Idealism or EthnocideA Clash of Cultures
Native history forms an important and distinct part of Canadian society. The history of relations between First Nations peoples of Canada and the European settlers that arrived on this country's shores extends over five centuries. Between 1725 and 1923 treaties were signed between the crown and several of the Indian tribes and nations living in what was to become Canada. Today these treaties are known as historic Indian treaties. From the beginning, treaties have been an important aspect of the relationship between the Crown and Aboriginal people. It is a myth that is perpetuated by many historians that the Canadian government was paternalistic and farsighted when dealing with the Plains Indians between 1870-1885 , at least in the sense of looking out for their best interests. On the contrary, the lavish promises entailed in the treaties made by the white man to induce Natives to surrender their land actually contributed to the demise of Native culture. A false and blind sense of idealism motivated the Canadian government when it dealt with treaty negotiations. It is also a misconception that the treaties made were fair. This is most evident in the treaties concerning the Plains Cree. Before these treaties were made the Cree we
The Cree showed themselves to be remarkably flexible in rapidly adjusting to the rewards and demands of different environments and there is no reason to believe that they could not have made adjustments to the new order of the post 1870 era by becoming full participants in an agricultural economy . The fact that they did not was not due to their own choice rather , there was a refusal to let them do so as they were denied the access to the opportunities and resources that would have allowed them an independent existence . thread , bedding , cooking utensils , and sleds were made from the bones . Very little of the animal was wasted . Native life revolved around the shaggy buffalo . It was the same all over the western plains in the seventies . Business , tragedy and history could all be traced to the buffalo . When the railroad was completed in 1885 the buffalo was virtually extinct . Expansion was one response to the threat posed by the enormous decline of buffalo herds ; another was that some plains Cree bands had decided to turn to agriculture as a means to guarantee preservation of the buffalo hunting culture as long as possible . Treaties brought an end to this lifestyle . The treaty system also brought with it the intorduction of residential schooling . These schools were another way in which the Canadian goivernment would try to assimilate Native childern . All Native childern were forced to go to these schools and many of them were beaten and were mal-nourished . Treaties that were made were done with the intentions of commiting ethnocide . They created a squence of events that would create a legacey of pain and a liftime of turmoil between Native peoples and thier corrupt landlords - the Canadian government . The Natives agreed to treaties because they feared the changes that were taking place and wanted some security for their future well being which was being threatened by the disappearance of the buffalo as by the influx of settlers . By the time the treaties of 1870's were made and well before , aboriginal people were anxious to explore agriculture as an alternate economy when they began to realize that the buffalo were failing them . It would not be government negotiators but the aboriginal spokesman who insisted that terms be included in the treaties that would permit agricultural development . The plains Indians were of the earliest and largest groups to attempt agriculture . The fact that they didn't was because of government policy and intent , not Native choice and inability . The Plains culture that evolved over centuries in Western Canada seemed far removed from the lifestyles of farms , fields , and fences that began to alter the prairie landscape in the late nineteenth century . First Nations peoples received almost nothing in return for their land and resources except promises as empty as the treaties themselves . Fair negotiations would have been virtually impossible because power was unequally distributed between Natives and the Canadian government . Treaties and reserves were becoming common to most Natives . In there own land , in Canada , treaties legitimized the imprisonment of Natives onto the reserve system . Government treaty negotiators had the upper hand , they were in control , they were bargaining from a position of power , backed by the Mounted Police and the military forces of Canada and England combined . The advantage the treaty negotiators had was that they were familiar with the English language and the legal contracts which were also in English . The Indians did not have any power in the sense that they could not speak English , or at least not well enough to clearly express their concerns . But they were skilled diplomats sharpened by years of experiences in tribal deliberations , but they were no match for the men of Ottawa . They were told in effect to sign treaties or to be wiped out . If they signed , it was promised , they would be cared for , taught f
Some common words found in the essay are:
Plains Indians, Western Canada, Plains Cree, English Indians, Northwest Indians, Europeans Native, Indians European, Afterward Treaties, Indian Act, Government Indian, canadian government, plains cree, nations peoples, plains indians, native peoples, agricultural economy, native culture, reserve system, relations nations peoples, plains culture, treaties served, canadian government treaties,
Approximate Word count = 2759
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
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