Chapter 9 Imposition of Liberalism

• Indigenous Canada: The importance of the collective. Indigenous traditions provide a different interpretation of progress than that of liberalism. Tradition and continuity are important. Importance of elders and their wisdom. Group needs are more important than individual needs. Indigenous Justice: Sentencing Circles
• Indigenous Canada: The ideal situation, as it was envisioned by many liberal thinners, would be for Indigenous peoples to give up their own ideologies and adopt liberalism. This is often referred to as a policy of assimilation. This kind of thinking informed government policy in British North America, and later Canada, in the early days of contact with First Nations and Inuit peoples and continued to do so for many years. 
• Imposition of Liberalism on the INdigenous Peoples of Canada: The Gradual Civilization Act, passed in 1857, was another example of an attempt to assimilate First Nations into western society. A First Nations man who gave up on his Official Indian Status would be given 50 acres of land on the reserve, also receive his share of treaty settlements and band money 
• Imposition of Liberalism on the Indigenous Peoples of Canada: Only one person was enfranchised this way and Indigenous people protested against this act
• The Indian Act: Passed in 1876. It separated First Nations people from the rest of the people of Canada and was used to control their behavior
• The Indian Act: It destroyed First Nations culture, traditions and customs. It encouraged Indigenous people to abandon their Indian status, identity and traditional cultures to become full-fledged members of Canadian society
• The White Paper: Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau wanted all citizens to be ‘Canadian’. 1969, trudeau issued the so called “White Paper”
• The White Paper: Proposed: To abolish the treaties, the Dept. of Indian Affairs, and anything else that kept First Nations people distinct from the rest of the people in Canada. Canadian government decision without consulting Indigenous people 
• The Red Paper: In response the National Indian Brotherhood published “Citizens Plus,” known as the Red Paper. Outlined their objections to the government’s proposed policy changes
• The Red Paper: The federal government withdrew the White Paper. Nothing about us without us 
• Indigenous Issues: Non fulfillment of Treaty Rights. 60s Scoop - Child Welfare Abuses. 1982: Charter of Rights and Freedoms enshrined Collective Rights of Indigenous Peoples (FNMI). Land Claims (remember the Oka Case Study) 
• Indigenous Issues: 1995: Royal Commission on Indigenous People that had many recommendations, but failed to deliver them. 2008: Apology on behalf of the canadian government by Prime Minister Harper. 2009 - 2015: Truth and Reconciliation Commission 
• Enfranchised - given the right to vote; citizenship
• Can liberalism be Imposed: Two of the biggest reasons some countries attempt to impose ideologies, such as liberalism on other countries are: self-interest and Humanitarianism
• Can Liberalism be imposed: Self-interest - The imposition of liberalism to eliminate or reduce terrorist threats, or for reasons of economic self-interest
• Can Liberalism be Imposed: Humanitarianism - The imposition of liberalism for moral or ethical reasons, such as to improve living conditions or stop human rights violations. 
• Self-Interest: Woodrow Wilson insisted democracy be an essential part of the peace treaty with Germany in 1918. Weimar Republic. The belief is that a country that embraces liberalism is less likely to threaten the security of other liberal democracies. Alliances 
• Humanitarianism: We are somewhat familiar with these events: UN peacekeeping missions, foreign aid, human rights, etc. Tied Aid. War Lords, dictators, or authoritarian leaders are often criticized for non-liberal practices 
• Why can Liberalism Fail? Liberalism has taken a long time to develop and it is continuously changing, this makes it difficult to implement quickly. Liberal democracy has difficulty surviving in conditions such as unemployment, inflation and civil unrest 
• American "Exceptionalism" - Over the last two centuries, prominent Americans have described the United States as an “empire of liberty,” a “shining city on a hill”  the “last best hope of Earth,” the “leader of the free world,” and the “indispensable nation"