Okanagan College Colonization & Truth-Telling & Reconciliation on Aboriginals Essay

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Assignment #3 – Pictorial Analysis (35%)


Colonization, Truth-Telling, and Reconciliation.
As the major final paper for this course, the grading expectation are higher than previous assignments. It is

therefore recommended that students attend to this final paper like open-book final exam.

Your Pictorial Analysis will be marked based on the follow criteria within the context of this course:

  • Colonization (7%): select an image (or create an image) representing colonization in Canada and Indigenous Peoples with particular focus on the readings, learnings, and discussions from weeks 4-6; and provide a critical rationale for your decision, and specific examples.
  • Truth-Telling (7%): select an image (or create an image) representing the importance of telling the truth about Canada’s history involving Indigenous Peoples, with particular focus on the course materials from weeks 7-10; and provide a critical rationale for your decision, and specific examples.
  • Reconciliation (7%): select an image (or create an image) representing reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and Canada, with particular focus on the course materials from weeks 11-14; and provide a critical rationale for your decision, and specific examples.
  • Life Application (6%): discuss how you will apply this knowledge into your life such as personally, professionally, or academically going forward. Use plenty of I-statements and specific examples.
  • Clarity, Structure, and Organization (4%): To help with organization, students are highly encouraged to use sub-headings (no more than one sentence) above each section of their paper, for example Colonization, Truth-Telling, Reconciliation, Applications.
  • Format (4%): APA-formatted 4-6 pages (max 8 pages) plus a title page and reference page, and must include at least 4 readings from throughout the entire course. Students will submit their assignments in a Word (.doc) format to the corresponding assignment drobox on D2L.

