Social Movement and Protests In the History of Canada
"SHUT THE PROVINCE DOWN":
First Nations Blockades in British Columbia, 1984-1995
NICHOLAS BLOMLEY
We stand in the position of sovereignty against International Forest Products (Interfor) and the British Columbia and Canadian governments' unlawful trespassing and destruction of Nuxalk territory. As the Nuxalk Nation we have the sovereign right to jurisdictional rule within our territory This right comes from Tatau, the Creator. It is not granted nor subject to the approval of any other nation. Our land has NEVER been ceded, sold or treatied. We cannot and never will, as the Nuxalk Nation, compromise this position. It is our obligation to Tatau, the Creator, to care for and protect our lands.1
First nations blockades have become so commonplace in British Columbia over the last two decades that they have, ironically, slipped from view. Every summer, it seems, brings another round of roadblocks, closely followed by the predictable round of condemnation and fulmination on editorial pages and in the provincial legislature. Even when relative peace reigns on the logging roads and access routes of the province, the threat of blockades is ever-present.2 Perhaps it is this very frequency and predictability that explains why blockades have not received much scholarly attention as a political phenomenon. As a consequence, our understanding of blockades is largely framed by the media, which tend to treat each blockade as a singular and often sensational event, paying little attention to the context within which it is deployed or to its relation to similar tactics.
I have attached a scanned copy of the professors instruction for you please answer the question to do with protest. I am providing you with the readings from the class, he wants us to use. btw the essay is an argumentative essay. There are no specific number of sources he wants us to use. please use average english. Thats all i have for now if i remember anything else i will let you know
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Today, individuals at workplaces and communities in Canada are enjoying liberty and justice at many social and economic levels. These have been as a result of the many struggles as and social movements that have been experienced in the country. However, the accounts of these movements and protests to overcoming sexism, racism and poverty for instance, have remained untold for a long time. Though there have been various human rights groups, or movements that have changed the course of Canadian history in one way or another, they are not well exposed in today’s information platforms (Sossin, 2011, Andrea, 2011).
This paper examines the impact of the Winnipeg General Strike and the Indian Protest, and how they are depicted in the discover Canada guide. The discover guide booklet does not provide an account or information in relation to this strike. In the discover Canada guide, the situation of the Indian movements is depicted differently, giving a picture of “friendly” collaboration between Indians and Europeans I see the discover guide as a PR initiative keen on hiding any negative aspects in Canadian history.
The Winnipeg General Strike
The Winnipeg General Strike, which occurred on 15th May to 25 June 1919, is one of the most infamous strikes ever experienced in Canada. Among the causes of this strike were the increasing revolutionary industrial unionism, the success of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and massive inflation and unemployment in the country. It was coordinated by the central strike committee, which constituted delegates that were elected from each of the unions that were affiliated with the WTLC. This committee was responsible for bargaining with employers on behalf of employees, and coordinated the provision of the basic services. The strike led to the arrest of several leaders of the strike and eventually convicted of the conspiracy to overthrow the government. Many of these leaders and organizers were also sentenced to jail terms that ranged from two to six years (Bumsted, 1994).
In March 1919, western labor leaders met in Calgary to discuss the creation of a larger union. On the 15th of May, negotiations held at Winnipeg between the labor force and the management in metal trade and building broke down. This led to the Winnipeg Trades and Labor Council (WTLC) calling a strike. At stake were issues related to better wages, collective bargaining, and better working conditions. More than 30, 000 workers left their jobs within few hours. The unanimous response of the employees led to the closure of the city’s major industries, including the transport sector, retail trade among others. Public sector employees including firefighters, police officers, telephone operators, postal workers and waterworks workers joined the private industry workers as a display of solidarity.
The general impact of the strike to the Canadian history was that it left a legacy of controversy and bitterness among organized labor groups in the country. The strike also sparked a wave of increased militancy and unionism across Canada (Prokosh, 2011).
The discover guide booklet does not provide an account or information in relation to this strike. In the discover Canada guide, the situation of the Indian movements is depicted differently, giving a picture of “friendly” collaboration between Indians and Europeans I see the discover guide as a PR initiative keen on hiding any negative aspects in Canadian history.
Indian Protest of Race Discrimination in Canada
In April 1914, Indians in East of Canada Boarded a Komagata Maru ship, that was headed to the British Columbia. This move was as a challenge to the Canadian laws, which had excluded non-white citizens from the British Empire. Arriving in Vancouver one month later, they were unsurprisingly met by the Canadian authorities who did not want them to move into the company. This meeting led to a lengthy standoff between the Indians and the Canadian authorities. It also led to the Indian nationalist sentiments back on the subcontinent. However, this only influenced the Canadian Immigration Law only to a small extent. Gurdit Singh, who was their leader, organized a protest match towards Calcutta. This was during the fall of 19...