Canada: Country Characteristics and Indigenous Community Reforms

The Canadian Studies – Characteristics of the Country and 

Reforms in the Indigenous Communities

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The Canadian Studies – Characteristics of the Country and 

Reforms in the Indigenous Communities

Discussion Board 1

Overview

Canada, the second largest country in the world, occupies around northern two-fifth part of the North-America (Krueger et al., 2021). Derived from the Huron-Iroquois word ‘Kanata’, meaning Village, Canada, despite being the second largest country in the world (area-wise), is sparsely populated and welcomes myriad immigrants in the subcontinent (Krueger et al., 2021). The land, resources and the communities residing in Canada, make it a culturally rich country. In its first part, this paper explores the characteristics that make Canada a unique country and the second part explores the issues and reforms in the Indigenous communities living in the Canada. 

Characteristics that make Canada a unique country

There are many reasons that set Canada apart from other countries. However, the three main characteristics that make Canada a unique country, include, the rich heritage of land, natural resources and the colonial settlement of Europeans on the First Nations populations in Canada. Surrounded by three oceans, Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic, Canada also encompasses waterways like Hudson Bay and St. Lawrence River, that are crucial for trade and travel into the central part of the country. Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories with Ottawa being the capital of the country. The major metropolises of Canada include, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. The three regions that have a major role to play in the Canadian History are, The Canadian Shield, the Canadian Rockies and the Prairies. The Canadian Shield occupies the world’s oldest rocks known to the mankind (Krueger et al., 2021). Canada is among the world leaders for its rich natural resources, including freshwater, trees, fish, oil, gas and minerals (Britannica, 2021). Approximately 16 percent of Canada’s GDP is attributed to the contribution of natural resources (NRCan, 2018-19). In the history of Canada, Europeans have a significant role to play on their rule over First Nations people. They came to exploit resources and brought wide range of diseases like small pox and typhus and most settlers were from Britain and France, thereby led to the colonization into English and French. Lastly, the Confederation in Canada ended up bringing political, economic problems and division of Canada into provinces – East and West.

Concludingly, the three main features that set Canada as a unique country include, the land, natural resources and the post colonization and confederation effects that have led to a number of issues facing the indigenous communities in the Canada.

Discussion Board 2

Part A: Summary of National Reconciliation Program, Save the Children

On the 2nd June 20…, Conrad Prince, Director of the National Reconciliation Program, Save the Children, delivered a speech on the Reconciliation efforts of indigenous communities that have been oppressed and discriminated by the colonial settlers in the Canada (Prince, 20…). At the outset, Prince gave an overview of the terms commonly dealt with while considering the issues related to the discrimination of indigenous communities like Indians, Inuit and Metis, in the Canada. For instance, the word Indigenous refers to the people of First Nations that affirms their right to self-determination. Colonialism, on the other hand, is used for the dominant group subjugating the world with their power and control. The Europeans were colonial settlers subjugating the First Nations people in the Canada. The different terms like Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility are positive terms that ensure an environment where all are respected and are regarded equal, and feel safe when being provided with healthcare. 

Save the Children’s National Reconciliation Program (NRP) envisions of equity, respect and partnership, where all children would have their rights to survival, development, participation and protection. They have a mission to save the rights of children from any kind of harm. As Indigenous children are being differentiated on the basis of Poverty, housing, mental health, education, clean water, to name a few, thus, are burdened with the socio-economic and health challenges in the Canada. The NRP’s current focus areas are Health, Climate Change and Education with future expansion areas focusing on Youth-led advocacy, Climate action and Early childhood learning. As the decolonizing work is challenging and limiting, the NRP should act at the pace of capacity and trust. Lastly, the program will be successful if the collective work is done with self-awareness, critical thinking, and systems thinking.

Part B: Proposal for One New Initiative for the Protection of children from Abuse 

  In the wake of the ongoing abuse facing Indigenous children, the one initiative that can be proposed to Save the Children’s NRP would be a Child Protection Policy, for protection of children from any kind of abuse, physical, sexual or emotional. Recently, graves of 215 First Nations children were found across the Canadian residential school that has raged the Indigenous groups for a nation-wide search for more graves across the Canada (BBC, 2021). 

As per the Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children have the Right to Protection from abuse and neglect (CRIN, n.d.), all the children, irrespective of their caste, creed, nationality and economic status, should have an equal right to protection from harm and abuse. Thus, as per the UNCRC, Indigenous children equally have the right to protection from abuse and neglect as their Canadian counterparts have. The existing legislation and policy for protection of children in Canada is varied across the different Canadian Provinces and territories (Canada.ca, 2018). However, the proposal of unifying them and making a Child Protection Charter for the Indigenous children should be in place, so as to protect the vulnerable children from any kind of harm, abuse and neglect. Thus, the issues of child abuse can be addressed if a whistleblower child protection policy is deployed across schools, institutions and organizations for Indigenous children in the Canada. 

conclusion

Concludingly, Children have the basic right to protection from any kind of abuse. However, given the fact, Indigenous populations have been discriminated by the settled colonial communities, the Whistleblower child protection policy and a unified Child protection policy should be in place across all the provinces and territories of Canada, to ensure the children with their basic right to protection. 

References

BBC News (2021) Canada-wide search urged as children's remains found. BBC News. 

Available at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57311501

Canada.ca (2018) Provincial and territorial child protection legislation and policy – 2018. 

Government of Canada. Available at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/health-risks-safety/provincial-territorial-child-protection-legislation-policy-2018.html

CRIN (n.d.) Article 19: Protection from Abuse and Neglect. Child Rights International Network.

Available at https://archive.crin.org/en/home/rights/convention/articles/article-19-protection-abuse-and-neglect.html

Krueger et al., (2021) Canada. Britannica. Available at 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada

NRCan.gc.ca (2018-19) Departmental Plan. Natural Resources Canada. Available at 

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/plansperformancereports/dpr/2018-19-DP-NRCan-EN.pdf

Prince, C. (20…) National Reconciliation Program. From Theory to Practice –Notes from the 

Field. Save the Children.