Governor-General Apologizes for Referring to Indigenous People as Immigrants

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by peter12

Most tone-deaf statement of the thread so far.

Just responding to a general theme being raised in this thread that is asking why First Nations are any different from the rest of us Canadians in that we all "immigrated" here at some point.

Well, to first point out, many aboriginal people don't even consider themselves yo be Canadians in the first place and certainly don't subscribe to the immigrant myth making stories we've conjured up for ourselves to build national cohesion.

But please, I'm eager to hear why this is "tone deaf."

[CliffFletcher]

And many Quebecois don't consider themselves Canadian. Or immigrants, either.

[OMG!WTF!]

I don't consider most first nations to be Canadian either but it's a freaking disaster when I say it.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by icecube

That's rich coming from you. You're the most eurocentric white supremacist voice on this forum by a long shot. You ooze colonialism.

Please provide links.

[Zarley]

So it sounds like most people have issue with the term "immigrant / immigration" which implies the existence of political geographic entities, which obviously were not around in their modern form during the time Beringia was crossed. Perhaps simply migration would be a more accurate term. Would there be any outrage had the GG said something along the lines of: "we can all trace our history to great migrations of some form, even our First Nations people" ?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Perhaps simply migration would be a more accurate term. Would there be any outrage had the GG said something along the lines of: "we can all trace our history to great migrations of some form, even our First Nations people" ?

Sounds great to me.

It's mostly because (in the current political climate) "immigrant" has a negative connotation. How can you blame some First Nations people for being upset? The comment is being excused by people saying "we're all immigrants, it's ok!" when some of the same people dishing out that excuse experience an extreme tone change when dealing with actual immigration issues.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sounds great to me.

It's mostly because (in the current political climate) "immigrant" has a negative connotation. How can you blame some First Nations people for being upset? The comment is being excused by people saying "we're all immigrants, it's ok!" when some of the same people dishing out that excuse experience an extreme tone change when dealing with actual immigration issues.

Oh man, this is too much.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by peter12

Oh man, this is too much.

"Oh man"
"Oh stop it"
"Oh Pepsi"

Let me go Peter. It's time to just let me go.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

"Oh man"
"Oh stop it"
"Oh Pepsi"

Let me go Peter. It's time to just let me go.

I love you too much.

[TheIronMaiden]

Interesting. How do you all feel about contemporary Canadian Citizens being called settlers?
This is the common way to address Canadians in post colonial discourse. It doesn't bother me to be called a settler or a treaty person, but I know a few people who are quite upset when they are called settlers or treaty people.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Interesting. How do you all feel about contemporary Canadian Citizens being called settlers?
This is the common way to address Canadians in post colonial discourse. It doesn't bother me to be called a settler or a treaty person, but I know a few people who are quite upset when they are called settlers or treaty people.

The term "settler" is technically correct, obviously, but I guess like "immigrant" it carries a pretty heavy political/moral load.

I have no problem being called a settler, except for the fact that one again it simplifies an incredibly complicated debate about what actually happened between white Europeans and indigenous people. It also oversimplifies Canadian identity - what about subsequent waves of mass immigration from China, and the rest of Asia? Are they spared the "settler" label? If you look at the current political conflict over resource redistribution from taxpayers to "status Indians," well obviously not.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Settler, like immigrant, really doesn't mean much after the first generation, in my opinion. It probably tells more of the person using the term, not the described person.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Settler, like immigrant, really doesn't mean much after the first generation, in my opinion. It probably tells more of the person using the term, not the described person.

You offend me sir and I demand restitution!

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Locke

You offend me sir and I demand restitution!

Would you settler for an I'm sorry?

[CliffFletcher]

Personally, I consider a settler to be a first generation immigrant who makes use of previously unused land. Not many settlers left in Canada.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Personally, I consider a settler to be a first generation immigrant who makes use of previously unused land. Not many settlers left in Canada.

How dare you.

Am I doing this right?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

How dare you.

Am I doing this right?

No, what you have to do is make an abstract claim to a meta-grievance that has no bearing on the current discussion.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by peter12

No, what you have to do is make an abstract claim to a meta-grievance that has no bearing on the current discussion.

You wouldn't call me a settler, if I was brown.

[CliffFletcher]

Let's keep in mind that land settlement has been happening all over the globe since forever. Dry pastureland in Central Asia cultivated and tamed. Forest chopped down in Germany and turned into farmland. Irrigation and settled farming pushed into the highlands of Peru.

The people who previously hunted the land or used it for grazing their herds typically aren't very pleased. But then, neither are settled peoples pleased when nomadic tribes from afar swoop down to loot, displace, or enslave them.

[Fuzz]

Canadaland discusses this here:
http://www.canadalandshow.com/podcas...neral-unquote/
just listening now.