Aboriginal Identity in Crisis

Canada’s multicultural distinction has created a crises of identity among aboriginal people that appears to be, purposefully or not, the intent of legislators. Had the segregation of people not been allowed by the Indian Act of 1876 and later, the  Canada  constitution Act 1982, the resulting scenario might have been less confrontational, overall. Refusal to act or negotiate without court coercion, the Canadian government might well have made a grave mistake.

The government may persist in their attempt to divide aboriginal people but in the end, after all the debate and controversy, we can only be described as the descendants of the indigenous people of North America. It has always been the time honored law and custom of our Native kin to accept all children born into a tribe or clan as their own, regardless of the cultural differences of one or both parents. (Though some modern “Indians” may not support that view). But to be just, all people in Canada, regardless of stature or situation, who claim a parentage before European contact are today the North American indigenous people. This is certainly not a radical viewpoint!

Today, both Native and Metis culture has disappeared despite the effort of some elder people to bring back the essence of a once flourishing way of life! Even the most northerly and isolated Native communities are suffering from spiritual and social dysfunction unable to “fit in” to modern society. Off reserve mixed blood people (Metis for lack of a better word) are dispersed among the general population, no longer speaking anything but French or English and mostly avowing their Christian faith. The youth in even the most northerly communities are quickly adopting English as their primary language. Communities in Canada’s west that deem themselves a “Metis” community outwardly display the same characteristics as any other North American Community. Native Reservations are also characteristically the same as Canadian society except most appear to be less affluent. (Another of our grand governmental blunders?)

From a purely genetic approach, we are all First Nation people on and off the Reserve system! No one can boast a pure aboriginal blood line! Our   people off the reserve have a greater European genetic ratio, while those on the reserve generally have a greater Native genetic ratio—but we all share the same distance ancestors both Native and European. Unfortunately, many organized groups and individuals (official and unofficial) cannot concede this view and maintain their “more eligible” approach for various sociopolitical and egocentric reasons. 

Imagine the political power of our people if we were fully united across North America! Alas this is unlikely to happen! It would be counter to the strategic plans of government and large “Indian” and “Metis” organizations. It is more likely that most of us will be disqualified from aboriginal participation—despite, our right, to self identify!

This does not mean, alternatively, that every aboriginal  person must identify as such. It is a matter of choice and conscience. Some would say that they have a greater sense of being Canadian or American because a perceived native heritage. Others would rather it be swept under the rug. Yet others refuse to call themselves Canadian or American but demand recognition that they are exclusively  citizens of their tribal nation, as the Six Nation Mohawk claim today.

Politicians, bureaucrats or non-indigenous people cannot be left at their own discretion to decide who is eligible to be aboriginal. Nor should any elite group be accepted as ultimate judges on who might identify as indigenous. Yet, in Canada, their approach seems to weigh in favour of this. For example, the Canadian Department of Indian Affairs will not recognize a Metis person unless he/she has affiliated with groups that are defined by the Powley court decision. All other groups have been tabled pending the outcome of other court rulings, especially the Daniel's case that has already determined that we are indeed “Indian” with rights equal to so called "status Indians”. Originally the Department entertained the idea that Metis identity might be determined by such non-indigenous organizations as the Canadian Standards Association and, ultimately, within their own department (in collaboration with Metis groups). All this has now been set aside.

In the United States the government maintains a registry of official autonomous Reservations by Tribe. (Not by member, as in Canada) Membership is maintained by the tribe itself. Access to any perceived rights are petitioned and decided (often negatively for Aboriginal people) in the courts. The result has inspired the development of dissident groups, such as the Sovran, militant movement, (active in North and South America), who refuse to accept the law of the land and maintain their right to be sovereign in there own territory. Much the same as it was before contact with Europeans. This movement has, not surprisingly, recruited members of the Mohawk people in Canada. French/Metis separatists also make up some of their ranks. There is talk that Iroquois members have allocated a parcel within a Reservation in Michigan USA; and are now issuing memberships (passports?), drivers licences, etc. This kind of phenomena succeeds when governments keep stalling or refuse to negotiate reciprocally in a fair and just way.
     
Historically, in North America, it is our native grandmothers who married, for lack of a better description, European men who brought with them a righteous overbearing authority. The ownership of this land was assumed by false overtures of friendship or delineated by one sided, or unfair treaties. Despite the resulting mixing of both cultures, our native grandmothers did not lose their native rights by virtue of that marriage. To be just and fair whatever rights that our Native Grandmothers would have been afforded by legislation today, if they were alive,  must also be passed to their descendants.

Assimilation of an indigenous race,  by a force of colonization, cannot be an excuse to extinguish succession rights, inherent in the habitation of many thousands of years, of a people who have not been subdued by war or have not ceded land rights. There is much owed to indigenous people in a just society as Canada purports to be—The question is: how can this justice be administered fairly without input and participation of all self identified aboriginal people?