Indigenous Inequality in Canada: Then and Now

Indigenous Inequality in Canada: Then and Now
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Introduction
Social inequality may be described as the existence of unmatched and imbalanced chances for different social positions or statuses for various people in a group or society. In a country where there are social inequalities, the citizens have unequal access to the benefits of society. This is completely different from a society which is based on equality, and every individual can play a role in the overall good and welfare of that society. Additionally, in such a society all individuals can gain from their participation in society.
Ordinarily, social inequity mainly occurs because of inter-social relations that inform discriminatory government statutes. The indigenous people of Canada are also referred to as the aboriginals, and they are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. The aboriginals face many social problems in Canada which are related to unfair treatment and unequal sharing of the available opportunities. This paper will examine and describe the indigenous inequalities in Canada, evaluate how inequality is a sociological issue and will also outline and analyze some problems that were faced by the aboriginals in the past and those that are currently present.
Ordinarily, Canada is recognized to the world because Canadians are generally kind and the country has accepted people of all ethnicities. Although, the discrimination and unfairness against the indigenous Canadians suggest otherwise. Throughout history, numerous cases of discrimination towards the indigenous people have been reported, and this has promoted negative psychological, sociological and cultural effects towards the natives Canadians (McMullin & Curtis, 2017).
The aboriginal people of Canada are a small but influential community that reminds the Canadians about their ancient past and their present-day role and duties towards its first residents. It is important to note that Canada is a young nation as compared to countries and Canadians are similarly very new people. This is because most of current Canada's population came from the European immigrants who came in the eighteenth century or later (Parrott, 2007). Also, most of the historic Canadian towns are hardly over two hundred years old. Before the immigrants came to Canada, there were still individuals who were living there, the indigenous, also known as the aboriginal or the natives. The common three categories of the indigenous people in Canada are Inuit, Métis and First Nations.
Inequality as a Sociological Issue
The inequality of the indigenous Canadians is a sociological issue because it deals with the welfare of the original inhabitants of Canada. Social inequality is a field in sociology that pays attention to the issuance of the available goods and the possible burdens in the community. Sociologically, social inequality may be examined as a social issue that surrounds three aspects. These include structural conditions; it comprises of those issues that can be equitably calculated and that have a significant role in causing social inequity. The sociologists examine how some aspects such as power, wealth and poverty may promote social inequity among different groups of people.
Secondly, ideological support, this includes the ideals and suppositions which facilitate social inequality that is reported in different societies and communities. Sociologists evaluate how factors such as formal laws, public policies and dominant values contribute and promote social inequity. Lastly, social reforms, this entails issues such as social organizations and protest groups. Here sociologists study and examine how these social reforms aid in shaping and changing social imbalance that exists in a community, their origin, and the possible long-term effects.
Two ways may be used when measuring social inequality they include the inequality of conditions; this refers to the disparate dispersal of tangible commodities, income and wealth. For example, housing is an inequality condition because the homeless and the individuals staying in housing projects sit at the bottom of the hierarchy while the individuals living in multi-million dollar mansions sit at the top.
On the other side, inequality of opportunities refers to the unmatched issuance and dispensation of life chances across different people. This may be considered in different measures which may include the education level, health status, and the service by the criminal justice system. For example, research has indicated that college and university lecturers and professors are more likely to disregard emails from minority groups such as the people of color than they are to ignore those from white men, this favors the educational results of the white men by directing an unequal amount of mental and educational resources to them. It is also important to note that unfairness at individual, community and institutional levels plays a major role in the process of increasing and promoting social inequities which are based on gender, class, and race. Sociologists have irrefutably shown that discrimination is erected on every point of our society and it has found its way in all our social institutions.
Issues Faced by the Aboriginals in the Past
Residential Schools
One of the major ways through which the indigenous people were affected discriminated was through the establishment of the residential schools. The Canadian government started these institutions with the objectives of eradicating the indigenous culture. The Aboriginal children were taken to the residential schools which were normally located far from their homes and communities (Feir, 2016).
Additionally, the children were prohibited from using their aboriginal languages, practicing their traditional rituals and they were also required not to express their spiritual and cultural beliefs. If the children failed to respect and follow these directives, then their guardians could be fined or sent to prison. The imperialist legacy promoted the residential schools. Also, the belief that native culture was unsuitable for the Euro-Canadian culture contributed to the development and administration of these institutions (Council on Hemispheric Affairs, 2011).
Once the children were taken into these schools, they were then compelled to become changed. The government and the churches intended to keep the children within the limits of what was referred to as civilization. It is important to note that once in the residential school's children were offered very little contact with their parents and they were also provided with an entirely different culture which made it possible for them to isolate and distance themselves from their initial cultural practices (Council on Hemispheric Affairs, 2011). The effects of the schools would be seen after the children returned to their homes. Usually, learners from residential schools could not get along with their aboriginal peers, and they also changed their eating habits. For example, they refused to eat raw meat saying that it was a major cause of illnesses that affected the Inuit people, yet this was a common practice among the native Canadian communities (Kipling & Stout, 2003).
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