INTERVENTION/SOLUTION RATIONALE AND PRELIMINARY WORKPLAN

Invade Indigenous land.

 The development of a Theory of change and the completion of a logic model

• What is the specific problem that I am working to resolve?

The problem is “Invading indigenous unseeded land or the traditional territory.” This invasion by the Government or big corporations is a big problem for Indigenous people and their lifestyle and also for the environment.

The Canadian Government and Indigenous authority made a contract or treaty that Indigenous people could live in a reserve land and follow their own culture and norms. The land is dedicated to the Indigenous people.

Initially, the reserved land given to indigenous people was unsuitable for harvesting. But Indigenous people had no option. Later, these areas became important for many natural resources. Many times in different indigenous territories, the Canadian Government (sometimes on behalf of big corporations) put highways, took water from the land, gave some company authority to check for oil or other minerals, let them make pipelines, etc. These activities happened without considering changes or destroying the ecosystem on indigenous land. That’s why, for any activity on the reserved land, the Canadian Government should obtain proper consent from the Indigenous leader of that land.

 

• What are the factors that cause the problem?

Indigenous people are very aware of the protection of land and nature. That’s why they are careful with natural resources. So, when anything harms nature, indigenous people protest and try to protect it.

Sometimes, these projects take land, destroy water bodies, and destroy flora and fauna, which directly impacts Indigenous people’s health. Sometimes, human rights are not even respected during the project. For example, Indigenous people lose their clean water supply or are affected by poisonous chemicals.

Then, for years, they keep suffering, but no one is there to stop those unhealthy projects.

 

• Is there any data to support my analysis?

In 2018, there were 174 unsafe drinking water advisories in over 100 First Nations communities. Short-term advisories warn residents of a water quality issue on a certain water system. Long-term drinking water advisories have been in place for more than one year. (Yenilmez, 2022)

With the stench of chemicals in the air, the students learned of the striking impacts of airborne toxins and spills on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, as well as working-class Sarnia residents and industry workers. These impacts are all too real for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which has higher rates of asthma, cancer, miscarriages, stillbirths and other adverse conditions. (Western Law, 2024)

• What factors are you planning to address in my intervention?

I want to create a law that no one can make any changes to the indigenous land without the indigenous leaders of that land’s consent.

• What are the related behaviours that I want to change?

To finalize any project on the reserved Indigenous land, one must discuss it with the Indigenous people who are living on that land. They have more knowledge about that land, and they live on it.

Target Group

• Who am I targeting?

The prime minister. He, who can make this law.

• Why are they my target group?

All parliament members are part of the Government and the opposition group. They can bring and pass the legislation.

• What is their status at this point in the project, vis-à-vis my issue?

I believe all levels of Government, from local to federal, are involved in this issue. But if parliament passes this law, then everyone will follow it.

• What subgroup will be more likely to change their behaviour?

The big oil/mining companies may change their behaviour to follow the law and start respecting indigenous suggestions. They might devise a good solution that indigenous people will agree on, and the project might have been done correctly.

• How do I expect to change their behaviour?

Now, it seems that the authority doesn’t care about Indigenous people’s health or the climate. If we pass this law, they will be bound to follow proper procedures to make a plan succeed. It will be suitable for the environment and the Indigenous people who are living on that land.

References:

-          Yenilmez, S. (2022, July 26). Indigenous safe drinking water crisis in canada- overview. The Indigenous Foundation. https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/indigenous-safe-drinking-water-crisis-in-canada-overview#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20there%20were%20174,for%20more%20than%20one%20year.

 

-          Toxic tour of Chemical Valley illustrates the impact of environmental injustice on indigenous and working-class communities. Western Law. (April 03, 2024). https://law.uwo.ca/news/2024/toxic_tour_of_chemical_valley_illustrates_the_impact_of_environmental_injustice_on_indigenous_and_workingclass_communities_.html

 

-          Box, C. T. (n.d.). Section 1. developing a logic model or theory of change. Chapter 2. Other Models for Promoting Community Health and Development | Section 1. Developing a Logic Model or Theory of Change | Main Section | Community Tool Box. https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/overview/models-for-community-health-and-development/logic-model-development/main

Indigenous Policies, Rights and Resistance: GOVERNMENT / SOVEREIGNTY

 Based on Indigenous Policies, Rights and Resistance: GOVERNMENT / SOVEREIGNTY

Historical context:

Historically, Indigenous Governments were different in different tribes. Each tribe used to follow their traditions. This traditional knowledge was based on their spiritual ways, culture, language, and social expertise. It contained a legal system, political structures, and inherited relationships with lands, water, and everything.  The Indigenous government never surrender their land to the European settlers. They didn’t accept European or settler laws. Indigenous leaders signed the treaty where European settlers and Indigenous people agreed to run their sovereign on the same ground.