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Dispelling Common Myths About Indigenous Peoples 9 Myths & Realities By Bob Joseph of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. 1 This ebook is titled Dispelling Myths about Indigenous Peoples so before we get going we should talk about terminology. This ebook could have easily been about Aboriginal peoples or Indians or First Nations but we chose Indigenous Peoples because the federal government is now using this term. The constitutional correct terminology in Canada is Aboriginal Peoples and this includes Indian, Inuit and Métis. Indian can be synonymous with First Nation, First Nations or even Nations. Indian can also be broken up into status Indian and non status Indian. The Inuit are different from Indians as are Métis. See this video on best terminology. We will use those terms accordingly depending on the myth we are talking about. Most of the myths (taxes, housing, education) regarding Indigenous Peoples in Canada relate to Indians (status) or First Nations. For the purposes of this ebook, we use First Nation. Although the ebook is called Dispelling Common Myths About Indigenous Peoples, you will see a shift in terminology. And the last word on terminology, in addition to the Indigenous Peoples in Canada - First Nations, Inuit and Métis - you can also have Indigenous Peoples from other countries such as Peru, Mexico or Argentina living in Canada. They are still Indigenous persons, but are not covered by the Indian Act or eligible for tax exemptions for example. 2 Definition of a Myth The definition of “myth”, according to the Oxford Canadian dictionary, is “a widely held but false notion”. Well, there are many widely held but false notions or myths regarding the perceived special privileges Indigenous Peoples in Canada receive from the federal government. In this ebook we take a look at some of the common ones and then provide a snapshot of the reality for Indigenous Peoples. Myths surrounding Indigenous Peoples cover many aspects. These myths, which have endured for generations and continue to do so, often paint a distorted picture that does not represent reality for many Indigenous People in Canada. Disclaimer & Terms of Use. The materials on our website www.ictinc.ca are provided for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We expect you will learn from our educational materials and obtain legal advice as you need. If you wish to share this ebook in its entirety please respect our copyright by reading and following the Terms of Use. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 3 Myth #1 Indigenous Peoples are all the same Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 4 Reality: One the popular myths is that the Indigenous community is one homogenous group. This disregards the reality that hundreds of individual Indigenous communities have their own unique history, culture, traditions and economies. “Anishinaabe, Métis, Coastal Salish, Cree, Cherokee. We have nothing much in common. We’re all aboriginal and we have the drum. That’s about it.” Thomas King writing about a drum circle in “The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America” Not recognizing the cultural diversity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is one of the most common mistakes nonIndigenous people make when working with people and communities. See this short video on name dropping for example. Respect for cultural diversity is an aspect of Canadian society that is of great appeal to people from other countries who want to move here, and is supported by the Multiculturalism Act of 1988. The average Canadian would proudly say they respect cultural diversity. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 5 There are three distinct groups of Aboriginal Peoples - First Nation or Indian, Métis and Inuit as defined by the Constitution Act, 1982. Let’s take a look at the largest group - First Nations (also known as Indians). There are over 600 bands and over 2,000 reserves - each one with a distinct history that shaped their particular cultural identity. They each have distinct languages, cultures, economies, capacities, challenges, stories, teachings and worldviews. In BC alone there is an amazing diversity of First Nation culture and language - there are over 200 First Nation communities in the province - each with its own unique culture, traditions and history. These 200 communities represent 60% of the First Nation languages spoken in Canada. Speaking of language, did you know that outside of Quebec, English is becoming the common language of Aboriginal people in Canada? Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 6 Recognition of the uniqueness of each community is a fundamental first step non-Indigenous Canadians can take to respect Indigenous Peoples. If, for example, readers believe First Nation people should all be equal then they are not respecting and recognizing that this is the opposite of recognition of difference. In terms of an extractive company, an educator, a government representative, or average Joe or Josephine (to be respectful) time spent researching and developing an understanding of the unique background of each community will increase your understanding of what is important to that community, what they are proud of, and what they will fight to protect. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 7 Myth #2 Indigenous Peoples already have ample reserve lands and resources Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 8 Reality: There are a number of wrongs about this myth, the first being that not all Indigenous Peoples have reserves. “Except for the far north (including northern Quebec), where comprehensive land claims settlements have improved the situation, the present land base of First Nations is inadequate. Lands acknowledged as First Nation south of the sixtieth parallel (mainly reserves) make up less than one half of 1% of the Canadian land mass. Much of this land is of marginal value. In the United States (excluding Alaska) – where Aboriginal people are a much smaller percentage of the total population – the comparable figure is 3%.”[1] Some reserves are tiny, some are vast distances from urban centres, education facilities, and employment opportunities. Don’t make the mistake of equating reserves with traditional or treaty territories which can be vast. As designated in the Indian Act: “Reserves are held by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of the respective bands for which they were set apart, and subject to this Act and to the terms of any treaty or surrender, the Governor in Council may determine whether any purpose for which lands in a reserve are used or are to be used is for the use and benefit of the band.“ [2] Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 9 Traditional lands refer to an area that a Nation has occupied and used for many generations, long before reserve borders were imposed by the Indian Act. When reserves were designated, traditional usage and ceremonial sites were not always considered. Some Nations were relocated to reserves in areas that were completely alien to their traditional lands. [1] Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Volume 2, page 422-423, 1996. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, 2007, and Courtesy of the Privy Council Office. [2] Indian Act 18. (1) Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 10 Myth #3 Indigenous Peoples can do whatever they want with their reserve lands and resources. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 11 Reality: For this myth to be true, all Indigenous Peoples in Canada would live on reserves. In reality, a reserve is a tract of land set aside under the Indian Act and treaty agreements for the exclusive use of an Indian band (First Nation). Métis and Inuit have no reserves. The ultimate title to reserve lands is vested in “Her Majesty”. Section 28 of the Indian Act states: “Reserve lands are not subject to seizure under legal process.” Section 32 (1) of the Indian Act provides: "A transaction of any kind whereby a band or a member thereof purports to sell, barter, exchange, give or otherwise dispose of cattle or other animals, grain or hay, whether wild or cultivated, or root crops or plants or their products from a reserve in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, to a person other than a member of that band, is void unless the superintendent approves the transaction in writing." 12 Section 33 adds: "Every person who enters into a transaction that is void under subsection 32(1) is guilty of an offence." The Indian Act is clear that status Indians do not own property on reserves. The Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada may issue a "Certificate of Possession" to a status Indian for a portion of reserve land, but underlying title to the land remains vested with the Crown. Thus, Indian reserve land cannot be sold except to the Crown and does not appreciate in value the same way that property held in fee simple does for other Canadians. This makes it very difficult for a status Indian to borrow funds to build a house on reserve. The difficulty of qualifying for mortgages and loans previously noted in regards to housing also makes it extremely difficult to start businesses on reserve. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 13 The Canadian government passed legislation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries allowing the government to expropriate portions of reserve land to provide land for public utilities rights-of-ways (railways, transmission lines and highways) - often done without the consent of the Nation and without compensation. It is this expropriation that has resulted in the fragmentation and disruption of many reserves. In many cases, the province or Crown further retains subsoil rights on the reserve, which means band members do not “own” the minerals found there. Coastal waters and tidal lands do not form part of the reserve either in most cases. Although colonists tried to justify the small sizes of many reserves along coastal British Columbia by their access to waterways, Indigenous fishing grounds and their resources have been restricted by provincial and federal regulations. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 14 Myth #4 Indigenous people living on reserves get free housing! Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 15 Reality: The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers many programs to assist both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people meet their housing needs. For Indigenous people, the assistance programs are only applicable for dwellings on reserve lands. First Nations (or Indians, depending on their preference) people can apply for social housing programs offered by the CMHC. The housing programs for Indigenous people are mainly designed to give low-income families access to rental housing. Bands and First Nations that meet CMHC lending criteria apply to a bank for conventional mortgage funds to finance the social housing construction, usually with CMHC providing loan insurance. The band rents the housing units to its members and maintains the mortgage. On many reserves, except some that have developed self-government agreements, the house is owned but the land is not – therefore it cannot be sold - which makes it impossible to build up equity in your home, as is possible for non-Indigenous people. Additionally, the reality for most people is that they need to take out a loan in order buy a house and loans require collateral. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 16 The Indian Act limitations to seizing property on-reserve, make it extremely difficult to secure financing for anything, whether you intend to buy, build or renovate a house, start a business, or what have you. To be extremely clear, this is not an endorsement of attempts to unilaterally impose private property regimes on reserve, I’m just explaining things. Reserves are of a finite size, and on some urban reserves, there is no room for expansion - when the space available for housing reaches its maximum capacity, that’s it, which makes accommodating population growth a challenge. As Indigenous people are the fastest-growing segment of Canada's population, with more than half the population under the age of 25, this means the additional challenge of available building space will become an issue for some reserves. