Is this what we want?
The unsustainable relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada
By William A Thomas, Kingston ON
I believe the current government’s approach in dealing with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada is not sustainable. It does not meet the needs of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the country as a whole. There are so many things wrong with the current relationship and I see a lot of counter-productive focus and effort. Specifically, I have significant issues with the following:
- The current weighting of the Federal Government budget.
- Presentism and the employment of the selective, often surgical use of history.
- The whitewash of aboriginal history.
- The need for the constant apology and the virtue of victimhood.
- Policies not in keeping with the Nations ethics.
- Not dealing with the issues at hand including the history of abuse and scandal.
- Corruption.
Most importantly, the question arises as to whether a better way forward should be attempted? Is positive change currently on the horizon? Do the Indigenous Peoples of Canada want positive change and are they willing to negotiate for a positive future? I believe the Indigenous Peoples of Canada do want to be viable and equal members within Canada. To this end, I am proposing that we consider a different way. Below you will find suggestions for a radically different approach. First my issue areas.
Current weighting of the Federal Government budget.
For an average everyday Canadian to get an accurate accounting of the Federal budget is not as simple as one would think. I have used the 2022–23 estimates as a guide.1 The projected Federal budget for the 2022-2023 year is 397.5 billion dollars, which includes the fact that the current government is projecting a deficit (read debt) of 36.4 billion. This includes a myriad of Councils, Boards, Offices, Departments, Tribunals, Corporate entities, and of course Federal departments. Some of the largest budget items are summarized in the table below.
What is interesting is the current amount of funding for Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The current projections are 39.6 billion through the Department of Indigenous Services and 5.8 billion through the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. Together this represents 45.4 billion or 11.42% of the overall Federal Government budget. This does not include any allocations from other funded activities that also support indigenous communities through significant indirect financial support (examples: Office of Infrastructure of Canada? Royal Canadian Mounted Police? Department of Fisheries and Oceans? Department of Natural Resources? Public Health Agency of Canada? Etc.)
In comparison there are only two Federal agencies that have a larger allocation of Federal funding. One is the Department of Finance, which provides all of the transfer payments to the provinces and the territorial expenses. The other is the Department of Employment and Social Development which provides Federal pensions (example Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Pension) and all employment / unemployment and social benefits, for the entire nation of over 39 million people. The budget of 39.6 billion for the Department of Indigenous Services is more than all other departments with the next closest being the Department of National Defence at 25.9 billion – a 13.7 billion difference – annually!
We are describing funding towards an estimated indigenous population of 1.8 million within a national population of roughly 39 million. Therefore 4.6% of the population directly benefits from at least 45.4 billion or 11.42% of the overall Federal Government budget. When confronted with these numbers a reasonable person may ask some questions. Does this make sense? Is this efficient? Is it making a difference? Does this meet our national priorities? Is this sustainable?
Presentism. The selective, often surgical use of history.
In the context of the discussion today, presentism is the process of judging historical figures and their actions against moral and ethical standards of today. Today, presentism is often used to provide a very selective review of history and is often used within a process to back a very specific agenda. Some may find this description harsh – for others this will likely offend. But I would argue that context is important when judging our past history. That our history isn’t all good or bad – it just is. Purging history is Stalinist and does not allow learning. Where we really need to look is forward to solutions with unvarnished history as our guide. But let’s take a minute to look back.
In Kingston, Ontario a protest occurred over the statue of Sir John A Macdonald, Canada’s 1st Prime Minister - a Kingstonian. The protests resulted in the municipal council removing the statue and then the local public-school board removing his name from a public school. He has been criticized, and rightly so, for some of his actions and stances, towards indigenous people of Canada. But was he out of keeping for his time? Realistically, he believed, and he is a product of, the British Empire and all that he learned that it represented. He supported the concept of the residential school system as a mechanism for change, however flawed, paternalistic, or arrogant it may seem against today’s standards. He was focused on the formation of a new Nation – not the indigenous people, other than their assimilation into the greater population. But he was standard for his time.
What I find interesting is that he seems to have been singled out for attack and purging. At times, facts presented about Macdonald have been laughably selective and inaccurate, to downright false. At the same time, whole cathedrals of historical figures are ignored. Believe me, there is no historical figure without fault! Is Sir Wilfrid Laurier ok given that he legislated the vote away from indigenous people? Or what about Molly Brant, for another historical figure from Kingston.
