Unit 04 Discussion

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3300

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History

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Oct 30, 2023

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Unit 04 Discussion I agree with Russ Diavo, in the video The Indian Act: What To Do With It , that while the Indian Act has run its course and needs to be removed/replaced, it is not that simple. I believe as he does, that in the dissolution of the act, each band should have power to dictate how they will move forward, but not that this is immediately necessary as to cause a rushed process. I believe in the need for abolition of the Indian Act mostly, because of the sexism it warrants, but also agree with the rest of the panel that although it is absolutely a colonialist document, caution and forethought is needed to surmount it. For example, the way it prohibits Indigenous widows from inheriting their late husband's assets (Marder, 2023) or how if an Indigenous woman married a non-Indigenous man, would lose her Indian status, while an Indigenous man who married a non-Indigenous woman could keep his status while also giving his new wife Indigenous status as well. I believe this type of sexism was not only exhibited in the Indian act, it was European culture at the time, but I don’t think it is possible to uphold parts of the Indian Act while keeping modern and progressive culture alive. Although I don’t support the Indian Act, I do agree that, as Bob Joseph in the TVO video suggests, a sudden abolition would be just as much trouble, because of how it is a part of many peoples’ everyday lives, and would create a “policy vacuum (Joseph, 11:56)” meaning there would be gaps in necessary legal policies for Indigenous people. I think there are different views on this topic because Indigenous people are not all the same, as with any similar type of people. Men and women, as mentioned, have different rights under this act, as do different types of Indigenous people, such as Metis people. The Metis people may feel differently about the Indian Act as they were

originally excluded, treated as “squatters,” and called “halfbreeds” (Marder, 2023.) Of course, Metis people will justifiably feel a different way about this act because they were treated differently under it, and have had to empower themselves differently as a result (Marder, 2023.) Aside from cultural perspectives, Indigenous people are all individuals and some value certain things over others. For example, the Niska Nation, mentioned in the youtube video, decided that they would sacrifice certain things for more land and autonomy, such as the payment of taxes (TVO, 12:20,) whereas other nations may disagree because this action does not follow their values. The perspective that stuck with me the most from the video was that of Suzanne Stewart, when she mentioned worrying about her children in the sense that somebody could come at any time and take her child away, whether through welfare services or education policies (TVO 7:00.) As mentioned in the unit content, social service workers at the time (or possibly still) did not have experience or education in dealing with Indigenous families (Marder, 2023.) For example, if a social service worker came into an Indigenous home and noticed their dry pantry was not stocked, it would be a cause for concern. What they failed to realize is that many Indigenous families fed their children through more ‘natural’ methods, such as wild berries and hunting, which fed the child regardless of how (Marder, 2023.) My career is focused on caring for infants and I have seen every way of feeding, clothing, and raising children imaginable, and there is not one right way. The comment Suzanne Stewart made about fearing her children being taken away especially struck me because I don’t work for any Indigenous families and I tried to imagine how my current parents would feel if this were to ever be a threat- for them, it just is not, and never would be. It is, very unfortunately, something I imagine

non-Indigenous people take for granted.

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