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 17 The housing shortage on-reserve is in the range of 20,000 - 35,000, according to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (2011), with the shortfall growing by an estimated 2,200 units every year. The population growth rate coupled with the shortage of adequate housing results in people living in unhealthy and overcrowded conditions. Maintenance is also a huge factor. Many reserves are situated long distances from hardware stores or have fly-in access only so have to bring in building supplies by air. The struggles of the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario that hit the media in late December 2011 are a clear example of some of the unhealthy and overcrowded living conditions that exist on reserves in Canada today. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 18 Myth #5 Indigenous Peoples don’t pay taxes in Canada Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 19 Reality: This myth is proclaimed frequently, and is presented as a testament that Indigenous People in Canada have a massive tax advantage over other people in Canada. In order for this myth to be true, it would have to be all Indigenous people are exempt from paying taxes but the reality is that it is only the status Indians who are exempt from paying taxes. All other Indigenous people – Inuit, Métis and non-status Indians - pay taxes on the same footing as non-Indigenous people. However, in January 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Métis and non-status Indians are "Indians" under the Constitution Act. This could mean in future that Métis and non-status Indians will also be eligible for the same tax exemptions but it is unclear yet. The federal government is considering its options in terms of appealing the decision. Indigenous Peoples from other countries such as Mexico or Peru, living in Canada pay taxes. Federal tax exemptions for status Indians have existed at least since the consolidation of the Indian Act in 1876, but only apply in very specific and limited conditions. Under sections 87 and 90 of the Indian Act, status Indians do not pay federal or provincial taxes on their personal and real property that is on a reserve. Personal property includes goods, services and income as defined under the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency policies. As income is considered personal property, status Indians who work on a reserve do not pay federal or provincial taxes on their employment income. 20 Initially the purpose of the exemption was to preserve the entitlements of status Indians to their reserve lands and to ensure that the use of their property on their reserve lands is not eroded by taxes. Section 87 also exempts from the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) the goods and services bought by status Indians at businesses located on-reserve. Goods and services purchased off-reserve by status Indians but delivered to the reserve are also tax exempt. Most provincial sales taxes are similarly applied. In some provinces, there are certain exemptions such as automobiles which must be registered to an address on a reserve in order to be tax exempt. Most income, sales and property tax exemptions only apply to status Indians (637,660) who live or work on a reserve. Less than half of all registered status Indians live on reserve so the number who are actually eligible for tax exemptions amounts to about 314,000 people. [1] To put it in perspective, somewhat less than half of all registered status Indians live on reserve so less than 1% of the total population of Canada are exempt from paying certain taxes. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 21 ● The Court has indicated that this tax exemption is not intended to remedy the economically disadvantaged position of Aboriginal people in Canada or bring economic benefits to them. Also, based on Supreme Court decisions, Indian property not situated on a reserve will generally be subject to tax just like property held by other Canadians.” [2] Status Indians do pay income tax Income earned on a reserve is exempt, whether or not the employed status Indian person lives on or off reserve. Income earned off reserve is taxed on par with nonIndigenous taxpayers. So, in terms of how many status Indians are receiving income tax exemptions: ● “The employment rate for working-age Status Indians was 55% in 2011, over 20 percentage points lower than the rate for non-Aboriginal persons of working age (76%). ● The unemployment rate for working-age Status Indians was 17%. The proportion was even higher for those living on-reserve at 22%.” [3] Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 22 Sorry, Justin, there’s no free gas In 2012, Justin Bieber infamously stated in an interview for Rolling Stone magazine "I'm actually part Indian. I think Inuit or something? I'm enough percent that in Canada I can get free gas." Reality check – status Indians who present their status card when purchasing gas on reserve are tax exempt. This does not apply to gas purchased off reserve. So there’s some clarification for you. Now when you hear the statement “Indigenous Peoples don’t pay taxes” you will know differently. We also would like to point out that not paying taxes is practically a national pastime - consider all the nonIndigenous Canadians and corporations who actively look for loopholes to avoid paying taxes and are entitled to do so.. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 23 So, some points to further clarify the reality of the myth that Indigenous people don’t pay taxes in Canada: Personal property tax exemption facts: ● "A tax exemption for Indian property situated on reserves has existed since before Confederation. ● The Supreme Court of Canada has stated that this exemption is linked to the protection of reserve land and property. ● The Court has concluded that the purpose of the exemption is to make sure tax does not erode the use of Indian property on reserves. [1] 2011 National Household Survey: Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: First Nations People, Métis and Inuit [2] Canada Revenue Agency website [3] 2011 National Household Survey: Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: First Nations People, Métis and Inuit [4] Canada Revenue Agency website Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 24 Myth #6 Indigenous Peoples receive free postsecondary education Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 25 Reality: To say that all Indigenous Peoples receive free postsecondary funding is misleading because it implies all Indigenous Peoples are eligible for funding. This is not the case. Only status Indians are eligible to receive funding for post-secondary education through Indigenous and Northern Affairs funding - non status Indians, Inuit and Métis are not eligible for this funding through INAC. Eligibility is just one criteria. The student has to apply to the band office of their home community. The number of applications for funding frequently exceeds the available. Some communities have waiting lists and those on the lists will probably never be funded. Some communities require the student to be a resident in the community which eliminates the students who live in urban centres. So, while in some communities the rate of high school graduation is increasing, the graduates often step off the path to higher education at that point due to the lack of available funds. In order to create additional opportunities for their members some status Indians and bands set aside funding within their budgets to assist their members in obtaining a postsecondary education. These programs are similar to scholarship programs established by post-secondary institutions and other organizations who want to see the advancement of youth. 26 Myth #7 Residential schools are ancient history Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 27 Reality: It is a common and convenient myth that residential schools are part of Canada’s ancient history. In reality the last school closed in 1996 which is 166 years after the first school, the Mohawk Indian Residential School, opened in 1830. As recently as 1979, 12 residential schools were still operating. Over the 166 years there were 139 schools operating across Canada except Prince Edward Island New Brunswick and Newfoundland ( in Newfoundland the Indigenous population, the Beothuk, became extinct 350 years after European contact). Beginning in the late 1800s, Indigenous children (150,000) were removed from their homes and placed in statefunded and church-run schools - they were not allowed to attend public schools. Programs offered in the Indian Residential Schools system emphasized "Christianizing" Indians (at that time there was no distinction between Indians, Inuit or Métis) and provided training for jobs in agriculture and as domestic help - not with a goal of obtaining a post secondary education. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 28 Reality: The policy behind the schools has now been acknowledged as “cultural genocide”. "I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone... Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department." Duncan Campbell Scott, 1920, Deputy Minister, Indian Affairs in Canada The impact of the residential school system is multigenerational, current and is considered one of the primary contributors to the social problems of many survivors, their families and communities. There are approximately 80,000 former students, or survivors, alive today. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission an approximate 6,000 children died in or due to residential schools. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 29 Myth #8 There’s no connection between Indigenous unemployment and Indigenous health and social problems Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 30 Reality: Employment opportunities and rates on reserves vary considerably due to general economic circumstances in a particular region and the presence or absence of onreserve resource bases that can generate employment. Given that in many circumstances incomes are low and employment prospects poor, it is not surprising that a large proportion of the Indigenous population is unemployed and lives in poverty. Going back to Myth#4, poor and scarce housing leads to too many people living in housing units that are frequently riddled with mould, not weatherproof, and insufficiently heated - the ideal incubation setting for respiratory conditions. 31 Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 Myth #9 Missing and murdered Indigenous women brought it upon themselves Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 32 Reality: Decades of government policies have wreaked havoc on traditional Indigenous family relations and destroyed communities, leaving many Indigenous women and girls impoverished, demoralized and extremely vulnerable to exploitation and attack. Prevailing antagonism and enduring racial stereotypes that sexualize Indigenous women and girls denigrate their dignity and self-worth and sets the environment for some men to feel they can get away with violent acts of hatred against them. Stats Canada’ report Violent victimization of Aboriginal women in the Canadian provinces, 2009 shows that “close to 67,000 or 13% of all Aboriginal women aged 15 and older living in the provinces stated that they had been violently victimized. Overall, Aboriginal women reported experiencing close to 138,000 incidents of violence and were almost three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report having been a victim of a violent crime. This was true regardless if the violence occurred between strangers or acquaintances, or within a spousal relationship.” Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 33 In 2014 the RCMP released a report that marked the first time that police in Canada have attempted, at the national level, to identify how many Indigenous women and girls have been murdered or gone missing. According to the report, 1,017 women and girls identified as Indigenous were murdered between 1980 and 2012—a homicide rate roughly 4.5 times higher than that of all other women in Canada. In addition, as of November 2013, at least 164 Indigenous women and girls remained missing under suspicious circumstances or for undetermined reasons. Indigenous women and girls in Canada, on and off reserves, in major cities, in every region in the country are at risk of experiencing violence. The perpetrators include Indigenous and non-Indigenous men alike. The 1,107 murdered Indigenous women and the additional 164 who are missing under suspicious circumstances did not bring it upon themselves. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.