“Gender, Race, and the Regulation of Native Identity in Canada and the United States: An Overview” by Bonita Lawrence

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The article “Gender, Race, and the Regulation of Native Identity in Canada and the United States: An Overview” by Bonita Lawrence talks about the Native people, the way the laws and relationships between the modern world and long standing traditions have changed and shaped the present treatment of a whole population.

It is evident that previously Native people had a much different life and the population of Canada and the United States has drastically changed the lives and freedoms of Natives. Presently, things have changed for the better but there is still much discrimination that is seen everywhere.

There is no doubt that the Native population of Canada and the United States was greatly segregated and deprived of their land and freedoms, at the time of colonization. The white man has taken possession of land as if it was empty of people who lived there for generations. The Natives of North America had established traditions and cultures, which were not considered and abused during the populating of the Americas.

The Indian Act was put in place to regulate and control the Native people and greatly limit their freedom, movement rights, ability to participate in the country’s matters and use the land that was rightfully belonging to Natives (Lawrence 5). It is clear that the Act itself and the actions of people who came to the North America are much discriminator.

The oppression that Native people faced was accompanied with much violence and unequal treatment. Even the word “Indian” itself is politically incorrect and shows how little attention and care people have paid to those they have deprived of rights, equality and deserved ability to enjoy a life free of stereotypical behavior. The land was divided and Native people were placed into Reservations, which were strictly regulated by the government and the necessary laws.

The Indian Act violates the rights of Native people, it limits their movement, deprives them of the rights of possession towards land and the available resources, as well as their reputation and acknowledgement. Gender is another major issue that is present in the Indian Act. A woman of Native descent would lose her Native status after marring a white man. This is ridiculous, as it is unreasonable and is not admissible.

This sort of thing does not happen to people of other races and origins and so, the discrimination is clearly evident here (Lawrence 8). Another article titled “Housing America’s Native People” by Wendy Helgemo, talks about the legal provision of housing that the government has put in place towards the Native people. A large number of Native population was homeless due to the hardships they had to experience.

This has become a significant problem and the government was forced to change several things. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was created to administer changes and provide Native population with housing (Helgemo 10). The policies that are being enacted in the present days are the proof of how much segregation Native population had to face. The change in laws and the life of a whole population have changed the conditions that go back very far in history.

For thousands of years Native people have enjoyed their freedoms unmarred by the forced ruling of others and the “civilized countries”. Staring in the 18^th century, the colonizers would use gifts and promises of prosperity to the Natives, in order for them to change into their culture and forget their own.

This was a trick to assimilate the whole population and enforce own rules and government. The Europeans dominated in power and technology and thus, were able to enforce their influence and will. The seeming peaceful relationship that was prevalent at the first stages of the interaction was very temporary.

There were a number of treaties that were based on peace and mutual cooperation and communication. But, it seemed that there was no obligation for Europeans to honor those Treaties and many were ignored and broken. There are many examples of how colonizers used trickery and deviant ways to fool the Native people.

The trading and influence of alcohol was one of the major changes that Natives have experienced in their relationship with the “white man” (Trigger 205). It is outrageous that such a great number of educated people from Europe were able to behave in such a way towards others. The disrespect that was so great that often there would be violent conflict, as Natives had no other avenue to fight back.

Overall, this sort of behavior from colonizers is nothing new. This has been happening all over the world with all the Native people. The colonizers think it is their right to use their technology and knowledge, to discriminate against those of different cultures and way of life. The fact that Native people have different traditions and beliefs that the colonizers cannot understand, does not give people the right to take over and deprive of respect and natural rights, which have existed long before any colonizing took place.

Works Cited

Helgemo, Wendy L. Housing America’s Native People. Washington, United States: Poverty & Race Research Action Council, 2008. Print.

Lawrence, Bonita. “Gender, Race, and the Regulation of Native Identity in Canada and the United States: An Overview”. Hypatia, 18.2 (2003): 3-31. Print.

Trigger, Bruce. Natives and Newcomers: Canada’s “Heroic Age” Reconsidered. McGill-Queen’s Press – MQUP, 17.6 (1986): 10-13 Print.

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“Gender, Race, and the Regulation of Native Identity in Canada and the United States: An Overview” by Bonita Lawrence

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