Molly Brant was a significant figure in the formation of Canada BUT also an actual slave owner. Does the Kingston Municipal Council and Kingston School Board support slavery? Or is it ok because she is a woman and indigenous? Selective presentism and your agenda? And what is worse, the many politicians, bureaucrats, and religious leaders who, over the decades, knew that the Residential school system was compromised but did nothing about it or Sir John A Macdonald who supported the concept of the Residential school system but did so with the belief in his concept of the greater good?
Whitewash of Aboriginal History.
Presentism has an agenda, and that agenda has also resulted in the whitewash of aboriginal history. Even the most generous of indigenous population estimates for North America put the pre-Columbian population at no more than 12 million in all of the United States and Canada2. Nomadic hunter gatherers, the populations of indigenous people in North America created limited formalized infrastructure or edifices or institutions of learning. These people lived along the waterways and the natural geographic lines of drift – not everywhere. For centuries, they lived a life of brutal attacks and defence of resources3. Killing of prisoners (men) and enslavement of women and children was the norm. In today’s terms, genocide was not out of the pale of potential conflict outcomes4. As an illustration, the Beaver wars of the 1600s resulted in widespread destruction and near annihilation for the Huron by the Iroquois.5 This history of violence is ingrained, for example, Sioux Lookout (the town) was named after a physical high feature used by Ojibway Indians to watch for attacking Sioux warriors who had a history of attacking, killing, and enslavement.6 Are these example representations of history inaccurate – no. Is it presented in a fashion that may be considered unfair – maybe?
This whitewashing of aboriginal history is also more recent. The news coverage of the National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)7 would have the casual follower believe that abuse by police forces was the main culprit and that widespread reform in these institutions is required – the only requirement! It is true that widespread reform of police is required, and I applaud the ongoing changes. Some of the actions of neglect by police forces has been horrific. What is missing in this story is that a majority of ALL violence against this community (Indigenous women) is at the hands of the aboriginal community, mainly men and often family members. The reality of the situation is that many aboriginal communities are broken and are the harbingers of violence against women. What is being done to highlight and fix this? Where is this reported in our news?
I believe the overall agenda of the selective presentism and whitewash of history, is to create a sense of national self loathing, where one does not feel safe to challenge ideas regarding policy related to the indigenous people of Canada. The virtue of victimhood creates a situation where indigenous groups do not acknowledge and accept any shortcomings, and where the criticism or questioning of programs or policy that do not make sense, is to be tacitly linked to this negative historical mosaic. The ingrained national apology is another example in this agenda.
The need for the constant apology and virtue of victimhood.
The apology comes in so many ways but mainly through the land acknowledgement. Using Kingston as an example again, the Limestone School Board provides the following land acknowledgement:
The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on the land, as well as the presence of Metis, Inuit and other First Nations form across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate the commitment to the land.8
What this land statement does not acknowledge is that the tribes of the Anishinaabe were attacked by the tribes of the Haudenosaunee and driven from these lands and that the near annihilation of the Anishinaabe occurred. That mainly the Mohawk tribes (allied with the British) resettled in Canada along the border after forcibly driving out all other indigenous groups.
What is also not acknowledged is the history of immigrant influx into this region – for over 400 years. For centuries, immigrants have come to this region of the world. They and their descendants have had a significant and prosperous impact on this region. Look around you at the farmland, cities, infrastructure, and growth. Most of this development and prosperity is based upon the toil of generations of immigrants. Should this not be acknowledged and celebrated?
Maybe a more accurate land acknowledgement should be as follows (use Kingston as an example again).
We acknowledge that we are situated on the once traditional lands of the nomadic hunter gatherer tribes of the Anishinaabe. We also acknowledge that these lands became the conquered lands of the Haudenosaunee. We also acknowledge that these lands became the shared lands of the immigrant influx to Canada and the tribes of the First Nations of Canada. That together, all peoples have a vested interest in the history and protection of our lands and the prosperity of all peoples and all cultures within this Nation.
The current land acknowledgement is now so entrenched it was recently introduced in my friend’s synagogue. Really! Are my children or their children’s children going to be apologizing? Who else should we be apologizing for, as we have broad histories of abuse in this country. The people abused by the Catholic church? The kids abused within the various hockey and other sports programs? The immigrants from the potato famine?