© 2016 34 Thanks for downloading this ebook - we really hope it has provided some insight into the many myths that prevail. We believe that by sharing knowledge and information through our training programs we can make the world a better place for Indigenous and nonIndigenous people. If you are interested in additional free resources, be sure to grab a copy of our other very popular ebooks: 23 tips on what not to say or do when Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples™ 27 Working Effectively with Aboriginal Peoples™ Must Do’s Aboriginal Peoples: A Guide to Terminology We also have a blog and free weekly newsletter. Disclaimer & Terms of Use. The materials on our website www.ictinc.ca are provided for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We expect you will learn from our educational materials and obtain legal advice as you need. If you wish to share this ebook in its entirety please respect our copyright by reading and following the Terms of Use. 35 SPECIAL REPORT TD Economics June 18, 2012 DEBUNKING MYTHS SURROUNDING CANADA’S ABORIGINAL POPULATION We thank the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), whose research and insights were instrumental in the preparation of this report. Highlights • In recognition and celebration of National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, TD Economics continues its tradition of carrying out Aboriginal-related economic research, raising awareness about Aboriginal peoples, businesses and communities. This report represents our third in the series of articles on Aboriginal social and economic issues. • In this report we attempt to put to bed ten myths surrounding Canada’s Aboriginal population. The myths were chosen on the basis of misconceptions we encountered while carrying out the research on our previous reports. We also sought insight from organizations like the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) which have community and business reach. • The misperceptions put to rest are broad-based, including: access to free post-secondary education, taxation exemption rules, and the prevalence and success of Aboriginal-owned small businesses and economic development corporations. In celebration of National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, TD Economics continues its tradition of carrying out Aboriginal-related economic research, raising broader awareness about issues confronting Aboriginal peoples, businesses and communities. This report represents our third in the series of articles. The first concluded that the tide had shifted in the right direction for Aboriginal peoples and there was a renewed spirit of entrepreneurship in the air. In our second article, we noted that Aboriginal people and businesses were increasingly leaving their mark on the national economic scene. We attached a $32 billion figure to the size of the Aboriginal market by 2016, higher than the level of nominal GDP of two Atlantic provinces combined. These two reports explored the economic footprint for Aboriginal peoples and how the future might unfold. To carry out this work, we needed to research the existing body of literature and craft our own stories with analysis and data in hand. In doing so, we have come across a number of myths about Aboriginal peoples which simply do not fit reality. These beliefs could influence the way in which the non-Aboriginal population looks at Aboriginal peoples. In order to set the record straight, we have compiled a list of ten myths to debunk. Myth 1: Aboriginal people do not pay taxes. Some don’t, some do. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, Aboriginal people pay the same taxes and are subject to the same tax rules as non-Aboriginals.1 There are a few limited exemptions for Status Indians which are stated in Section 87 of the Indian Act.2 A Status Indian is generally the member Derek Burleton, VP & Deputy Chief Economist, 416-982-2514 Sonya Gulati, Senior Economist, 416-982-8063 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics of an Indian band or community with rights under the Indian Act to live on reserve, vote for band council and chief, share in band monies, and have an interest in property on reserve. Approximately half of the one million people who identify themselves as Aboriginal are classified as Status Indian. Those Aboriginal people who are Inuit or Métis pay the same taxes as anyone else in Canada. According to legislation, the personal property of an Indian or a band situated on a reserve is exempt from taxation. In court rulings, this provision has historical roots and is intended to preserve entitlement to the land.3 Employment income while working on a reserve also can be tax exempt. However, location of work and residence of employees are two examples of criteria used to assess whether the individual must pay taxes. The federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not levied for purchases by Status Indians, but in order to qualify, the purchase must be made on reserve or delivered to a reserve by a vendor or the vendor’s agent. Each province has set up policies with regard to tax exemptions for areas under their own jurisdiction. In some provinces, like Ontario and Québec, a Status Indian with the appropriate accreditation can receive a rebate on the provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for eligible purchases.4,5 Myth 2: Aboriginal people do not have to pay for postsecondary education. Some don’t, some do. The federal government does provide money to First Nation and Inuit governments for students to attend a post-secondary institution. Programs have been set up to defray tuition costs, travel costs and living expenses associated with the pursuit of post secondNOTABLE DIFFERENCES IN HIGHER EDUCATION ATTAINMENT RATES ACROSS ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL POPULATIONS % of 15+ Population by Highest Level of Schooling 20 Aboriginal Population 16 Non-Aboriginal Population 12 ABORIGINAL PEOPLES PRESENT IN EVERY PROVINCE AND TERRITORY Estimated Population for 2012, 000s 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YK NT NU Note: 2012 estimates by TD Economics as of June 2012. Source: Population Projections by Aboriginal Identity in Canada, 2006 to 2031. ary education.6 At present, there are no similar programs for students who identify as Non-Status Indian and Métis. While post-secondary education support is available to some Aboriginal students, not everyone who is eligible receives it. With more demand than funds, some communities have resorted to limiting applications to only those students who are pursuing their first post-secondary certification.7 In other cases, they limit eligibility to include those students who live on reserve while they undertake their studies.7 Myth 3: Almost all Aboriginal people live on reserve and in rural areas. False. Statistics Canada is not scheduled to release updated data on Aboriginal peoples until mid-2013. However, if we use their most recent population projections, we can dispel this myth. GREATER REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN THE TERRITORIES AND THE WEST Aboriginal Share of Total 2012 Population (%) 100 90 80 70 60 50 8 40 30 4 20 0 Apprenticeship or College, CEGEP or University Certificate University Certificate Trades Certificate or other Non-University or Diploma Below or Degree Diploma Certificate or Bachelor Level Diploma Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census. June 18, 2012 10 0 NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YK NT NU CA Note: 2012 estimates by TD Economics as of June 2012. Source: Population Projections by Aboriginal Identity in Canada, 2006 to 2031. 2 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics Aboriginal peoples currently reside in every province and territory. In terms of scale, British Columbia, the Prairies, and Central Canada are home to the highest number of Aboriginal people. This outcome is not very surprising as these provinces have the most number of Canadians. When the Aboriginal population is expressed as a share of total provincial or territorial population, we see that the territories indeed have the highest concentration of Aboriginal residents. Still, nearly one-in-five Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents identifies as Aboriginal, which is more than four times the national average. In terms of the on- and off-reserve breakdown, onein-five Aboriginal Canadians lived on reserve in 2011. In addition to most living off-reserve, the majority of all Aboriginals (54% in 2011) live in an urban setting. Both of these shares have been relatively constant over the past decade, cementing the fact that most Aboriginals are urban and off-reserve dwellers and have been for some time. ABORIGINAL-OWNED BUSINESS REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MIRRORS NATIONAL PICTURE % of SMEs/Aboriginal-Owned SMEs by Region 45 All SMEs Aboriginal-Owned SMEs 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies British Columbia Note: Territories have been suppressed due to data limitations. Source: Key Small Business Financing Statistics - December 2009 False. To debunk this myth, we must piece together data from the Census and a new publication that reports employment outcomes for Aboriginal people from 2008 to 2010.8 While these recent data are helpful, the Labour Force Survey does not sample Aboriginal people living on-reserve or in the territories. In spite of the underlying data limitations, information leading up to, and immediately after, the recession allows us to analyze employment trends with the global economic downturn in mind. Unfortunately, Statistics Canada has not yet published Aboriginal labour force data beyond 2010. From 2001 to 2008, a commodity price boom prevailed and, as a result, there was a major shift in employment and economic growth towards the natural resource sector for Aboriginal people and communities. Construction projects also surged, as heightened activity in this sector often goes along with natural resource development. In 2008, for example, 36% of all employed Aboriginal people worked in the goodsproducing sector and construction. The unemployment rate made significant progress during these years – it dropped from 17.4% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2008. Labour force participation rates also increased four percentage points over this timeframe. As we argued in our previous report, enhanced job opportunities allowed Aboriginal people to grow their economic footprint and improve their income prospects.9 Some of the employment and income gains seen during ABORIGINAL LABOUR OUTCOMES IMPROVING AFTER BEING HARD HIT BY THE RECESSION OUT-SIZED POPULATION GROWTH EXPECTED FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN CANADA* Myth 4: Aboriginal people are falling further behind in the job market. % 20 18 Unemployment Rate (lhs) Participation Rate (rhs) 16 14 12 % 79 1,400 78 1,200 77 1,000 76 800 75 600 74 400 73 200 72 0 10 8 6 4 2 0 2001 2006 2008 2009 2010 Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2001 and 2006; The Aboriginal Labour Force Analysis Series, Publication: 71-588-XWE. June 18, 2012 2006 Indian Métis 2031 Inuit Note: * Relative to the non-Aboriginal population growth average. Source: Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 91-552-X 3 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics ABORIGINAL BUSINESSES SERVICE CLIENTS IN NORTH AMERICA AND ABROAD HEALTHY EXPECTATIONS FOR FUTURE GROWTH AMONG BUSINESSES In countries other than Canada/United States % of Respondents by Expectations of Growth in Sales Revenue in 2 Years 80 71 70 In the United States 60 In other territories/provinces in Canada 50 40 In other parts of province/territory 30 Within local community 23 20 6 10 0 20 40 60 80 100 % of survey respondents by location of clients Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity. the early part of the decade were given back with the onset of the global financial crisis. Aboriginal communities were hit particularly hard given their out-sized exposure to the primary sector: the Aboriginal jobless rate hit 11.6% in 2009 and the labour market participation rate fell by a half percentage point. The data show that this deterioration was temporary, with 2010 numbers bouncing back with some vigour. If we were to forecast out these measures to the present, both should be close to 2008 levels. The past decade cements the idea that Aboriginal people are increasingly participating in the market economy. Both the labour market participation rate and unemployment rate are better today than where they stood in 2001. These trends demonstrate real progress in a relatively short period of time. Myth 5: Very few Aboriginal people start their own business. False. Roughly 2% of all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are operated by Aboriginal entrepreneurs, slightly lower than the 3.8% share of Aboriginals in the population.10 Even so, this translates into approximately 32,000 businesses, both on- and off-reserve. The data also suggest that women play an important role in Aboriginalowned businesses – 51% of these firms belonged entirely or partly to women, while the Canadian average was 47%. The count of Aboriginal SMEs is conservative, as it does not include firms who are incorporated under provincial and territorial charter. It also does not capture the number of economic development corporations (EDCs) or community-owned enterprises which have become a more popular business model over the past decade.10 According June 18, 2012 0 Yes No No Answer Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity. to the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business, there were approximately 262 active EDCs in Canada in 2010.9 We do not have more recent data than 2010, but we suspect that there are roughly 275 of these firms up and running today. Myth 6: Even if there are Aboriginal businesses, they’re not very successful. False. The Aboriginal Business Survey provides some insight on the success of Aboriginal-owned businesses.11 Most have only a handful of employees and operate in an environment which they define as highly competitive. Even with these headwinds, the majority of firms are profitable – six in ten reported a profit in 2010 and a third managed to boost annual revenues in 2010 despite the global downturn. Last but not least, roughly half of survey respondents labeled ABORIGINAL BUSINESSES REPRESENTED WELL ACROSS SECTORS Other services Arts, entertainment and food* Professional/Scientific** Wholesale and retail trade Manufacturing and transportation Non-Aboriginals Aboriginals Construction Primary 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 % of entrepreneurs by sector Note: * Also includes technical services, education, health and social. ** Also includes accommodation and cultural. Source: Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: Promise & Prosperity. 