Canada is claimed to be one of the most prosperous as well as secure country of the world, but still aboriginals who are living in the country and make about three percent population of the country are unable to get equal treatment as that of natives, and they are disadvantaged. There is assimilation in the country, which can be considered from the fact that Aboriginals are not assisted to find place in the society. Even there is assimilation in school system that comes out to be genocidal in its results (Fleras, 2012). The residential school system in Canada was not meant for simple education rather it was for the purpose of removing children from their home, and objective of parents was forced assimilation in the society of non-Aboriginal via formation of distinguished underclass of farmers, wives of farmers, and laborers. This school system was merely for destruction of culture and language of Aboriginals. This system has affected Aboriginals as well as Christians (Fleras, 2012).
Further, they are also deprived of many facilities such as they do not have access to clean water. There is poor quality of water in several communities of Aboriginals in Canada. However, poor quality water is posing many risks to their health. Aboriginals also face many health issues, which can be considered from the fact that many children suffered from tuberculosis and other contagious diseases. Many people, however, died because of dangerous diseases in Aboriginal communities in Canada. Furthermore, there was also physical torture and sexual abuse in some schools of Aboriginals in Canada. Education system was not up to the mark for Aboriginals in Canada. Children were punished, and punishment include whipping with the rod, beating, chaining children, and teachers also used to lock students in basement as well as in closets. Children suffered badly from residential school experience (Fleras, 2012). As a result of all these most of children became confused and unfriendly, and they returned to their own communities, but they did not have any worth as they felt that they had no value, also felt that they were inferior due to verbal abuse. They even became derived if their sense of identity within their community, and they also lost their language fluency (Fleras, 2012).
Additionally, adults became involves in sexual violence, prostitution, and they also started drinking in order to bear emotional torture in the residential school system (Fleras, 2012). However, the settlement and the traditions of residential school have affected many generations of Aboriginals. It continued to exert its influence on the survivors of the school system. The influence of the abuses are not only restricted to the survivors, but it has also exerted its impact on their communities, families, future generations, and culture. The devastating effects of residential system can be seen from the emotional and physical scars that were due to physical and sexual abuse. It has also badly affected the relations of Aboriginals within their own communities as well as their relations with non Aboriginals. This harm has, however, indicated spread of the relation of inequality and oppression in the society. All these facts are indicative of the fact that Canada has not fulfilled its commitment regarding quality of human rights, accountability of the government, self determination of Aboriginals, and participatory democracy. The education system has paved the way to many unintended programs because of which inferiority, superiority, and cultural misunderstandings developed in the society.
In order to cope with these situations, Government has made attempts of controlling, and also tried to facilitate Aboriginal communities, but it seems to remain unsuccessful in promoting equality and removing bias from the society. For improving water conditions in the communities of Aboriginals, Government has tried to improve public relations and airlifted thousands of water bottles of 18 litters in the badly affected community of Aboriginals. The government has also promised to relocate Aboriginal residents that were affected by flood, or were at the risk of becoming affected by floods. Federal Government has also announced $4 billion cash in order to improve living conditions of Aboriginals in Canada.
Moreover, the government of Ottawa has signed a bill of $1.9 billion in the year 2006 as a settlement for the loss that students suffered because of the school system. This was also meant for compensating for the loss of culture, language, and also for sexual and physical abuse. Additionally, the terms of settlement comprises of an amount of $10,000 for previous students for the first year, and a compensation of $3000 for later years. The Federal Government is now also facilitating Aboriginal communities with economic, social, educational, and political development services. However, the Government has also introduced Indian residential Schools Settlement Agreement in the year 2007 in order to ensure closure of the residential school system, and to ensure quality education for Aboriginal children (Florence, 2015). The Government is also taking measures for ensuring economic development of Aboriginal communities, and for this purpose government has introduced Canadian Aboriginal Economic Development Strategy or CAEDS for providing employment development of labor market, development of community, and development of business (Elias, 1991). Further, for facilitating Aboriginals with contemporary support AANDC or Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada was made active, which focused on providing entrepreneurship opportunities to Aboriginals under its program Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurship development. This program assist Aboriginals by providing them funds, and enabling them to start their business, and achieve competitive edge in the economy.
But, as a matter of fact, the policy and the steps taken by Government in order to improve living conditions of Aboriginals are criticized as some people consider that government is intervening in affairs of Aboriginals, and is not letting them to transform, which is creating difference between Aboriginals and non Aboriginals. They consider that the Government is taking apply modern techniques and strategies in Aboriginal communities, and the end result of modernization is nothing except powerlessness, identity loss, and poverty. But, there are also some individuals who consider that the steps taken by Government are helpful in promoting equality in the society, as these steps are meant for providing rights to Aboriginals so that they can also live in the society as free citizens. The strategic significance of Governmental activities include making entrepreneurship activities strong, ensuring development of human capital for Aboriginals, improving the value of assets of Aboriginals, facilitating them with the effectual and new partnership arrangements so that they can conduct business within the territory as well as outside the territory, and providing them employment opportunities in the private sector. However, in order to ensure practical implementation of all, the Canadian Government made an investment of about $200 million for a period of four years (Doern, 2005).
In conclusion, Aboriginals are deprived are many facilities in Canada, and Government is taking steps in order to ensure equal treatment with Aboriginals, and for improving their living standards, so that they can enjoy good repute in the society.
References
Doern, G. B. (2005). How Ottawa Spends, 2005-2006: Managing the Minority. McGill Queens University Press, London
Elias, P.D. (1991). Development of Aboriginal People's Communities. Captus Press, Canada
Fleras, A. (2012). Unequal Relations: An Introduction to Race, Ethnic, and Aboriginal Dynamics in Canada. Pearson Education, Canada
Florence, M. (2015). Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools: The Devastating Impact on Canada s Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission s Findings and Calls for Action. James Lorimer & Company, Canada