Let’s face it, I wasn’t involved with the residential school system or the mistreatment of aboriginal women and girls. Nor were my children, nor my parents or siblings, or my grandparents. I was not involved in the legislation of the multiple versions of the Indian Act nor was it a platform issue in any election in which I ever voted. And I would also assume that it is not something that any 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th generation immigrants to Canada would take responsibility for. When does it end? Where to stop? What about the apology for the abuses by the aboriginal community against its own membership? But this is often purposely ignored as there is an applied virtue to the aboriginal community as victims in this country. And with this applied virtue comes limited responsibility for change and the outrageous righteous proclamation to burn churches in protest.9
The land acknowledgment is one form of apology but there are others. Whether it is forced affirmative action requirements by the various governments to hire indigenous history professors or police officers, or the supplanting of school curriculums with aboriginal content, there has been a marked effort to “demonstrate” remorse. And what is the rationale to have science researchers to identify the potential for aboriginal content in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) research funding applications, as part of the vetting and approval process? Are these imposed requirements authentic? What does it teach our children? Do these acts feel disingenuous and outside of our national ethic?
Policies not in keeping with the nations ethics.
By national ethics I mean our understanding of right verses wrong. For example, the “entitlement to registration under the Indian Act is based on the degree of descent from ancestors who are registered or entitled to be registered”.10 Aboriginal peoples in Canada are considered “status” if at least one grandparent or 1/8th ancestry is registered as part of the “Indian Act.” My question to Canadians is, do we want a race-based identification system being used by the government in this country to identify the status of people and their entitlements?
Do you know who else used race-based identification systems – Fascists circa World War 2. The Nazi Nuremberg Laws11 were race based identification systems that were used to identify and isolate Jewish and other races (example Roma), who were considered undesirable by these regimes. Whole segments of society in Europe were persecuted using race-based identification. Is this something that should be eliminated? And if you are being criticized by the Peoples Republic of China, is this an indication that you may be on the wrong side of an issue?12 Does this all seem ancient and outmoded? Isn’t this the type of classification system that many new immigrants to Canada are trying to flee from?
Other questions arise as to our understanding of right verses wrong. As previously indicated, is the government policy around affirmative action for aboriginal people right or wrong? Or should employment be merit based? Should research grant applications be based solely upon the merits of the science? Or should we expect researchers to creatively write and fabricate a fictional and dubious linkage to aboriginal issues, solely to meet a government imposed politically correct scorecard? And is it right or wrong to acknowledge long standing issues within the aboriginal community, but then appear to actively ignore or not solve a problem?
Not dealing with the issues at hand including the history of abuse and scandal.
Canada is one of the richest nations in the history of history. We are a nation that has a track record of getting things done. We achieved a transcontinental railway, national mobilization for two world wars, the seaway system, national healthcare, energy independence, to name but a few significant achievements. Today we are a country of only 39 million in a world of 8 billion and yet we are in the G8. And still to this day, after decades of news coverage, we cannot achieve safe drinking water on all the nations reserves. This seems wrong and misplaced in time.
We need to get things done, like resolving the residential school burial issues. This issue was very topical around the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2007-2015) which researched and provided a final Commission Report and recommendations in December 2015.13 Yet to this day unresolved issues arise. Most recently, is the Residential School news coverage, where a potential grave site is said to exist. A focal point of national and even international news, this story dominated in May -June 2021. The former residential school in Kamloops B.C, is the focus of most of the attention14. Yet this site was reported upon and known to the Commission. And based upon news coverage, you would not know that in factual terms, only soil disturbances (or anomalies) were detected. These facts are ignored by media both nationally and internationally.
The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is now over eight years old and so is the reporting of potential grave sites. What has happened since then? What is taking so long? Why haven’t these areas been excavated and confirmed already? Is it an issue, or isn’t it? Light being the best disinfectant I want to know how many bodies were found and the cause of death. Were the deaths out of character for their time and location – is it disease or physical abuse? Were the graves unmarked due to wanton disrespect or through administrative callousness or malfeasance? Or was it simply the practice similar to other unmarked graves sites in Canada during this time period? This needs to be reported upon and finalized.
The two previous examples speak to administrative ineptitude by the Governments of the day. I do not excuse them for any reason. I also do not excuse the turning a blind eye to the abuse of aboriginal women and girls perpetrated within aboriginal communities across Canada. Yet this occurs. It begs the question: Does the current system work? Is there a vested interest for improvement and change? Is this all a sign of conditioned administrative intransigence? If you believe that change is necessary, what stands in the way of proactive improvement?