4 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics their business a success. Interestingly, the criteria used to make this assessment were not just based on dollars and cents, but other factors like personal satisfaction with their line of profession and having a steady client base. The future for Aboriginal entrepreneurs also looks bright as seven in ten survey respondents anticipated revenue growth over the next two years. This same proportion also thinks they will be at the helm of their business in five years. In addition, the growth rate of Aboriginals in self-employed positions is exceeding that of non-Aboriginals. This trend, combined with the rapid growth and success of the economic development corporation business model, suggests that the number of Aboriginal-owned SMEs should continue to increase. While barriers to competitiveness remain for this group of entrepreneurs, many are finding ways to overcome these challenges. An example of an innovative solution is the urban reserve near Saskatoon which is home to many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses.12 Myth 7: Aboriginal businesses are simply riding the coattails of the resource sector. False. Roughly 13% of all Aboriginal-owned small and medium-sized businesses in 2010 were directly linked with the primary sector, which includes agriculture, forestry, mining, and oil and gas extraction.11 Given a period of relatively strong commodity prices and an increase in resource exploration, many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities have reaped the economic benefits. Despite the emphasis on natural resources, Aboriginal entrepreneurs are operating successful businesses across all industries. In fact, the majority of Aboriginal-owned establishments are linked to service-producing sectors like construction and business services. In addition to being diversified in terms of area of focus, business owners are filling niches in the marketplace which were victim to gaps or previously viewed as uncompetitive. For example, Inuit Air is a regional airline company which began in the mid-1970s shortly after the first modern land claims’ agreement was signed.13 The company now employs roughly 500 people and services Northern Québec – a region which lies at the heart of the Québec government’s Plan Nord initiative. There are many other examples of innovation in Aboriginal-owned businesses outside the resource sector. A case in point is access to credit for businesses on reserve which was once an issue. This is because real and personal property on a reserve cannot be used as collateral for a loan June 18, 2012 as stipulated by the Indian Act. Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) across the country sprung up to fill the gap and provided access to loans where needed. The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association estimates that since the late 1980s, AFIs have provided over $1.3 billion in financing and 30,000 loans to Aboriginal small businesses.14 Myth 8: Aboriginal communities are protected by government Treaties – which pretty much guarantee their economic and political rights. Yes and no. A treaty is a negotiated, written agreement which defines the rights and responsibilities for all parties involved. Issues resolved in treaties include land ownership, governance structures, wildlife and environment management, financial benefits and taxation rights.15 More generally, agreements can sometimes capture the spiritual, philosophical and cultural views of those Aboriginal communities involved. Eleven historical treaties were signed from 1871-1921 covering much of Canada, except British Columbia, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. 16 There are twenty comprehensive land claims settled since 1973, involving 96 communities and over 70,000 Aboriginal people. These claims have involved 4,106,958 square kilometres in settlement land and $2 billion in settlement dollars. Recent court decisions highly recommend that treaties be negotiated with government and Aboriginal communities to bring greater certainty to land use and to ensure a clear definition of rights and responsibilities has been agreed upon. At present, not all Aboriginal communities have either historical or modern-day agreements in place – most are situated in British Columbia. For instance, 60% of all First Nations (or 116 communities) in the province are not governed by a treaty. Negotiations with senior Aboriginal leaders and Crown representatives are ongoing. It can often take years for one agreement to be signed. The British Columbia government estimates that the total benefits from signed treaties, including increased investment, could reach $50 billion, or $1-2 billion per year for the next 20-25 years.17 Myth 9: Aboriginal people receive a huge, immediate boost to their income when they settle a claim. Not always. In settling a land claim, governments often use different payment methods: cash and other considerations such as economic development initiatives.18 With land claim settlements, many Aboriginal communities are able to seek out opportunities for economic prosperity while offering their community members a more stable and certain future. It has been estimated that yet-to-be-settled compre5 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics REPRESENTATION CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND AVAILABILITY OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY GRADUALLY IMPROVING % of People who Identify as Aboriginal % of People who Identify as Aboriginal by Sector 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 Availability 1.0 Representation 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 hensive and specific land claims could yield $9-$13 billion.19 The financial portion of a comprehensive claim is usually handed over to the community over 12-15 years, while specific land claims are paid as a lump sum. However, this money is rarely a flow through transfer from the federal government to an individual Aboriginal person. Instead, the Aboriginal government often directs these funds be placed in a Trust. Although settlement funds are paid to the Aboriginal government (and placed in a Trust), there is often a per capita distribution payment made to all registered community members at the time of the settlement then living, both on- and off-reserve. Adults receive their payment immediately, while payments to Minors are deferred (held in trust) until the person reaches the age of majority. The decision to distribute per capita payments is made throughout the settlement process. Any per capita money must be stated in the agreement itself and the decision must be ratified by a community vote. The reason for these up-front payments is that it usually takes many years to settle a claim. In addition, given that the Trust is meant to be a long term benefit to all current and future generations of members, the Aboriginal government usually recommends a one time immediate payment to share in the celebration of the settlement with all its members. Myth 10: There is a quota system for how many Aboriginal people must be hired by Canadian employers. False. At the end of 2010, the employment rate of Aboriginal people (the per cent of the adult population June 18, 2012 1997 2008 Note: Captures federally-regulated employers. Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission. Banking Communications Transportation Other 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission - Impact of the Employment Equity Act & of the CHRC Employment Equity Program over the Years. employed) was 66%. This share is fifteen percentage points lower than the comparable statistic posted by non-Aboriginal people. Noticeable differences between the two groups of individuals is also seen when we review the unemployment rate measure: for Aboriginals it stood at 12.3%, almost double the number recorded for non-Aboriginals.8 The different labour outcomes among Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals suggest that the former are under-represented in the labour market. To achieve better equality in the workplace, the Employment Equity Act was enacted in the late 1980s to help increase the representation of four designated groups: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of a visible minority. Federallyregulated private sector firms,20 Crown corporations, and much of the federal public service are just some of the employers governed by this legislation.21 Each firm must PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATION EXCEEDS THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ABORIGINALS % of People who Identify as Aboriginal by Sector 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 Public Sector 0.5 Private Sector 0.0 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Source: Canadian Human Rights Commission. 6 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics adhere to reporting requirements and is responsible for showing “reasonable progress” on increasing representation of these groups.22 Since the implementation of the legislation, progress has indeed been made – representation of Aboriginal people in the federally-regulated workforce has increased steadily from 1.5% in 1996 and 2.5% in 2008.23 In the public sector, Aboriginal peoples were well represented overall in 2008 compared to the private sector.23 Certain industries like transportation and communication have made important strides over the past decade. It is important to stress that takeaways from these statistics should be made with caution as the definition surrounding Aboriginal ancestry and identity changed in different Census iterations. Representation and availability of Aboriginal workers should converge so that their full employment potential can be secured. However, federally-regulated employers adhere to the equal opportunity principle, such that candidates for a position must be judged without discrimination and/or bias. This means for a certain hire, managers must choose the best candidate for the position, based on the job description, regardless of race, gender, sexuality and many other criteria. With this in mind, and even with employment equity legislation in place, there is no quota system for employers on how many Aboriginal people must be hired. June 18, 2012 Myths equal misperceptions There are many myths surrounding Canada’s Aboriginal population and they encompass a wide range of areas. In this report, we have assembled the necessary facts and figures to debunk just ten – many more exist. Misperceptions like these can lead to a lack of understanding about Aboriginal communities or underlying Aboriginal socio-economic conditions. In addition, non-Aboriginals may think of the Aboriginal community as one homogenous group, forgetting that many have their own unique history, culture and traditions. Myths could also distort non-Aboriginal thinking about the effectiveness of government programs targeted to the Aboriginal community or the appropriate policy to improve certain indicators such as labour market participation. This is unfortunate as there are more than a million people who identify as Aboriginal in Canada. In addition, Aboriginal people are important contributors to our history, culture and values, and the national economic picture. Derek Burleton, Vice President & Deputy Chief Economist 416-982-2514 Sonya Gulati, Senior Economist 416-982-8063 7 TD Economics | www.td.com/economics Notes and References 1. “Aboriginal Peoples”, Canada Revenue Agency. < http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/brgnls/menu-eng.html > 2. Status Indians have their names on the Indian Register (maintained by the federal government) and as such, are recognized as Indians under the Indian Act and entitled to certain rights and benefits under the law. Roughly half of the people who identify as Aboriginal are Status Indians and included on the Indian Register. 