Re - Indian Act article

Rem Westland | Mar 11, 2020

Out here in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, editions of The Frontenac News arrive a bit later than they do in Sharbot Lake. My eye is on the edition of 20 February.

I agree with a lot of what Mr. Hillier wrote in his article "Ending the Indian Act". What his article lacks, and Jeff Green's critique lacks as well, is perspective.

We forget that Indigenous-Settler relations in our part of the world began over 400 years ago. That is an extremely long period of time, for western-style civilization in any event. Champlain arrived at the Isle St. Croix, just around the corner from here, in 1604.

Robbie Allen, in his book "His Majesty's Indian Allies", makes the point that the relationship between Indigenous people and Europeans was more or less equal in British North America for over two hundred years. That, too, is a very long period of time. Many historians say that Canada would never have happened without military alliance systems that lasted well into the 1800s. Meaningful links between Indigenous and non-indigenous economies survived the heyday of fur and are slowly gaining strength again all across the country. 

There have been many failed and hurtful policies since 1867. There are many failing and hurtful policies being promulgated by the federal and provincial governments today. Even the worst of bad policies were rarely, however, and are not today, inspired by bad people. We have to keep trying to get it right. 

We have a lot of positive experience behind us. When we look back far enough, we have every reason for confidence. 

Rem Westland