Corruption.
Is there corruption? With the magnitude of federal government spending – undoubtedly! And go to a reserve where traditional chiefs rule (read royalty) and look at the disparity of housing standards and you will see where nepotism and cronyism abound. Far flung outposts, out of the sight and mind of many politicians and most Canadians, you can understand how this may occur, specifically among non-democratically elected administrations. Yet, at the same time, there are many highly successful band and reserve organizations across Canada. Are there standards applied to all administrations? Is there oversight?
Is there corruption in the accounting of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada? I have already considered whether using race-based identification is ethically appropriate, but we should now consider whether it is accurate or whether it is being manipulated? I sometimes wonder. The Canadian overall growth rate has remained steady and hovering around 1% over the past 25 years. Yet, if you look at the government accounting of population growth in the table provided you will see that over the past 25 years the First Nations population has doubled (529,040 to 1,048,405) at a growth rate nearly triple the national average and the Metis population has tripled in size (204,115 to 624,220). Only the Inuit population has grown at a lower than 1% growth rate. Does this seem accurate?
A different proposal – A Fresh Start.
There is a history of abuse of Indigenous Peoples of Canada by the institutions of Canada. And the criticism of government inaction, ineptitude, and complacency over the years is fair. And why should Indigenous Peoples of Canada trust the government or any proposed change? Why – because one must ask whether the current history and approach is working and whether it will lead the country to sustainable success.
I believe we need a different approach. And if this approach provides benefits to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada that are tangible, sustainable, and secure, they may want to accept it. Especially if it provides financial security for the future, and independent decision making. In 1969, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau proposed ending the special legal relationship between Aboriginal peoples and the Canadian state and dismantling the Indian Act.15 He may have been on to something. There are risks with change but if it is pursued with the collaboration of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, maybe we can find a different way forward that all can agree to. Therefore, I believe we need to do the following:
Abandon the current structure and agreement. Of course, this would not be done overnight and would realistically result in a phased change to the provision of service and resources and the conduct of supporting administration. Clearly constitutional considerations abound, and constitutional safeguards are required.
All peoples fall under the jurisdictions of their respective regions (Municipal, Provincial, Federal), regardless of their background with the potential of some new municipalities being formed. Therefore, within Provinces, the provision of education, healthcare, social services, etc. would fall to these provincial bodies.
The Indigenous Peoples of Canada retain title over who is included within their structures (associations) so long as all processes and administration falls within the canon of Canadian law. This is no small undertaking, but instead of the Government of Canada passing judgement on who is aboriginal, let this fall to the governing body (associations) of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Once this is established, entitlements can be simply passed on through generations of family.
Two funds are recommended. Both funds are managed by the Elected Officials of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada various association / band structure, with oversight (at least initially) by the Federal Government. All funds are retained for investment within Canadian institutions.
- An Indigenous Peoples of Canada support and entrepreneur fund will be created.
- A separate Indigenous Peoples of Canada education advancement fund is created.
All lands associated with reservations and specific agreements are released to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Manage, develop, or sell without restrictions on ownership.
The Indigenous Peoples of Canada will maintain a democratically elected leadership and meet the obligations of law in Canada. Of course, significant cultural, historical, religious, and ceremonial positions can be maintained but NOT as official jurisdictional bodies.
Finally, all previous aboriginal funding in the Federal Government budget is reallocated in accordance with federal budgeting priorities. This will potentially include increased transfer payments to provinces and to debt servicing of the newly created funding envelopes (previously described). Some Federal Departments may disappear or be diminished.
What is the outcome of this type of change and new agreement? First, it reinforces the concept that ALL Canadians are equal under the law, and ALL have the same rights and obligations – all can vote, and all pay taxes in accordance with the tax code. Second, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada have the financial capital to secure and build a solid future in Canada. More importantly, they can call their own shots and are not directly dependent on the Government of Canada. All aspects of the deal are supported by democratically elected officials applying the laws and rules of established Canadian law. All are equal under the law and are provided the protection of the law. Democracy reigns supreme.
There are other advantages. I believe a psychological advantage occurs through independence, and we eliminate the tacit construct of “wards of the state” that the Indian Act confers. It removes the Federal government from provision of services that rightfully should be under provincial jurisdiction (less the territories). I believe it will simplify National administration and free up monies in the Federal budget for transfer payments. It enshrines that members of the various Indigenous Peoples of Canada have the opportunity and protections of Canadian law in dealing with the band Associations. Most importantly the financial security of self managed funding envelopes, designed for continual growth, out of the reach of changing political tides, is a level of autonomy and security not previously achieved.