3. Christmas, Bernd. (2010) “Aboriginal Taxation Exemption”, Atlantic Business Magazine, January 6, 2010. < http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine. ca/blogs/aboriginal-taxation-exemption/ > 4. “Ontario Point-Of-Sale Exemption For Ontario Status Indians”, Ontario Ministry of Revenue, June 23, 2010. < http://news.ontario.ca/rev/en/2010/06/ ontario-point-of-sale-exemption-for-ontario-status-indians.html > 5. “Consumption Taxes”, Revenu Québec. < http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citoyen/clientele/indien/taxes.aspx > 6. “Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)”, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. < http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/ eng/1100100033682#elc > 7. “In-Depth: Aboriginal Canadians, FAQs”, CBC News Online. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aboriginals/faqs.html > 8. Usalcas, Jeannine (2011). “The Aboriginal Labour Force Analysis Series”, Statistics Canada, November 23, 2011. Publication: 71 588-XWE. < http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=71-588-XWE&lang=eng > 9. Gulati, Sonya and Burleton, Derek. (2011). “Estimating the Size of the Aboriginal Market in Canada: $32 billion in combined income across households, businesses and governments by 2016”, June 17,2011, TD Economics. < http://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/special/sg0611_aboriginal.pdf > 10. “Key Small Business Financing Statistics — December 2009: SME Business Owner Characteristics”, SME Financing Data Initiative, Government of Canada. < http://www.sme-fdi.gc.ca/eic/site/sme_fdi-prf_pme.nsf/eng/02178.html#pointf > 11. “Promise and Prosperity: The Aboriginal Business Survey”, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business in partnership with Environics Research Group. < http://www.ccab.com/ > 12. “Urban Reserves in Saskatchewan”, Western Economic Diversification. < http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/home.asp > 13. “Air Inuit History” < http://www.airinuit.com/en/History.aspx > 14. National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association < http://www.nacca.net/eng-about.html > 15. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Government of British Columbia, < http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/treaty/faq.html > 16. “Timelines and Maps”, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, < http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100032297 > 17. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Government of British Columbia, < http://www.treaties.gov.bc.ca/overview_accomplish.html > 18. Aboriginal Land Claim Settlements, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Ontario Government, < www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/20000/278014. pdf > 19. Burleton, Derek and Drummond, Don (2009). “Aboriginal People in Canada: Growing Mutual Economic Interests Offer Significant Promise for Improving the Well-Being of the Aboriginal Population.” TD Economics. June 11, 2009. < http://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/special/ td-economics-special-db0609-aboriginal.pdf > 20. A list of these employers can be found here: < http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/employment_standards/regulated.shtml > 21. “Federally Regulated Private Sector and Crown Corporations”, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. < http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/ labour/equality/employment_equity/private_crown/index.shtml > 22. “Employment Equity Act”, < http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-5.401/FullText.html > 23. “Impact of the Employment Equity Act and of the CHRC Employment Equity Program over the Years”, Prepared by the Statistical Analysis Unit, Employment Equity Compliance Division, March 2010. Canadian Human Rights Commission. This report is provided by TD Economics. It is for information purposes only and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The report does not provide material information about the business and affairs of TD Bank Group and the members of TD Economics are not spokespersons for TD Bank Group with respect to its business and affairs. The information contained in this report has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. The report contains economic analysis and views, including about future economic and financial markets performance. These are based on certain assumptions and other factors, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may be materially different. The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates and related entities that comprise TD Bank Group are not liable for any errors or omissions in the information, analysis or views contained in this report, or for any loss or damage suffered. June 18, 2012 8 May 2002 TOP MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ABORIGINAL PEOPLES M IS CO NCEPTIO N 1 : HIS TO RY The history of North America began with the arrival of Europeans to the shores of this continent. FACTS Long before the first explorers landed on the shores of the "New World", there were many different Indigenous nations living in various regions of what we now know as "Canada". Each nation had its own tribal customs, political organization, language, and spiritual beliefs, and had developed vast trade and economic systems. In fact, the advanced medical knowledge of the Iroquois people helped save the lives of many newcomers to North America. There is a long history of this country prior to European arrival, and First Nations recorded it orally. The newcomers, however, set down their version of history in writing. It is only in recent years that mainstream Canadians are learning of the true history of First Nations and their contributions in building this country. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 2 : TERMINO LO G Y The terms "Aboriginal" and "Native" are used to define one homogenous group of people in Canada. FACTS The terms "Aboriginal", "Native" and "Indigenous" are used as general terms to collectively describe three distinct cultural groups known as the "Inuit", the "Metis" and "First Nations". Each of the three groups has its own unique historical background, culture and political goals. Within the group known as "First Nations" or "Indians", there are 633 First Nations bands, representing 52 nations or cultural groups and more than 50 languages. Each nation has its own spirituality, traditional political structure, and history. As a general rule, most individuals prefer to be referred to by the specific nation to which they belong (Blackfoot, Cree, Dene, etc.). The term "Aboriginal" should be used only as an adjective to describe individuals or mixed groups of First Nations or Indians, Metis or Inuit people. It has been wrongly used by the news media as a noun, as in: “The Aboriginals are…” The proper usage is: “the Aboriginal peoples are...” M IS CO NCEPTIO N 3 : RIGHTS AND B ENEF ITS First Nations are the only peoples to have special rights and benefits above other Canadians. FACTS First Nations people enjoy the same fundamental benefits as all other Canadians, including Child Tax Benefit, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance. Where Constitutionally-protected Aboriginal rights exist, First Nations people do have priority over others (for example, the right to hunt and fish for subsistence), but even these rights are subject to regulation. 1 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. Some registered Treaty Indians and Aboriginal people enrolled under comprehensive claim settlements also enjoy certain rights or benefits, including reserve lands, hunting and fishing rights, and payment of annuities (depending on the terms and conditions of their treaty agreement). The government provides housing and post-secondary assistance to First Nations so that they may achieve the same standard of living as other Canadians. Because of the division of powers in the Constitution, many services provided by provinces to other Canadians are provided to Indians living on-reserve by the federal government. Provincial standards are generally adopted, but there may be some local differences. In Canada, the government also provides assistance to those people who cannot afford housing, medical aid and social assistance. As well, a tax rebate is given to low income families. Foreign diplomats to Canada are able to take advantage of the provincial sales tax exemption, and other benefits as a special group of people living within Canada's borders. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 4 : CONDITIO NS IN ABO RIG INAL CO MMUN ITIES First Nations peoples are better off than most Canadians. FACTS Although each year the United Nations ranks Canada among the best places in the world to live, the fact remains that many First Nations people in Canada still live in conditions that fall far short of the basic standards most Canadians have come to expect. Statistics from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples final report revealed: § participation rate by Aboriginal peoples in labour force (57%) was below that of all Canadians (68%). § earned income per employed Aboriginal person in 1991 was $14,561 compared to $24,001 for all Canadians, and declined by 1,000 over the decade 1981 to 1991. § 19% of inmates in federal penal institutions are Aboriginal people (rising to 49% in Manitoba and 72% in Saskatchewan provincial institutions). § tuberculosis and diabetes are respectively 17 times and 3 times higher among Aboriginal peoples. While no database dealing specifically with suicide rates among Aboriginal people and First Nations is currently available in Canada, according to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, suicide rate within First Nations and Inuit communities is much higher than in the Canadian population. It could be from two to seven times more frequent1 . In 1996, the general infant mortality rate was 6,1 deaths for 1000 births within the Canadian population, compared to 11,6 for First Nations2 . That same year, 1,7% of all housing units in Canada were occupied by more than one person per room, compared to 18,6% in First Nations communities 3 . According to a study conducted by Health Canada in 1997 on drinking water safety in First Nations communities, at least 171 water systems out of 863, that is 20%, could be a threat to human health4 . 1 FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON POPULATION HEALTH. Towards a Health Future: Second Report on the Health of Canadians, p. 24, online at http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hppb/phdd/report/toward/pdf/english/toward_a_healthy_english.PDF. 2 STATISTIQUE CANADA. 1996 Census. 3 Ibidem. 4 HEALTH CANADA. Health and Environment - Partners for Life, 1997. 2 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 5 : TAXATIO N All Aboriginal peoples are tax exempt. FACTS Inuit, Metis, and non-status Indians are required to pay tax. The origin of tax exemption for registered Indians is found under sections 87 and 90 of the Indian Act. Income earned by registered Indians working on-reserve for a company which is located on-reserve are exempted from federal and provincial income taxes. Generally, First Nation individuals must pay income tax if they work off-reserve or for a company located off reserve whose business is not specifically geared toward Aboriginal people. Depending on the province, some registered Indians do not pay provincial sales tax. Even within a province, there is often uneven application of this right. Registered Indians do not have to pay the GST on goods delivered to the reserve. If the goods are purchased off-reserve and not delivered to the reserve, the GST must be paid. