In order to alleviate rising tensions, Canada should offer to create a nation for those who choose to identify as Aboriginal. With a renewed light of the atrocities committed against the Native people, the vast cultural differences, and the current conditions in reserves, it is clear the creation of a new country is the sole solution.
Nation Building
Throughout the creation process, there must be consent and communication to avoid a situation similar to that of the reserves where the Aboriginal community was not consulted. Furthermore, nobody must be forced to relocate to this country, it should be entirely voluntary. In terms of size, there are approximately 1.7 million people who identified as indigenous in Canada. If we follow the global average population density of 25 inhabitants per km2 that would translate to a country that is roughly 67 000km2, roughly the size of New Brunswick. Obviously, the population density will be less than 25 inhabitants per km2 as not everyone will choose to move.
Ground Breaking Atrocities
With the use of ground-penetrating radar, more and more atrocities from the past are coming to light and therefore causing just resentment of the Canadian government. Following the discovery of hundreds of children’s unmarked graves in late May, an additional 751 bodies have been located near a former residential school in Saskatchewan.
Culture War
On top of the atrocities, there are vast cultural differences besides just language that make Canada less than ideal for people who happen to be Native. A great example that demonstrates how fundamental this is, is housing. A lot of the housing built on reserves was suited to the Western ideal of the Nuclear Family. Whereas traditional Native culture is far more suited to extended family units. Thus rendering a lot of housing in and outside the reserves in Canada inadequate from a cultural perspective.
Failing To Achieve The Bare Minimum
Many basic services and utilities are barely even functioning in reserves and quality of life is sometimes comparable to that of third world nations. Back in 2015, Canada has 159 boil-water advisories for reserves. Flash-forward to 2021 where over 32% of those advisories are still in place.
There’s no way for Canada to atone or reconcile these issues with hundreds of children’s graves appearing each week on top of the poor living conditions and cultural dissimilarities. The best way forward and to compensate the Native community is with a fresh nation for a fresh start for those who wish to do so.
Sources:
- https://canadianvisa.org/life-in-canada/provinces/new-brunswick
- https://ourworldindata.org/most-densely-populated-countries
- https://ourworldindata.org/most-densely-populated-countries
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/751-unmarked-graves-discovered-near-former-indigenous-school-canada-180978064/
- https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/chapter/the-reserve-system/
- https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/reserves/
- https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1506514143353/1533317130660