In 1963, the Canadian parliament recognized the Indigenous government, and the parliament gave them their fixed territory to run their sovereign. However, this wasn’t an exemplary scenario. Indigenous sovereignty was often questioned for the failure of understanding, lack of knowledge and other criticism.

The Canadian government was Eurocentric, and on the other hand, the Indigenous community was based on spirituality and personal autonomy. And Indigenous communities were distinct from each other too. These differences help to ignore the Indigenous right and claims.

Connection to policy/policies:

The French and English settlers made policies that they could occupy the land of the Indigenous people. The treaty policies were to distract the Indigenous leader, and then the settlers made policies to destroy the Indigenous economy. For example, making the Indian reserve areas, introducing the residential schools, legislating the Indian Act etc.

The Indigenous people were adapting and making new policies for their governance by following the European style. In this way, their social, political, and economic institutions were impacted.

In 1982, the Canadian Constitution Act gave treaty rights to Indigenous people, which was a significant achievement for the Indigenous people.

How Indigenous groups have engaged in resistance, reconciliation and /or redress.:

Reconciliation was the fundamental purpose of the Canadian Constitution Act 1982. In this Act, Canada has accepted Indigenous people's different types of government systems. There will be mutual recognition between the Canadian government and the Indigenous government. Both governments agree to make a mutual friendship and collaboration for economic partnership and resource development.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process. The Canadian Constitutional Act 1982 has section 35, where information is given in detail about Indigenous rights. The Canadian government agreed to continue decolonization activity until a fair partnership was built between the Canadian government and the Indigenous community.

"A Deafening Silence," Nancy Macdonald (2015)

 In the article "A Deafening Silence," Nancy Macdonald (2015) wrote about Indigenous people's suffering in Canada. To elaborate on the feelings of the Indigenous people, she first told us about some current issues in the Indigenous community. For example, the writer mentioned many suicide cases (The youngest person who committed suicide is an 11-year-old boy), MMIWG: missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (From 1995, more than 800 women and girls have been murdered or missing), poverty, children's school dropping, a considerable percentage of Indigenous people in jail, poor health conditions, and poor living standards (Indigenous people are living like third to fourth world living condition). Then, she gave the audience some examples of the political leader's commitment to solving Indigenous people's problems and how much the Indigenous people had gained from those commitments. The truth is Indigenous people didn't gain much from those who have the power in Canada. That's why many activists are working hard to make the change. That's why the writer said, "The Idle No More movement initiated a massive push for change, and a huge number of activists have been channelling their energy to get-out-the-vote initiatives like Indigenous Rock the Vote." (Nancy Mcdonald, 2015, p. 3)

 

The writer Nancy Macdonald mentioned some quotations from different Indigenous scholars, including Wab Kinew (an author and university administrator), Hayden King (an Indigenous scholar), and Justice Murray Sinclair (the Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair), to support her points. Justice Murray Sinclair knew that the federal government would be the slowest to react and take any necessary actions to solve problems for the Indigenous community. However, the government is primarily responsible for this discriminative situation with the Indigenous community. Now, the only thing that can move them from their current policy is the vote; if voters want to change the case, the government will. Because they need the votes to keep the power, that's why it's essential to educate everyone about the Indigenous crisis. Then, more people will become aware of giving the right to the Indigenous community. The Federal government will have no choice but to take the right policy to treat the Indigenous community. Hayden King mentioned that Canadians have become very sensitive to humanitarian issues in the world. This attitude is excellent, but at the same time, they do not care about the Indigenous problems. All humans should always be treated the same, but Canadian decision-makers didn't include the Indigenous people in this issue. They have been fighting for a long time to achieve their right.

 

Reference:      

Macdonald, M. (October 2015). A Deafening Silence (Volume 128, Issue 40, p. 1- 4.). Maclean's

Freeman, V. (2010). "Toronto Has No History!"

 Freeman, V. (2010). "Toronto Has No History!" Indigeneity, Settler Colonialism, and Historical

 

A)      After reading the article, I was struck by the untapped potential of Toronto's rich urbanization history of Indigenous people. This history, if properly recognized and celebrated, could be a powerful tool to attract tourists, offering a unique perspective on the city's past. Currently, when newcomers arrive in Canada or prepare for citizenship, they are primarily exposed to the history of European settlers, a narrative that overlooks the significant contributions of Indigenous communities.