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 6 : FINANCIAL ACCO UNTABILIT Y First Nations are incapable of administering their own finances. FACTS Every First Nation in Canada is required to submit an annual audit to the federal government before receiving next year’s funding. Significant improvements in financial management systems have been made: § 83% of First Nations have fully met federal audit requirements (61% submit their audits within 120 days). § 15% of First Nations with federally approved audits require remedial management in some problem areas. § 2% of First Nations who have received qualified audits are considered to be experiencing severe financial problems. First Nations are improving their financial administration capabilities through a number of local and national initiatives. Some of the national initiatives include: § Signing a Memorandum of Understanding on March 30, 1998 between the Assembly of First Nations and the Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada (CGA -Canada). § The development of the First Nation Financial Management Board (FMB). One of four fiscal institutions being developed by First Nations, the FMB is a First Nation led response to concerns about First Nation financial management systems and accountability. It is intended to be a long term solution to First Nation capacity development and not a quick legislative fix. § The FMB will act as a financial management service institution for First Nation governments and institutions. It will work with First Nations to develop a financial management policy framework, develop best practices and certify First Nation financial management systems as requested. 3 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 7 : ECONO MIC DEVELO PM ENT Because of the remote location of many First Nations communities, economic development is non-existent on reserves and there are few Aboriginal businesses. FACTS Recent statistics from Industry Canada revealed that there are over 20,000 Aboriginal businesses in Canada active in every sector of the economy. The Aboriginal Business Survey of 723 Aboriginal businesses conducted by Aboriginal Business Canada and Statistics Canada in 1996, found that: § Over 20,000 Aboriginal people have been identified as owning a business. § The majority of Aboriginal businesses are owned solely; are owned by North American Indians; and are twice as likely to be owned by men than women. § Only 3.9% of all Aboriginal adults (over 15 years) own a business versus the Canadian average of 7.9%. § 70% of Aboriginal businesses surveyed were full-time operations, while the remainder were seasonal. § 57% of Aboriginal businesses are located on-reserve. Many are located in First Nations communities and have brought increased employment as a result of joint business ventures with non-Aboriginal companies. The Assembly of First Nations, through its Economic Development Secretariat is working in partnership with the federal government to increase economic development opportunities in all First Nations communities. Economic development on remote reserves is not based on location – as many First Nations communities have witnessed large non-Native companies removing the natural resources from their areas for many years. Businesses are needed to create economies, and start-up capital is needed in order to create a business. Under ordinary circumstances a businessperson could go to a local bank and get a loan to purchase the necessary equipment and assets. Not so for First Nations people living on-reserve. Section 89 of the Indian Act, which was supposed to protect First Nations land from seizure, paradoxically prohibits First Nations land from being mortgaged. It prevents First Nations people living on-reserve from using their land as collateral. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 8 : LIVING CO NDITIO NS All First Nations communities face living conditions similar to those of third world countries. FACTS No two communities are the same. There are many factors that determine the standard of living and level of economic development in First Nations communities. Work with First Nations leaders to improve living conditions on-reserve continues to bring the standard of living up to par with the rest of Canadians. First Nations are working to increase their land-base and are seeking fair and equitable access to resources. The total accumulated size of all Indian reserve land south of 60 in Canada (2,676,469.9 hectares) would fit into the great Navajo reservation (6,477,732.8 hectares) in the United States. 4 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 9 : SELF- GO VERNM ENT First Nations are not ready for self-government. FACTS The Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Confederacy) existed since the beginning of time as distinct people with their own laws and customs, territories, political organization and economy. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, the fathers of the US confederation, were so impressed with the Great Law of Peace which the Six Nations Confederacy followed that they used it as a model for the United States Constitution Some First Nations were operating under various systems of self-government before the Inherent Right of SelfGovernment policy was announced in 1995 (including, the Sechelt Band’s Self-Government Act in BC, CreeNaskapi [of Quebec] and the Yukon Self-Government Act). M IS CO NCEPTIO N 10 : HO US ING AND EDUCATIO N All Aboriginal people receive free housing and post-secondary education. FACTS Métis and non-Status Indians do not receive free housing or education assistance. Housing and education are important legal benefits of some treaties for Treaty First Nations. Under DIAND’s on-reserve housing policy, Status Indians living on-reserve obtain funds through their band councils to build or renovate their homes. In many cases they repay these loans over a number of years. Low income non-Aboriginal families in various regions of Canada seeking housing assistance from governments may also receive assistance through various programs offered by the federal and provincial governments. DIAND provides elementary education assistance for on-reserve status Indians, and post-secondary education assistance to Inuit and Status Indians to help improve their standard of living. While Status Indian students receive post-secondary assistance through their band councils, they can also receive provincial financial assistance in the form of grants or loans that must be repaid. Federal funding for post-secondary education has remained the same since 1987, except for the 2 to 3% increase per year approved by the Treasury Board. At the same time, the number of Inuit and Status Indians applying is up and tuition fees keep rising, so fewer and fewer students access education funding. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 11 : LAND CLAIMS Aboriginal land claims are settled by government based on political guilt over past injustices committed against the original inhabitants in Canada. FACTS Land claims are based on outstanding legal obligations to the original inhabitants of this land, and on the basic principle of British common law that there can be no confiscation of land without compensation. In some areas of Canada, the question of Aboriginal land title has not been addressed. Land claims are well researched and subject to validation by the federal government and Department of Justice before any negotiations towards settlement can begin. Treaties and other agreements provided that land would be set aside for First Nations communities. Over the years, land was improperly confis cated from First Nations. First Nations were forcibly relocated from their original location to other areas, and were subject to various other improper and illegal treatment by the Crown. 5 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. The settlement agreement of each land claim is based on existing outstanding legal obligations of the federal and/or provincial or territorial governments. Compensation and other settlement issues are based on individual land claims. These longstanding debts to First Nations must be paid if Canada hopes to clear its obligations to the original landowners of this country and render a debt-free country for future generations. The rights of non-Aboriginal landowners are always considered in the negotiation of any resolution to First Nations communities outstanding land claims. M IS CO NCEPTIO N 12 : DEPENDENCY First Nations are living at Canada’s expense. FACTS The country was built on lands and resources that belong to the First Nations and, in theory, one could argue that Canada is living at First Nations’ expense. Canada's economic production would not have reached its present-day scale if the Government had not seized the resources and ancestral lands of the First Nations. In recent years, First Nations have been urging the government to implement the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples’ recommendation for the redistribution of land and resources between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people, therefore allowing First Nations to become self-sufficient again. The ancestors of First Nations citizens agreed to share part of their territory and resources with the nonAboriginal arrivals. To that end, they reached nation-to-nation agreements. Over the years, First Nations citizens have also made valuable contributions to Canada. Although military service for First Nations is voluntary, many of them willingly enlisted in the Canadian Armed forces and participated in various conflicts to fight racism and discrimination. 6 This is one in a series of Fact Sheets available from the AFN Communications Unit, 10th Floor, One Nicholas Street, Ottawa ON K1N 7B7, (613) 241-6789. It can also be found on the AFN website: www.afn.ca. Resources Weeks4-6: Week4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHefD-cdTxU&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfITZOIaO4&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC9fRBk7rZk&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxoooxGzoi8&feature=emb_title week5 http://legacyofhope.ca/wherearethechildren/#0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdR9HcmiXLA&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=peLd_jtMdrc&feature=e mb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpvMwbWSTBw&feature=emb_title week6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlqx8EYvRbQ&feature=emb_title https://vimeo.com/57193686 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLCd7yle8g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9iTBSPSE3U&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNvOp6sZDg&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOuLsGhMRh4&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKjtujtEYI&feature=emb_title Weeks7-10: Week7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tq7Mnlavqs&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKKLgwlosaw&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTeOFjYiFsI&feature=emb_title week8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHdW_LVfn28&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUUd4ddlbHc&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzYzz3rEZU&feature=emb_title week9 http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_treaties/fp_treaties_two_views.htm l https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-treaties https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/lost-in-translation-thedouglas-treaties-1.10099656 https://www.nfb.ca/film/trick_or_treaty/ week10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCpn1erz1y8&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzXI7aznBtc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyuUU4VohDM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksESR2BVlqY https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/global-citizen-of-canadatakaiyablaney/?fbclid=IwAR0Og_poZqIlsOdbuF2awqVXaI2REdJu_CgCumfBloJ_neS7Fk9X cBXrRrQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFDh4n1lzE&feature=emb_title Weeks11-14: Week11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGK0L_3_XKE&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLshGdJV7-U&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dg86g-QlM0&feature=emb_title week12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAjSj9tDq1E&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA9EwcFbVfg&feature=emb_title week13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgaYz8YWsO8&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkFGFr4KZCk&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wSEXyoRbw&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSnvtj0G3cA&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxJr7yw1j2A&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlAZjca2YMo&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z9QKRsiql8&feature=emb_title https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4zI6NadpG4&feature=emb_title https://bcaafc.com/ http://www.csets.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niRs_VIqzYU&feature=emb_title week14 (professor has not update)
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Running head: COLONIZATION OF THE ABORIGINALS

