Self-Government, Social Suffering and Aboriginal Policy in Canada

Finding Dahshaa: Self-Government, Social Suffering, and Aboriginal Policy in Canada is a novel. Dr. Irlbacher urges people to concentrate on the function of the reconciliation commission, which started working in 2008.Literature from Finding Dahshaa criticizes self-governance talks. It looks at imperial foundations. The author offers upbeat examples of possible freedom and its outcomes. It is a useful tool for those who are interested in talks. Finding Dahshaa has one of the best manuals for carrying out appropriate and respectful research on factors affecting indigenous people. It has a clear narrative, which makes it enjoyable to read. The author derived book name from a Gwich word, which means a rotten dried wood that is integral in the initial phase of the tanning process. Just like the process of tanning, this book requires training to understand underlying actors. The life of Denes has been affected by government moves in the same way the tanning process is affected by its many stages. Canada has developed an approach to address the reality of Indigenous population. The book has a remarkable contribution to finding the solution to the controversial relationship between Canada and the Denes. The author is not an indigenous citizen, which implies that she has spent many years working and living in Denendeh. She has focused on bringing the aspects of struggles and strengths of indigenous people. This book brings a clear picture of the struggle between Canada and Aboriginal people. For a long time, the Denes have fought for their Aboriginal rights. In 1973, a court ruling shuttered myths that their ancestors had surrendered their rights to ownership of land. Despite this decision, residents of Canada maintain that the land belongs to them (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

Context and Concepts

Now and then, Canada establishes new policies and programs for the native population. Its goal is to assimilate them into the major group. It believes that self-governance will lead to improvements. Canada is scheduled for a long journey, and this is just the beginning. Indigenous people know that they have nothing to change. Agreements, money and policies do not matter to them. In 2008, Canadian prime minister apologized formally to survivors of the Indian school system. He recognized that students in these schools suffered physical and sexual abuse. He also said that government policy of forcibly assimilating the schools had negative effects. The Prime Minister admitted that attempts to isolate the learners from their cultures and tradition to assimilate them into the dominant culture is a wrong move. He promised that the Canadians would recognize the rights of indigenous people. Dr Irlbachor suggests that if the government wants to improve its relationship with indigenous citizens, it has to recognize that they value their land. She quotes words of Raymond Taniton in her introduction. He says that the indigenous people cannot be changed. The attempts to individualize their land will always be futile. It does not make sense to them (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

This book is a continuation of what other authors have written about resurgence Paradigm. It adds literature that shows gaps in Aboriginal reconciliation. The author explains that these negotiations exclude and marginalize the indigenous population. Agreements reached are not a true representation of self-determination. They show continuation of forced dependence and colonization. Misdirected actions alleviate social suffering. The Aboriginal policy fails to take responsibility for the current suffering and injustice. Policy implementers do not take the correct action when addressing current suffering. The next chapters show how the government capitalizes on injustice and obscures sources of suffering. A discussion in later chapters shows that the government does not honor its legal obligations on land claims. The indigenous population only received a small portion of the land, which originally belonged to them. The territories of NWT are rich in minerals and natural gas. When the land was returned, most of these resources were depleted (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

The book outlines some of the first analysis of government negotiations. It seeks to deconstruct and understand assumptions of the Aboriginal policy. According to the policy, the government plans to improve governance, bring modernization, provide better education and achieve certainty of land ownership. The argument is that changing the living conditions will make the indigenous people more productive. Implementers have not followed the regulations. Instead of improving their social services, they have tried to erode values and culture of these people. The author argues that there should be a different perspective of change. The Aboriginal policy should provide a concrete route to improving individual lives. Refocusing will result in a change of the oppressive circumstances. Change should redress injustice. It should accommodate indigenous nature of people. Ongoing negotiations should promote indigenous culture as a way of normalizing the ongoing injustice. The context of the book is based on self-government negotiation. The author reveals that injustice is not just historical. It goes on even in the present times. Existing policies, governing arrangements, fraudulent transactions and state institutions affecting indigenous people perpetuate ongoing injustice. The indigenous communities have poor living conditions. Dr Irlbachor criticizes government and stakeholders approach to the aboriginal policy. Leaders associate present suffering with poor choices and indigenous nature of the residents. Self-governance on supposed to help affected individuals to live in the present and forget about the injustices (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

