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Reflection #1 | “Canada has no history of colonialism” | Due July 18 [**Mandatory**] In the fall of 2009, in a public announcement that Canada would host the 2010 G20 summit, thenPrime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canada has “no history of colonialism.” Drawing on the ideas we have covered so far in the course, offer some historical context for Harper’s statement. What understanding of history does a statement like this reproduce? Why would the Canadian government be compelled to reproduce those ideas? Write 500-800 words reflecting on Harper’s statement in relation to these questions. In thinking through these questions reflect on Lectures 2 and 3 and be sure to draw on lessons and ideas from class. There is no ‘right’ answer to this question; rather I am looking for thoughtful reflection on the question and course themes.

 

 

 

Subject History Pages 9 Style APA

Answer

Canada has no History of Colonialism

The history of Canada is steeped with imperialist, idealistic discourses grounded in such key words as multiculturalism, peacekeeping, progress, nation building, identity as well as development. It is important to note that these imperialist, idealistic discourses seek to erase and legitimize the atrocities that characterize Canada’s colonial past (Mazer, 2017). This essay seeks to offer some historical context of the statement “Canada has no history of colonialism,” made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated, at the 2009 G20 meeting.

As noted above, Canadian history is garnished with discourses that seek to erase and legitimize the atrocities that characterize Canada’s colonial past. The historical context of the statement “Canada has no history of colonialism,” made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the 2009 G20 meeting, is organized around the Doctrine of Discovery that provided grounds for the justification of Canadian claims to sovereignty, as well as both governmental and property rights over indigenous inhabitants and their territories (Miller, Ruru, Behrendt, Lindberg, 2010). Notably, the Doctrine of Discovery is an international law that required that Europeans who are newly arriving in native lands automatically and immediately legally acquire organized property rights besides gaining political, commercial as well as governmental rights over the indigenous inhabitants without the consent or knowledge of the indigenous people. As a result, Canadian colonial activities were considered as internationally acceptable ritual and well-recognized legal procedure mandated by international law and focused on asserting Canada’s legal right in claiming the newly discovered lands and peoples. It is imperative to point out that the Doctrine of Discovery is still in force as international law today and constitutes the original and controlling legal precedent within Canada and some other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, for indigenous rights and affairs (Miller, Ruru, Behrendt, Lindberg, 2010). Consequently, Canada, besides New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, persistently enforced this doctrine against the indigenous peoples and their governments as an internationally acceptable legal requirement of the Canadians. Indeed, Canada utilized the doctrine to assert its culturally, racially and religiously biased ideas of superiority and prominence to justify its claims to governmental, land and property rights over indigenous people, a move that almost erased the indigenous peoples and their governments from their paths (Mazer, 2017).

A statement like this reproduces an understanding of history based on individuals’ interpretation that is significantly influenced by their own philosophies of life and society values and perceptions. Indeed, the statement made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the effect that “Canada has no history of colonialism,” was rooted in his understanding of Canadian history based on his philosophy of life and society that authenticate and legitimize biased ideas of European superiority and prominence to justify Canadian claims to governmental, land and property rights over indigenous people (Miller, Ruru, Behrendt, Lindberg, 2010). However, the Canadian government should be compelled to reproduce these ideas because such ideas constitute a breach of human rights of the indigenous peoples. In fact, by promulgating the ideas of European superiority and prominence as provided for by the doctrine, the Canadian government breaches fundamental human rights of the indigenous people including the right not to be discriminated against on any basis as well as the right to own properties. As such, the Canadian government should be compelled to reproduce those ideas.

In conclusion, The historical context of the statement “Canada has no history of colonialism,” made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated at the 2009 G20 meeting, is organized around the Doctrine of Discovery that provided grounds for the justification of Canadian claims to sovereignty as well as both governmental and property rights over indigenous inhabitants and their territories. Notably, a statement like this reproduces an understanding of history as based on individuals’ interpretation that is significantly influenced by their own philosophies of life and society values and perceptions. However, the Canadian government should be compelled to reproduce these ideas because such ideas constitute a breach of human rights of the indigenous peoples.

 

 

 

 

References

Mazer, K., (2017). Empire, “discovery” and logistics of Colonialism.

Miller, R. J., Ruru, J., Behrendt, L., Lindberg, T., (2010). Discovering indigenous lands: The doctrine of discovery in the English colonies. Oxford University Press.

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