Colonization, Truth-Telling, and Reconciliation on Aboriginals

Unit Title
Student Name
University
Instructor
August 6, 2020

2

COLONIZATION OF THE ABORIGINALS

Colonization

Figure I: The goal of residential schools was to separate parents from their children
Background of Colonization of Aboriginals
Colonization can be defined as policies or set of policies and practices executed by a
political power to control a different territory. In Canada, colonization is evidenced in the
indigenous people who are forced and disconnected from their native land, community, and culture
by another group. This act can be traced back to the ancient days after the Indian Act was passed.
Several instances have proven colonialism in Canada and especially to the indigenous people such
as evacuation from their ancestral lands for resource extraction by the government. As
aforementioned, Canada has practiced colonialism back from the time the European colonized the
country and took their lands, displaced them, and with time outnumbering them. After conquering

COLONIZATION OF THE ABORIGINALS

3

them, the Europeans ignored the fact that the lands the indigenous Canadians lived were for their
economic activities such as fishing, hunting, traveling, trapping, and more.
More so, the Europeans discounted the fact that the indigenous Canadians constituted
people of different languages, formed different cultures, that they had their governance systems as
well as trade relations amongst themselves. This treatment denied the indigenous a chance to own
lands until the loyal proclamation of 1763 by King George VI. The indigenous believed that their
native land was sacred and should be taken care of. On the other hand, the colonial power
(European), viewed the land to be rich in resources that can be exploited. So, the relations started
to shake when more European settled and started exploiting the land via farming and mining. This
poor relation was viewed by the European as an obstacle to resource exploitation and settlement
calling for ways to force the indigenous to give away their land. The European fought the
indigenous who greatly lost due to hunger, illness, and poverty forcing them to give their native
land away via a treaty (First Peoples of Canada, n.d.)
The Indian Act of 1876
For better controls of the indigenous, the Indian Act of 1876 was passed that enabled the
government to control most of the indigenous way of life. The Indian Act eroded the cultural,
social, political, and economic way of life of the indigenous intending to absorb the indigenous
and force them to adapt to the social, economic, political, and cultural ways of the Canadian
government which was overseen by the Europeans. In the following section, we shall discuss the
different aspects that the Indian Act was used to directly control and colonize the indigenous.
Residential...


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