Greetings readers. Today I would like to draw a link from bilingualism in Canada to racial discrimination against First Nations. But before I do this, I would first like to express that this is just from my perspective and my experiences.
Canada is a vast country. In fact, we’re the second largest country (land-wise) on the planet. It’s full of people from different racial backgrounds and different religious beliefs, yet despite this massive mix of people, the majority of Canada subscribes to the “we are bilingual” idea which effectively undermines other cultures – including but not limited to First Nations.
My home reserve is across a river from a French community (Campbellton, NB), and neighbour to another French community (Pointe-a-la-Croix, QC) so I know a lot about bilingualism in the real world – bilingualism in practice and not on paper. I’ve stood in line at stores in Campbellton with cashiers who made no effort to speak English to an English-speaking customer.
I’m not trying to say that French people are evil or ignorant, because I’ve seen English people refuse to speak French to French customers as well.
So where do Indians fit in in this language circle? Apparently nowhere.
Bilingualism is a club that only certain people can join. This is a wide sell to you, reader, so bear with me and it will all make sense shortly.
In 1981, my home reserve (Listuguj, QC) was raided by the Quebec Provincial Police in what has since been known as the worst assault on Aboriginal peoples in centuries. I wasn’t alive in ’81, but something so close to home is felt, from stories and, luckily for us, photographic evidence of abuses.
The raid happened because members of my community refused to remove fishing nets fom the Restigouche river. For most in Listuguj, fishing and hunting is a way of making money and feeding the family.
When people from my community go into Campbellton and try to get jobs, one of the first questions asked is, “Are you bilingual?” to which the answer is, “Yes, Mi’kmaq and English,” and the reply to that question was, at one time, “That’s not being bilingual.”
So I ask you this: is that fair?
Is it not our god-given right to fish and hunt and feed ourselves? Despite 1981 being almost 30 years ago, this is still news to most people.
In 1984, Aboriginal filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin directed a short film – Incident at Restigouche – with both members of the community and the government telling their side of the story. Please watch it and let me know what you think. I’m out of space, so check back shortly and I’ll have the second part finished.
