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Multiculturalism and the Aboriginal Peoples in Canada
The challenges posed by ethnic minorities have compelled many a modern state to accept multiculturalism as state policy. Canada’s contributions to development of the theory and practice of multiculturalism are well known. However, within Canada itself there are segments like the aboriginal peoples who consider that multiculturalism does not adequately address their problems, experiences and concerns. Looking at different trajectories that have shaped Canadian multiculturalism, this article throws light on the aboriginal critique of multiculturalism and shows how the indigenous peoples of Canada have been shaping their own future outside the framework of multiculturalism.
The first draft of the article was submitted to the International Conference on “Multiculturalism and Its Discontent: Canada and India”, organised by the Indian Association for Canadian Studies at Jodhpur on 29-31 January 2012.
Of late, there has been a growing recognition that almost all modern states are, in fact, multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-nation states. Earlier in many a country, the dominant nations which held state power followed the policy of assimilation and attempted to homogenise the minorities – the tribals and indigenous peoples, linguistic and religious minorities, and smaller ethnic groups/nations, by imposing a dominant national culture, language and religion. But with different minorities asserting their autonomy and identity, modern states have realised the limitations of the “melting pot” theory. Increasing opposition to assimilation, movements for cultural identity and social justice and struggles for political autonomy/independence have compelled the modern states – western as well as non-western – to respond to the challenges by devising strategies that accommodate the minorities’ quest for identity and autonomy within the ambit of the nation state. Multiculturalism is one such conscious intervention espoused to deal with the challenges of growing diversities.
The Canadian Model
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