Living in a community where there are several reserves around, I see many people stereotype Aboriginal people for being lazy, dirty, and alcoholic. In high school my mom encountered a lot of stigma for being Metis. This was also experienced with the Metis in residential schools because they were not accepted in white schools and were not recognized as Indians by the Department of Indian Affairs ("Where are the," 2009) . Although I’m Metis, I haven’t had to experience negative comments, but I still hear people use the term “ half breed” and many other offensive words towards the Aboriginal people. I think people see Aboriginals this way because they don’t know the cultures background and the colonization that they had to live through.
The one thing that Aboriginals are known for are having many mental illnesses, such as depression and suffering from alcohol addictions. According to an Ontario survey Aboriginal women use a significant least amount of alcohol, but have a much higher rate of depression (18% vs 9%) compared to the National Population Health Survey. The survey showed that 55% of First Nations women reported drinking in the last year compared to 74% of NPHS, although 43% of First Nations women reported having 5+ drinks on one occasion compared to 24% of the NPHS (MacMillan et al., 2008). Before we judge Aboriginals health we must consider all of the factors that have affected their lives such as poverty, colonization, and life as a minority in a dominant culture (Shepard, O'Neill, & Guenette, 2006).
Colonization is one of the factors that has had a severe affect on the Aboriginal communities. Aboriginals had a community where all members were equal, until the Europeans came in and tried to assimilate them into their own beliefs. They believed that if they could convert Aboriginal people into practicing Christianity, then they might integrate into a European civilized society ( Mawhiney & Hardy, 2009). With the assimilation of the First Nation people, came the lost of their culture, spirituality, values, traditions and families ( Mawhiney & Hardey, 2009).
Of course, this disruption is what caused many of the health issues within the Aboriginal peoples. Many live in poverty because they have not acquired adequate education. Therefore, in order to survive they depend on welfare. The lost of their children only made matters worst and since the white traders introduced them to alcohol they turned to this depressant to relieve their pain and grievance. In fact, this did not solve the problem ( Ward, 2006).
I think we need to realize that many of the mental health problems that Aboriginals suffer was created by their colonization. They suffered from abuse and poverty which then lead them to alcoholism, depression, violence and suicide which keeps passing on from generation to the next. In order to stop this vicious cycle and demeaning stereotypes we need to educate ourselves and others about their history and implement new programs provided by our government.
References:
Where are the children? healing the legacy of the residential schools. (2009, June 26). Retrieved from http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/blackboard/page-11.html
MacMillan, H., Jamieson, E., Walsh, C., Wong, M., Faries, E., McCue, H., et al.(2008). First nations women’s mental health: results from an ontario survey. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 11(2), 109-115.
Shepard, B., O'Neill, L., & Guenette, F. (2006). Counselling with first nations women: considerations of oppression and renewal. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 28(3), 227-240.
Mawhiney, A., Hardy, S. (2009). Aboriginal peoples in Canada. In J. C. Turner and F.J. Turner (Eds). Canadian social welfare (pp. 95-109). Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada
Ward, M. (2006). Bringing up baby. The family dynamic: a Canadian perspective (pp. 159). Nelson Education Ltd
Melanie.F
Melanie.F
Great blog Melanie! I'm very interested with issues concerning Aboriginals and I believe you covered many of them. I agree with you that Aboriginals are judged for many unjust reasons, many beyond their control, and that was/is put upon them by others. Aboriginals have been and continue to be affected by society in negative ways and judging them for problems brought upon them is not a way to solve anything. Keep up standing for justice!
ReplyDeleteSarah H
Good job touching on colonialism. I think its hard for non-colonized people to realize how much effect it still has on people, Aboriginal and of other groups, such as people originating from Africa, India, and even some Asian countries. I am (part) Metis too, through my Grandmother's side and it was hidden for years. She insisted her Metis Grandma had been "Scottish" despite a picture of her showing she was Aboriginal, until my Uncle confirmed she was. Anyway that is my little personal story about colonialism, I think it played a part in why my family didn't talk about our Metis background. It made me kind of sad.
ReplyDeleteDavid H.
I have had very much the same experiences as you, I come from a Metis and Cree background but I have never had any racism directed towards me. However, when I do hear racism against Aboriginal people I take it very personally. In the small town I live in which is surrounded by a few reserves, the racism seems to be never ending! I agree that society needs to educate themselves on Aboriginal history. I also think that it should be a required course in high school and/or middle school. If students are educated earlier about these important topics it may be easier to stop the cycle.
ReplyDelete-Alexis B.
I think you put a lot of different and important issues into this blog and that all of them have something to do with how the world is today. Unfortunately it is not for the better. I agree with basically everything you have elaborated on. I also think our government needs to come up with some sort of solution to solve all the problems that were caused. The issues seem to be on going and need to finally come to an end, which unfortunately is easier said then done.
ReplyDelete-Brettany G.