B)      “He explained that according to tradition, Toronto had been one of the stopping places of his ancestors on the Great Migration of the Anishinaabeg from the east coast.  “We stayed quite a while,’ he added, but “in 1847, we were removed from this place.” He paused before continuing somewhat bemusedly: “I’m asked to come and celebrate this city, but the city itself kind of moved us out.” (Freeman, 2010, P. 21). Here, we can get information that Indigenous people had built the city and were removed from their land. After a long time, they were called to celebrate the city, but they are the outsiders now.

“Yet historical memory is always fluctuating, contested, and precarious, especially in Toronto, a city of newcomers, where half its current residents were born outside of Canada” (Freeman, 2010, P. 31). I found it very accurate. I was a newcomer, too. Now, become Canadian. I didn’t know about this Indigenous history in Toronto. Most people I know are newcomers; they also don’t know about it. I have met some aged white Canadians. Also, they never mention it or might not even know about the rich Indigenous history of urbanization.

Reference:

Freeman, V. (2010). "Toronto Has No History!" Indigeneity, Settler Colonialism, and Historical

Memory in Canada's Largest City. Urban History Review, 38(2), 21-35,88. https://login.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/toronto-has-no-history-indigeneity-settler/docview/216510498/se-2

In Search of a Perfect World - CBC Documentary

1.      Guatemala and Canada

 

A.     Based on the documentary, explain what is happening in Guatemala and how Canada is involved.

 

Guatemala’s government is taking land for mining from the Indigenous people, and most of the mining companies are Canadian. These mining companies had made deals with the Guatemalan government and gave them benefits, but the Indigenous people didn’t get anything, not even a notification.

 

B.     What can the Canadian government do to uphold Human Rights in Guatemala?

 

The Canadian government can ask the Guatemalan government to ensure that the compensation and agreement with the Indigenous people have been made; then, the work will start.

 

C.     Do you see any similarities between Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala and Canada? What are they?

 

Yes, there are similarities between the Indigenous people in Guatemala and Canada. In both countries, the land has been taken without the landowner’s Indigenous people’s permission, communication or even with any compensation.

 

D.     Are Indigenous Peoples “Equal Before the Law” in Guatemala? In Canada? Explain your answer.

 

Indigenous people are not getting “Equal Before the law” in Guatemala or Canada. In both countries, Indigenous people are losing their land without notice, communication, permission, or compensation, which they have owned for centuries. According to the United Nation’s declaration, they have equal rights as country inhabitants. But nowhere are they getting that right. If anyone asked for the right, they were stopped violently forever.

 

In Canada, it is a law that Indigenous people from Guatemala can sue a Canadian company for violating their human rights. Because Canadian companies operate from Canada, their work is accountable in Canada.

 

But the Canadian Indigenous people don’t have the same rights. They can’t sue any company that has taken their land.

 

2.      Refuges and Migrants

 

A.     Why do people flee?

There is a Myth that people flee for better living or to live in the first better country. But the reality is that people fly or migrants to save their lives; there is no option. If they return to their country, their lives will be in danger. They might get killed.

 

 

B.     What are the two types of rights that the documentary mentions in relation to Refugees and Migrants? Are they being respected? Why/Why Not?

 

Article 25 of the declaration: everyone’s entitled to a decent standard of living, and mothers and children need special care.  

 

Article 14 of the declaration: the right to asylum.

 

None of them are respected, not even in the refugee camps regulated by the UN. The UN doesn’t provide enough funding or help to fulfil the requirements of the camp workers or volunteers.

           

Many political leaders wanted to keep the refugee camp as poor as possible. Because they think that the refugees will be discouraged from coming to the refugee camp.

 

Though, that is not working. To stop refugees, world leaders need to prevent violence in the countries. Because fleeing from any country isn’t any luxury, people do this because they don’t have any other option to survive.

 

3.      Using the Case of Turkey in the Film, answer the question, “Why is Freedom of Speech and Media” important?

 

 

Freedom of Speech and Media are essential because they tell the facts and truth about what is happening worldwide. The people in power, those who discriminate against others to achieve their own goals, don’t like that.

 

4.      What is your biggest takeaway on the Promise of Human Rights? How can we (as Community Workers) work to uphold Human Rights? Back up your assertions.

 

 

Human rights are not maintained for the Indigenous people not only in Canada but in other countries, too. The most significant takeaway from this video is that some greedy Canadians also discriminate against Indigenous people in other countries. People from different countries, Indigenous people, and Canadian Indigenous people should have the right to sue companies that take resources from the Indigenous land.

As a community worker, I can work with them and empower them. My first step would be to make more people aware of Indigenous people’s rights. I can share my knowledge with my family, friends, colleagues, classmates, etc. The more people are aware, the more chances the government will be pushed to work for Indigenous people. Because the government needs votes to win the election of power, they will care what the majority demands.