reasons or just good old fashioned hatred.

Sure, the various tribes had to defend their territories from others and they had definite opinions about their opponents but this was small potatoes compared to a Govt with an unofficial policy to wipe all of the natives out and a citizenry who thought they were just savages.

In the US "schools" were established to force natives to become whites. In many cases the Indian was beaten out of them. These schools were either run by religious groups or the govt itself. As in Canada we are finding unmarked graves at the sites of these schools with who knows how many bodies.

I would give this post a like normally but it doesn't feel appropriate somehow. I liked your post but don't want to like abuse of any 'other' group

Why do groups who get caught with their hand in the cookie jar say hey nobody is perfect and/or we just did to them what they did to others to get out of taking responsibility for their own actions? Neither of those is an excuse or a justification.

Bob

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

ALL people are fallen imperfect creatures and none are more upright than any other.

I just know that's a quote paul but you got me.