Current Indigenous Issues in the Media
1.CBC News investigated 34 cases across Canada involving the death or disappearance of Indigenous women that authorities claim were not the result of foul play. In each case, the women's families have stated that they do not agree with the police findings. They imply that murder may be involved. CBC News discovered evidence in many of the cases pointing to suspicious circumstances, unexplained bruises, and other anomalies.
2. With a disproportionate number of their neighbors in prison, on parole, or at risk, the world's Indigenous communities face yet another pressing issue. According to statistics, the percentage of Indigenous people in conflict with the justice system is extremely high, and in many places, those numbers may be on the rise. In recent years, the issue has received a great deal of attention in Canada. According to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Indigenous people account for approximately 19% of federal prisoners, while they account for only about 3% of the general population. Between 1997 and 2000, Indigenous people were ten times more likely than non-Indigenous people to be charged with homicide. Between 1996 and 2004, the proportion of Indigenous people in Canadian prisons increased by 22%, while the general prison population decreased by 12%. Disparities are equally visible in similar societies.
3.Members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) presented 94 Calls to Action in June 2015, with the goal of “redressing the legacy of residential schools and advancing the process of Canadian reconciliation” with Indigenous peoples. Months later, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his government's commitment to implementing each and every one of them. How many of those Calls to Action have been fully implemented six years later? Based on information from government documents, CBC's Beyond 94, and research conducted by Ryerson University's Yellowhead Institute, Christopher Nardi of the National Post compiled a list of all the recommendations that have been completely implemented (13), those for which the government has taken some steps (60), and those for which no real steps have been taken (21).
Research on a current environmental issue Mercury Poisoning at Grassy Narrows
Back in the 1960’s and early 1970’s a chemical plant dumped around 10 tons of toxic mercury into a river up stream from Grassy Narrows First Nations, polluting socially significant fish the local area residents rely on for food. More than once, neglecting to make a move to tidy up the stream, ensuing governments have exposed local area individuals to 50 years of devastating wellbeing impacts, including early demise due to Mercury poisoning. In 2019, the government finally decided to start a fund to begin construction on a Mercury Care Home. I think governments need to finally put an end to all of their suffering by giving the residents of Grassy Narrows the aid and compensation they deserve. After so many years they could build more than one care center or use “Canada’s well established programs to identify, assess, and remediate contaminations” as said by the government but they choose not to do anything about it as they continue to leave it as a back burner problem.
Bob Boyer and His Work
Bob Boyer's work used to be mainly abstract pieces painted on rawhide containers known as parfleches. When he released A Small Pox Issue, 1983 his work started to become more anti-colonial and political. He also changed from canvas to light gray cotton flannel blankets. I think this piece symbolizes the spread of the disease throughout different colonies.
James Bay Region Cree and Inuit Fight for their rights
Sovereignty was a problem in this area in the 1970’s because the Quebec Government tried to go over the heads of all Indigenous groups to expand the province's energy potential by building hydroelectric dams. The Cree and Inuit People did not want this to happen when they found out so with the help of the Indians of Quebec Association(IQA) they attempted to talk with the government to voice their concerns. The Cree and the IQA joined forces with the Northern Quebec Inuit Association when the government refused to address the matter and insisted on building the dams (NQIA). They launched legal action in November 1972 to slow down the project and force the province to negotiate. After a lengthy trial, Judge Albert Malouf issued his decision to the Superior Court on November 15, 1973. He ruled in favor of Indigenous peoples and demanded that the provincial government halt dam construction, recognize unceded Indigenous rights, and negotiate in good faith. Despite the intended effect, the ruling was quickly suspended by Quebec's court of appeal. The Cree's relationship with the IQA deteriorated until the Cree disassociated themselves from the organization and formed their own national network, the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec. In the summer of 1974, the IQA walked away from the table, and the province, the Cree, and the Inuit reached a tentative agreement.
References
https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/discrimination-aboriginals-native-lands-canada
https://www.pfoac.com/artists/49-bob-boyer/works/1272-bob-boyer-a-smallpox-issue-1983/
https://sk-arts.ca/menu/news-and-resources/features/734-10-works-from-our-permanent-collection.html
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/james-bay-and-northern-quebec-agreement
https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/when-cree-and-inuit-transformed-modern-canada/
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