Of course, there are risks but I believe these can be mitigated. First and foremost, is the financial risk. Potentially large sums of money, but money that for the most part is invested by the Indigenous Peoples of Canada for growth. It will be a debt, paid to Canadians, by Canadians, and secured and invested in Canada. And eventually this debt, for the start-up of the aforementioned funds, will be paid off and come off the book.
There also may be a perception of loss of power and identity by Indigenous Peoples of Canada. This perception will be outstripped by the increased autonomy and financial independence that is gained. An economically strong and independent Indigenous Peoples of Canada will be a real catalyst for growth and development within Canada. Indigenous Peoples of Canada will have increased financial clout to really shape the country and shape their communities in the most positive fashion possible.
Conclusion.
There are serious problems with the current approach to working with and properly supporting the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Despite an extreme allocation of funding by the federal government, significant issues confronting this community continue to exist. Instead of collaboratively confronting the problems impacting this community, we have instead nurtured a concept of victimhood and a sense of national self loathing, where one does not feel safe to challenge ideas regarding policy related to the indigenous people of Canada. We have created a mythical narrative related to our overall national history, and we are all to blame.
As a nation we need to fix the problems related to this significant community. To achieve success, we must ALL acknowledge and accept responsibility for failures of the current programs including the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Disingenuous gestures that do not fix problems and only placate sensibilities will eventually erode public support for positive change.
I believe real change is required and I have presented a potential way forward. It can only be seriously considered if it has the will, collaboration, and approval of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. In fact, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada must want, and even demand for this type of change. It will mean abandoning outdated and unethical modes of thinking and providing the real wealth and autonomy that I believe this community craves. A strong indigenous community will mean a strong Canada. We need to lose the fear of openly debating a situation that is non sustainable for Canada and does not serve the long-term interests of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
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Thanks for reading. For more on indigenous issues read The Untold Story of Indigenous Child Neglect and Alcohol Abuse – The Firewater Complex
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Federal Government 2022–23 Estimates. https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/planned-government spending/government-expenditure-plan-main-estimates/2022-23-estimates.html#toc2
Population history of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_history_of_Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas
Warfare In Pre-Columbian North America. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history heritage/popular-books/aboriginal-people-canadian-military/warfare-pre-columbian-north-america.html
Genocide is the intentional destruction of a people—usually defined as an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group—in whole or in part. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide
Beaver Wars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver_Wars
Sioux Lookout. https://visitsunsetcountry.com/history-of-Sioux-Lookout
National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/ viii Limestone District School Board. https://www.limestone.on.ca/programming/indigenous_education
Limestone District School Board. https://www.limestone.on.ca/programming/indigenous_education
The Burning of Canada’s Churches. https://www.wsj.com/articles/vandalism-arson-burning-canada-church-catholic-residential schools-11627584689
Government of Canada. How to apply for Indian status. https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1462808207464/1572460627149#sec1
Nuremberg Laws. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws
China hits back at Canada, calls for UN investigation into crimes against Indigenous people. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china canada-un-calls-investigation-crimes-indigenous-uyghurs-1.6075025
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1450124405592/1529106060525#chp2
Canadian Indian residential school gravesites. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_gravesites Work to exhume remains at former Kamloops residential school could begin soon, chief says. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british columbia/tk-eml%C3%BAps-kamloops-indian-residential-school-215-exhumations
1.6460796#:~:text=After%20a%20year%20of%20grieving,bringing%20the%20missing%20children%20home.
The White Paper 1969. https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_white_paper_1969/
Canadian public debt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_public_debt#:~:text=percent%20of%20GDP.- ,Public%20debt%20of%20Canadian%20provinces%2C%20territories%2C%20and%20local%20governments%20(,shown%20in%20the%2 0table%20below.
Indigenous Spending in Budget 2022. https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/indigenous-spending-in-budget-2022
What an extraordinary article. There is so much to wax poetic about it it. I like this quote best: “One does not feel safe to challenge ideas regarding policy related to the indigenous people of Canada. We have created a mythical narrative related to our overall national history, and we are all to blame.”
PP as the next PM knows that changes with The Indigenous in Canada MUST happen. Let us hope that the articulate ideas expressed here will be part of that inevitable change.