The book explores the efforts of government negotiations in NWT.The author explicates her work with several case studies. These studies concern different issues and also involve different actors. Their outcomes were quite similar. Irlbachor Fox relates the results to government failure to label the actual cause of suffering in these populations. It is labelled as historical instead of contemporary. The author’s analysis is focused on the connection between present injustices and social suffering of indigenous people. Results from the case studies show that the state continuously denies that it has contributed to social suffering. The case study carried out on Dehcho people focused on revenue sharing. The study reveals suffering and how it is received. Chapter 2 has examination and description of negotiations on revenue sharing between Canada and Dehcho. Dehcho has the position that they want to have their terms. Their leaders want to have a say on development. They don’t want to be controlled by the government. Fox’s analysis shows that Canada coerced Dehcho into accepting their predetermined outcomes. This argument develops in chapter four of the book. There is an overview of negotiations by Deline’s authorities concerning family and child services. Evidence shows that these problems persist even in the present day. There are many cases of poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment, violence and poor health outcomes. The government labels them as prove that it needs to continue with strict supervision (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

In these case studies, social suffering is poignantly and clearly pointed out by the struggles of Denes to seek a position in government. They want better child health programs. In the past years, the state has failed to protect the aboriginal children. NWT negotiators insist that Deline community can protect its children using established NWT protocols. They also plan to negotiate for the complete responsibility of ensuring social welfare. Canadian government argues that such a small group of leaders cannot deliver this service. It insists that the larger government has full responsibility for healing and redemption. This stand is state’s way of generalizing the indigenous population as dysfunctional and traditional. This is attributed to poor lifestyle and cultural differences. The state forces indigenous people to seek help from various services and programs. Some of these programs are not in a position to meet the needs of these people. The government seeks to assist them in acquiring techniques and knowledge that will promote modernization (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

The larger population has interests in NWT territories because they are endowed with natural resources. Three are many sources of fresh water. The negotiations in NWT are as a result of legal obligations by Canada. It is stated in the federal policy and land claim agreements. Chapter five of this book gives details of these agreements. In Inuvialuit agreement, leaders of the indigenous community demand that their voice should be heard during the negotiations. These documents recognize that forms of governance may differ between regions. They also specify that self-governance in NWT should be combined with other rules in the public government. This includes regional government and municipalities. Negotiations are bureaucratic. They are based on procedures, practices and policies made by the government. It is agreed that these negotiations ought to be initiated by the indigenous government. The author, however, notes gaps in these negotiations. She notes that the indigenous negotiators only talk without being involved in formal procedures. That is the reason why these negotiations have not succeeded in changing formal structures. The government has experts who have enough resources. Their ability cannot be compared with that of the indigenous negotiators. The government predetermines funding levels of indigenous negotiators. Several chapters in this book elaborate that formats and frequencies of the negotiations depend on circumstances and policies that surround them (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

Chapter fourteen of the book shows author’s reflection of the fate of native groups. In late 19th century, they were exposed to circumstances, which made them miserable. The population focused on illegal trade as their main source of income. Guns and alcohol were freely sold. Diminished sea resources caused large-scale starvation. The responsibility for control of new territories was passed through several actors. The 15th chapter of this book explains that at the end of the 19th century, there was the discovery of gold in Klondike. This news led to many prospector migrations to these sides (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

Conclusion

Historicizing injustices also historicizes indigenous nature of people. In Aboriginal policy, the government is the benevolent helper. It is eager to place policies of modernizing the indigenous society. The solution to this long term issue is preserving the culture and traditions of the Aboriginal population. Make it compatible with modernity. Both populations have to compromise (Irlbacher-Fox, 2010).

References

Irlbacher-Fox, S. (2010). Finding Dahshaa: Self-Government, Social Suffering and Aboriginal Policy in Canada. Vancouver. Toronto: UBC Press.