Is Canada guilty of genocide? The land of maple syrup, ice-hockey and peace-keepers has struggled for years with a terrible guilt over historic abuse of its indigenous people.
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Killings force a nation to face its dark side
Is Canada guilty of genocide? The land of maple syrup, ice-hockey and peace-keepers has struggled for years with a terrible guilt over historic abuse of its indigenous people.
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"Do not leave a secure location. Use caution allowing others into your residence." That is the chilling warning that residents of a small community in central Canada received on Sunday, after a spree of knife attacks that left 10 dead and 15 injured.
The community affected, the James Smith Cree Nation, is home to 2,000 of the roughly 1.7 million indigenousEthnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA. people in Canada. No motive has yet been discovered for the attack, but some suggest the true culprit is the despairThe complete loss of hope. and trauma of Canada's First NationsApproximately, one million Canadians are indigenous people descended from the societies living in North America before the arrival of European settlers., which suffer from high levels of drug and alcohol abuse.
Many think this is a result of centuries of neglect and abuse at the hands of the Canadian government.
ِIn the 18th Century, the British colonial government in Canada began to crack down on indigenous cultures. It forced them to adopt Christianity, European-style agriculture and a British education.
In 1876, the new Canadian government created several "Indian reserves"1 on which the behaviour of indigenous communities was strictly controlled. It also cut the food supplies of indigenous communities.
Some of the worst abuses of indigenous rights took place in schools. From 1847 to 1996, indigenous children were removed from their homes and taken to boarding schools, known as "residential schools".2
These schools had little funding and supervision. Many children died of disease in the unhygienic conditions. Others were subjected to terrible abuse. Those who survived have often been unable to ever find their families again.
That is why many believe Canada has violated the United Nations Genocide ConventionAn international treaty criminalising genocide. . In 2019, a report argued that the Canadian government had tried to exterminate the First Nations.
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Is Canada guilty of genocide?
Yes: Even Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has accepted that Canada committed genocide. It made a deliberate effort to destroy the First Nations, and many abuses are still going on today.
No: The crimes Canada committed against the First Nations are terrible. However, we should reserve the term "genocide" for systematic murder.
Or... Whether or not we define Canada's actions as a genocide is less important than ensuring that the government offers reparations to the people affected.
Keywords
Indigenous - Ethnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA.
Despair - The complete loss of hope.
First Nations - Approximately, one million Canadians are indigenous people descended from the societies living in North America before the arrival of European settlers.
United Nations Genocide Convention - An international treaty criminalising genocide.
Killings force a nation to face its dark side
Trauma: The James Smith reserve is a gathering place for many indigenous groups. Glossary
Indigenous - Ethnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA.
Despair - The complete loss of hope.
First Nations - Approximately, one million Canadians are indigenous people descended from the societies living in North America before the arrival of European settlers.
United Nations Genocide Convention - An international treaty criminalising genocide.