When you look around and hear the
many issues facing so many third world countries on the news; who would have
thought so many of these issues fell so close to home. Up in the Northern and
rural communities there are so many Indigenous families and individuals says
Beaton (2012) "who are struggling with homelessness, hunger, and so many youth
suicides." He discusses the fact that Aboriginal children are only afforded
eighty percent of educational resources, compared to non-indigenous children who
do not live on reserves (Beaton, 2012). In his article he stresses his belief in
literacy and that he can see that being one of the things that would cause a
positive outcome for these individuals (Aboriginal peoples) and their children(Beaton, 2012). He also goes on to discuss that these individuals appear as
invisible because so many things appear in the media on any given day and then
it’s just forgotten about, as well as, issues being addressed at the house of
commons and they are said to be ignored (Beaton, 2012).
It is no wonder that there is so much painful things transpiring with us only just touching the edge of a chapter thaqt was so large in Canada's hiostory. As discussed by Cherubini, Hodson, Manley-Casimir & Muir, (2010) the residential school timeframe was a horific time for these people and has spilt out and over into every aspect of their lives not only back then, right now but for the future as well. The applogy that had been made was discussed in this journal and just as it says in the article it is the start to the path of healing and forgiveness and unitement of all peoples in all of Canada (Cherubini, Hodson, Manley-Casimir & Muir, 2010).
The Ministry of
Aboriginal Affairs website notes that "forty percent of Indigenous peoples live in
Ontario" and that in Northern Ontario there is a higher rate of lower education,
labor force participation and employment income amounts in comparison with the
entire province of Ontario (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, 2012). The
information was provided to this website through Statistics Canada in the 2006,
and 2001 Canadian Censuses. A study was done on the wage gap between Indigenous
peoples and non-indigenous peoples in regards to education and the findings were
very staggering as far as I was concerned. For every year
completed of primary and secondary school Indigenous peoples added an
average of 7.8 percent to their annual earnings (Jankowski & Moazzami, 1994).
It also went on to discuss there being an even larger wage increase should they
attain university, this implying that an increase in income as a result of
better education and that it would make sense to help ensure that there is the
ability to attain this higher education for our northern and rural populations
who are residing in areas where this might not have been otherwise possible (Jankowski & Moazzami, 1994).
Overall I am totally on that page and think that we should give the same
to everyone in the province no matter what our race, culture or ethnic
background. In closing I would like to quote two statements made by the
Government of Ontario in their promise of Diversity in a public document labeled
"Ontario’s equity and inclusive education strategy"
- "It is the effort to live in a country of peace and prosperity, with laws that are just, with people who are humane, and where citizens of all backgrounds encounter equal opportunities when they set out to realize their potential, contribute to their communities, participate in the Canadian economy, and engage the Canadian political system. "
- "Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone. ")
(Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs website, November 2012)
REFERENCES
Beaton, B. (2012). Ottawa Citizen; First Nations across northern Ontario facing a
"crisis situation" of inadequate support Retrieved from http://media.knet.ca/node/16742 on November 13,
2012
Jankowski, W.B and Moazzami, B. (1994). Lake Head University, RETURNS OF
EDUCATION AMONG NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO'S NATIVE PEOPLE; Retrieved from http://www2.brandonu.ca/library/cjns/15.1/Jankowski.pdf
on November 13, 2012
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs Website: Retrieved from; http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/services/datasheets/northern.asp
on November 13, 2012
Ministry of Education; A promise to the children of Ontario Retrieved
from; http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/equity.pdf
on November 13, 2012
Thank you for sharing this awareness on how education overall is seen to fail indigenous peoples in the northern and rural communities. Some communities right now have no school and this is horrible and unacceptable. There are also schools that are so overcrowded that they have elementary school students going in for the day and then they have high school students going in at night. This is totally not right! My uncle taught in one of the fly in communities and hes very optimistic of how these schools are going to continue to even keep running. The attitudes towards ignorance and straight up ignoring the people in this state is unimaginably true.
ReplyDeleteMigzs Tammy
I truely believe that if we as a country can say that we are a free, and just country full of equality for all man we need to start walking those steps and acting those actions. I think it is appauling that individuals who are so accepting and able to share with everyone else is treated so poorly and unfairly. I also hate that so many state the "FACTS" as they call it about the indigenous peoples being in a bad place and don't want to take the blame for it yet "They" (the dominant white culture continue to fail to provide the basic needs, and the same anything in general to these individuals to help them better help themselves. I think this is overall ignorance and I think more people need to do more about this!! its just inhumaine and non canaidan ways of acting and treating people!!! I definately feel embarassed as someone who is considered to be like those people( the white dominat culture) Im so embarrassed!!
ReplyDeleteAngela
I love that you chose this topic as I have debated many uneducated people pertaining to this issue. Uneducated people have argued that "Native Americans are lazy, and should go get a job like the rest of Canada so we don't have to support them with our tax money." This idea that many Canadians have enrages me as they don't seem to understand that without a school,how can the children gain an education. Second, even if there is a school, is the western ideas surrounding education relevant to their way of living? Next, how can we expect someone to have a job that does not exist? with the government abandoning northern communities, employment becomes a scarcity, if offered at all. I guess I will continue my banters towards people who make these comments, and one person at a time lend education on this topic.
ReplyDeleteLarissa C
Hey Angela,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your blog when you talk about everyone in every province should have an equal amount of funds no matter what race, gender or culture you are. In our society now a days you hear the message we are equals, no one person is above or below another, yet if we continue these unjust funding; how are the future generation going to believe and live in that mindset. If you are born and raised believing that the color red is in fact the color blue, your entire life you will see red as blue, and even when people tell you that is not correct, you are so set in your ways that it either takes a long time to change or you will never change. We need to start making change to have everyone has equals before new generations see these unjust policies and begin to think otherwise.
Christine-NRC