effects of colonization on the Aboriginal community

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effects of colonization on the Aboriginal community Romharsh Saha December 3, 2023 Colonialism continues to shape the lives of Canada's Indigenous peoples, from historical

injustices to present-day challenges. This essay investigates the long-term effects of colonization on Indigenous health, focusing on historical determinants such as the residential schooling system as well as current factors influencing well-being. Overview on colonization According to Biin. (2018), colonialism is the strategy used by a foreign group looking to increase its control over other areas, typically in order to take advantage of trade opportunities. In this dynamic, the colonizing nation seeks its own interests, dictating how the colonized nation or land mass is modernized to conform to the standards of the colonizers (UKEssays). A relationship where a minority of foreign invaders dominates the Indigenous majority is established once colonization takes hold and the autonomy of the colonized region in terms of economy, religion, and health is given up (Biin 2018). Colonization frequently takes the form of a battle of authority in which the colonizers outnumber the native population, rendering the colonized nation helpless (Biin 2018). The distribution of power quickly shifts in the new colonists' favor, changing the direction of the colonized territory. Early colonization of Canada had a tremendous impact on Indigenous settlers and their families, and this impact is still felt today (UKEssays). The residential school system is one of the most important negative consequences of colonization. Indigenous communities are diverse, and Greenwood (Take Care of the Land p. 103) highlights the part Indian residential schools played in maintaining racialized hierarchies among them. Children in these schools were frequently overworked, underfed, and ill-clothed as a result of chronic underfunding and understaffing (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 8). Remarkably, a Department of Indian Affairs report from 1907 stated that during the preceding fifteen years, about thirty-five percent of students had passed away in residential schools (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 8) Indigenous language, culture, and attire were outlawed inside these establishments, and those who disobeyed were frequently subjected to severe physical punishment (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 8). Indigenous peoples' health and well-being have been permanently impacted by the legacy of colonization, which is best illustrated by policies like residential schooling.

Colonialism in present time Despite ongoing government efforts, colonization has not yet been effectively eradicated from today's society. Despite colonization's ability to withstand strong forces, our healthcare system no longer acknowledges it (Greenwood, Medicine Is partnership). Despite the abundance of evidence regarding health disparities, society finds it difficult to accept the possibility that our healthcare system may be unfairly constructed (Greenwood, Medicine Is Partnership). Even the Indian Act itself acknowledges that there are still a lot of obstacles in place. When individuals are unable to pay in full, health care providers frequently decline to treat them. As a result, only Indians with full status are covered, and reserves are frequently situated far from reputable medical facilities.This poses a huge barrier for many Indigenous peoples, especially those that are not of full Indian status (Greenwood, Medicine Is partnership). The majority of registered Indigenous peoples in Canada receive their health services from the MSB (Medical Services Branch), a major government agency (Waldram et al., The organization and utilization of contemporary health services, p.210). There have been multiple reconciliation meetings about the negative effects and overall impact of the residential school system held across the country, despite the prime minister having some accountability for issues related to residential schooling (Greenwood, Take Care of the Land, p.123). Despite these initiatives, colonialism still affects Canada's Aboriginal population. Colonialism's effects on the Indigenous health Aboriginal health is shaped by a number of structural variables, which must be fully understood in light of both the relationships and the interrelated characteristics of these determinants (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples p.3). The arrangement and relationships among the components or parts of something complex are referred to as its structure (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). There has been growing agreement over a number of generations that the colonial system for Aboriginal peoples results in numerous material and social injustices, which ultimately affect their health (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of

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Indigenous Peoples). Addictions, social violence, chronic illness, and shortened life spans are just a few of the issues that have been directly linked to a systematic colonial framework (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). The determinants of Indigenous health are multifaceted, falling into two primary categories: intermediate and distal factors. Intermediate determinants, which encompass healthcare, education, justice, social supports, labor markets, kinship networks, and land relationships, exert immediate influences on health outcomes (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). In contrast, distal determinants, analogous to the roots of a tree, are deeply embedded and comprise ideological, social, political, historical, and economic aspects that have evolved into other determinants (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples) Over the past four centuries, Indigenous groups across the continent have endured variations of colonial oppression, resulting in universal impacts on health (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). Changes in disease patterns are a notable manifestation of colonization's effects, impacting Indigenous tribes globally (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). The ongoing post- colonial health changes in Canada and around the world are directly linked to the instability of access to land, food, and water (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). The implementation of the reserve system in 1872, mandated by the Indian Act, restricted seasonal migration, adversely impacting Indigenous health (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples p. 8). Although reserves were intended to be safe, they often lacked sufficient resources, and colonial development by Europeans led to water access issues, contributing to the spread of diseases (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples p. 8) Hunting areas were significantly converted into pastureland by European settlers, which restricted Indigenous peoples' access to natural resources like fur and pelts (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples). Deprived of their resources, Indigenous peoples were forced into wage labor, but because jobs were only available to Euro- Canadians, racial discrimination led to widespread poverty (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 6). Waldram et al. (p. 48) present historical

records that bear witness to the decimation and extinction of numerous Aboriginal people due to ecological disruption, new species introduction, and pathogens. A global perspective on disease origins and spread in the Americas has reshaped understanding (Waldram et al.,"Health and illnesses Prior to European Contact," p.31). The introduction of diseases by Europeans, including cough, measles, smallpox, tuberculosis, yellow fever, influenza, diphtheria, and typhus, resulted in devastating epidemics among Indigenous populations (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 8). Due to the absence of prior exposure, Indigenous communities developed no antibodies, leading to widespread destruction in the population (Greenwood, Structural variables Affecting the Health of Indigenous Peoples, p. 8) Conclusion Decades later, colonization's effects on Indigenous lands are still felt, permanently altering the present. The brutal reality of being forcibly uprooted from their ancestral lands forced the First Nations people of Canada to embrace the traditions and ways of the European colonists. Indigenous communities had no immunity to the numerous European diseases that were introduced, which had disastrous effects and contributed to their population decline. The sociocultural, economic, and health environments of Indigenous communities are still shaped by the legacy of colonization. It is crucial to recognise and address the effects of historical injustices as we navigate the ongoing difficulties they have left behind. By doing so, we can create an atmosphere that promotes understanding, healing, and fair opportunities for the generations who will continue to live with the lasting effects of this sophisticated historical chapter. References: UKEssays. Colonialism's effects on Aboriginal Canadians . Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/sociology/effects-of-colonialism-to-canadian-aboriginals- sociology-essay.php?vref=1 Greenwood, M., De Leeuw, S., & Lindsay, N. (2018). variables of Indigenous peoples’ health: beyond the social (Second edition.). Canadian Scholars

Biin, & Wilson, K. (2018, September 05). Colonization. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/chapter/43/

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