At its basic level, reconciliation is defined as “the act of coming to an understanding and putting an end to hostility, as when former enemies agree to an amicable true”.[1] Canada’s definition is based on the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It advocates for a nation to nation and government to government relationship between the Indigenous peoples and Canada. As such, it would seem to state that the Indigenous are not a part of Canada but a separate country (or group of people) with whom the government must work.
That is an enormous idea already. But let’s break it down a bit. Basically, to my understanding, instead of treating the indigenous people as inferior or sovereign citizens of Canada, under rule of the Canadian government, they should be considered their own independent people with their own culture, government, and way of doing things that are equal to (and some would argue superior to) the “Canadian way”. This is very much in line with our Canadian multicultural identity. I remember being taught – somewhat smugly – in school that Canada was a multicultural country not a melting pot like the United States. Here in Canada, we not only allowed but encouraged and embraced many different cultures and ideas. So, logically, that idea applies to our Indigenous policies.
By right of previous stewardship and residence on the land now called Canada, the Natives have a superior right and culture – at least that’s what it feels like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and similar documents seem to say. That is where I struggle. I understand that the indigenous people were colonized and that their culture was (mostly) destroyed) but just because they lived on this land prior to colonization does not make them inherently better than colonizers- no more than colonizers were inherently better than the Indigenous peoples. How can we based our decisions on the idea that that “Aboriginal rights are distinct and different from the rights of other Canadians.” [2] After all, section one of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that everyone has the:
- fundamental freedoms, democratic rights
- the right to live and seek employment anywhere in Canada
- legal rights (life, liberty, and personal security)
- equality rights for all [3]
Naturally, I must note that there is a bullet point on Aboriginal rights on the front page. That might really be the heart of the issue. Our Charter and other official legislation have this inherent contradiction. All people are equal, all people have equal rights. But some are more equal than others.
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