User:Jassimrit Mohindru/Settler colonialism in Canada

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The most prominent political issues that are caused by settler colonialism today are about land rights and pipelines.

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Climate Change (add a section under the "Ongoing effects of colonialism in Canada" title)

A protest that conveys the social and environmental effects of climate change

Climate change has many drivers and affects everyone on the planet. However, it has historically affected marginalized communities the most and has been called "a contemporary manifestation of colonialism". Due to their relationship with nature, Indigenous peoples in Canada have claimed to feel physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual distress at the way the Earth is being polluted. Climate change could be considered a form of slow violence against Indigenous peoples. Slow violence is a form of long-term violence in which the effects are hard to see unless one looks back at history. It can be argued that the violence is not targeted because climate change affects everyone to some extent.

It is an established fact that climate change and poverty are a cycle. Those living in poverty are more likely to feel both the direct and indirect impacts of climate change (natural disasters, more expensive food, etc.), which in turn takes away opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty. In Canada, the percentage of Indigenous versus non-Indigenous people living in poverty is much higher. Thus, it can be concluded that Indigenous tribes, particularly those living on reserves, are at a higher risk.

Studies have shown that those living in northern Canada face more climate-related risks than those living in the southern half. This is in part due to the pre-existing disparity in infrastructure. As the world faces warmer temperatures and ice melts, the primarily Indigenous population of the north is unable to predict weather patterns. This interferes with their ability to hunt, fish, track, and stay connected to their culture.

The unequal effects that climate change has on marginalized communities have prompted a rise of interest in the topics of environmental racism and environmental justice.

Land Rights

Protester holding sign stating No Pipeline, No Consent, during a Kinder Morgan Pipeline Rally on September 9th, 2017 in Vancouver, Canada

The purpose of settler colonialism was to claim land and resources. Canada was claimed by European monarchies as if there was no pre-existing population. Though settlers were able to take control of the land hundreds of years ago, Indigenous land claim movements and rallies continue to this day. Since land plays an integral role in Indigenous culture and helps form one's identity, colonizing land is seen as equivalent to stealing people's identity.

Land acknowledgments have recently become popular in Canada. They can be found at schools and events, on websites, in people's personal and professional social media and more. These acknowledgments are a way to foster reconciliation between the Canadian Government and Indigenous peoples. Despite the acknowledgement that land was stolen, the Canadian government has made no move to relinquish authority and continue to back projects on these lands that are opposed by Indigenous people.

For more information on current land rights protests see 2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests.

Water scarcity (add as a section under the "Ongoing effects of colonialism in Canada" title)

Water scarcity has been an ongoing issue for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Though most people have access to water, the freshwater supply and sanitation in Canada is not inclusive. Indigenous peoples in Canada are more likely to suffer from water scarcity than their non-Indigenous counterparts. The government's inaction could be considered part of the slow violence against tribes. This insecurity is due to both climate change in general and water pollution. As more people immigrated, demand for products continued to go up which has led to water pollution by oil sands, fertilizers, and more. This capitalist society developed due to European settlers.