A Plea to Acknowledge History

Written by Rachel De Rose

#LANDBACK. 

Two words. One plea. 

One can feel the power and influence radiating from these simple words. Ironically, this is the one thing the Indigenous communities in Canada lack.

This story begins in the 1760s when Indigenous communities were beginning to form peaceful relationships with the settlers of Canada. As their bonds strengthened, treaties were proposed and signed, but it was unknown to the Indigenous communities that it allowed settlers to advance colonization and obtain land while eradicating their own cultures and traditions.

You see, the problem was that treaties meant different things to different people. For Indigenous peoples, treaties were seen as a way of pronouncing their rights rather than surrendering them. However, non-Indigenous treaty negotiators believed that treaties were inexpensive and convenient ways to strip Aboriginal titles from their land to ensure that their resources could be utilized by the settlers. 

As time passed, the influence of the Canadian government continued to grow, provoking peaceful protests such as the Kanesatake Resistance which paved the way for the #LANDBACK movement.

In context, the government wanted to build the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory (see photo below) despite the decision of the hereditary chief. Following discussions, negotiations, evictions and unlawful arrests, the chief had no choice but to surrender the land and settle an agreement. About 3 months later, a group of Indigenous members of the Kitchener Waterloo community began the #LANDBACK movement in Victoria Park which eventually gained the attention of the public. As one can see, the Canadian government and the Indigenous Community are the two stakeholders present, and they each stand to lose an equal amount. The government could lose all authority but gain reconciliation, while the Indigenous could gain their culture or lose the little rights they currently possess. 

As one may have already predicted, the Canadian government is the sole obstruction in the path toward success for one main reason: Their refusal to address the underlying history of colonialism demonstrated through the horrifying treatment of the First Nations. This includes giving the entire Indigenous population 0.2% of Canada's land to live on, denying them equal rights and services, forcing them to live on land reserves, meeting their opinions and voices with responses of violence, and using unlawfully gained rights to their advantage. 

However, the history and protection of the Indigenous peoples have been recently integrated into several organizations, such as The UN International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, The National Indian Brotherhood, and the Native Council of Canada. Additionally, the Indigenous communities themselves have been taking direct action through Litigation, Mapping their Land, Monitoring and Patrolling, and Registering and Titling Land. As individuals and as a community, we can also make a difference. Small acts such as signing a petition to decolonize the curriculum, joining the #LANDBACK movement, and supporting the Indigenous community by listening to their music or buying clothes from their designers will all help to empower their voices. 

All in all, we must honour the past and figure out how to move forward so that the Indigenous can not only reclaim their stolen land, but with it, their stolen culture, traditions, and entire lifestyle. In our national anthem, we sing, "Oh Canada, our home and native land," when in reality, it is not the original name of this country, nor is it our home, nor are we the native peoples of this land. As awareness of Canada's hidden history begins to spread, it is crucial for us to be the voices for this community that has done nothing but good for the earth and its people. Although their voices struggle to be heard, ours will be, and we must take advantage of this privilege to protect their endangered culture.

If nothing else, if nothing else persuades you, simply take a moment to reflect and realize the injustice of begging for a land that is already yours.