In European literature, there is a trope called the "noble savage". It's the foundation for the "Indian Industry" in Canada today. This trope envisages that somehow, a native living in a forest is a more pure form of homo sapien, more peacable, more in touch with and respectful of Nature than the rest of us.
This trope was typically employed in highly censored societies to protect the author from imprisonment or worse. A well written and brilliant example is Voltaire's Ingenu about a Huron Indian that visits Bourbon France.
I encourage readers to visit gutenberg.org where they can download a free copy. It's witty, droll and cutting at times. Ms. Arora is likely is unaware that she's on the Noble Savage Trope Train to nowhere or she is simply employing the verbal weapons of our times. Funny isn't it that she doesn't offer to evacuate BC on the first train out as a form of restorative penance for her ancestors' failures.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your comment. This is my Substack and I write what I write. Feel free to write a cogent rebuttal in your own Substack and demonstrate your understanding of the systems at play so you can educate us mouth breathing right wingers on how it really is. Have a nice day.
Just because you’re a policy writer doesn’t give you agency over anyone else. History is history. Perhaps she upset your groupthink narrative by stating the truth. Through your work you saw what you wanted and was led to see, which creates bias. Historical facts like these need to be taught more widely because they challenge the status quo of lies, misinformation and sound bites. As someone who married a man with a Métis name, and spent his entire working career working with FN communities, I can assure you that this column was spot on.
"i seem to think First Nations leadership across Canada have been striving for reciprocity in all affairs." Except for turning a blind eye to the rampant rates of incest and rape in their communities, and denying women of their FN status and rights, when they try to flee abusive relationships on their reserve. You clearly have no interest in any truth I may tell you here, by believing this nonsense. I won't waste any more time trying to explain it.
I’ll add, regarding indigenous leadership, that I stand by what I wrote. I do indeed put the ball squarely in the court of leadership, to lead their people into the future they wish to have. Blaming others and stewing in victimhood removes agency, I wrote that and stand by it. Sure, you make valid points about things that could be examined and addressed. What’s happening now isn’t doing that though, it’s creating division and stoking fear and hurt and that’s not a recipe for anyone’s successful future, least of all indigenous people.
My piece was a response to a BC MLA telling Canadians we are all settlers. I reject the notion that I’m a guest in the land of my birth. I will not be a guest in the land of my birth.
I don’t own land and never will.
My essay features my family history to show I have Métis in my matrilineage, and many Canadians likely have indigenous or Métis lineage in their family tree.
Point being, it’s not as easy as drawing a line and putting “colonisers” on one side the “colonised” on the other side. Anyone who thinks history can be cured like this is a performative self serving idiot. This rhetoric divides people.
And now those who worked hard to have a house and property are left wondering if their life’s work will be taken. It’s not a recipe for “reconciliation” which is on life support and dying a slow painful death.
If Ms Arora wants to take responsibility for historical wrongs then she can trot out the story of the Duplessis Orphans, of Mount Cashel, of the St. Louis, of the Komagata Maru. History is filled with wrongdoing.
Point being—people who are living now cannot be blamed for the things that dead people did many years ago. It’s unreasonable and narcissistic for progressives to take that approach to resolving the issues outstanding.
Ms Arora can be a guest in the land of her birth if she wants to that’s her choice and she best not force that onto others to relieve her woke guilt.
Great article! This needs to be shared widely! Pitch it to the National Post? Or CBC 🤣
Fabulous. I agree that it should be published and recirculated widely.
In European literature, there is a trope called the "noble savage". It's the foundation for the "Indian Industry" in Canada today. This trope envisages that somehow, a native living in a forest is a more pure form of homo sapien, more peacable, more in touch with and respectful of Nature than the rest of us.
This trope was typically employed in highly censored societies to protect the author from imprisonment or worse. A well written and brilliant example is Voltaire's Ingenu about a Huron Indian that visits Bourbon France.
I encourage readers to visit gutenberg.org where they can download a free copy. It's witty, droll and cutting at times. Ms. Arora is likely is unaware that she's on the Noble Savage Trope Train to nowhere or she is simply employing the verbal weapons of our times. Funny isn't it that she doesn't offer to evacuate BC on the first train out as a form of restorative penance for her ancestors' failures.
A great article, thank you for writing.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your comment. This is my Substack and I write what I write. Feel free to write a cogent rebuttal in your own Substack and demonstrate your understanding of the systems at play so you can educate us mouth breathing right wingers on how it really is. Have a nice day.
Just because you’re a policy writer doesn’t give you agency over anyone else. History is history. Perhaps she upset your groupthink narrative by stating the truth. Through your work you saw what you wanted and was led to see, which creates bias. Historical facts like these need to be taught more widely because they challenge the status quo of lies, misinformation and sound bites. As someone who married a man with a Métis name, and spent his entire working career working with FN communities, I can assure you that this column was spot on.
"i seem to think First Nations leadership across Canada have been striving for reciprocity in all affairs." Except for turning a blind eye to the rampant rates of incest and rape in their communities, and denying women of their FN status and rights, when they try to flee abusive relationships on their reserve. You clearly have no interest in any truth I may tell you here, by believing this nonsense. I won't waste any more time trying to explain it.
I’ll add, regarding indigenous leadership, that I stand by what I wrote. I do indeed put the ball squarely in the court of leadership, to lead their people into the future they wish to have. Blaming others and stewing in victimhood removes agency, I wrote that and stand by it. Sure, you make valid points about things that could be examined and addressed. What’s happening now isn’t doing that though, it’s creating division and stoking fear and hurt and that’s not a recipe for anyone’s successful future, least of all indigenous people.
Thanks for the dialogue.
My piece was a response to a BC MLA telling Canadians we are all settlers. I reject the notion that I’m a guest in the land of my birth. I will not be a guest in the land of my birth.
I don’t own land and never will.
My essay features my family history to show I have Métis in my matrilineage, and many Canadians likely have indigenous or Métis lineage in their family tree.
Point being, it’s not as easy as drawing a line and putting “colonisers” on one side the “colonised” on the other side. Anyone who thinks history can be cured like this is a performative self serving idiot. This rhetoric divides people.
And now those who worked hard to have a house and property are left wondering if their life’s work will be taken. It’s not a recipe for “reconciliation” which is on life support and dying a slow painful death.
If Ms Arora wants to take responsibility for historical wrongs then she can trot out the story of the Duplessis Orphans, of Mount Cashel, of the St. Louis, of the Komagata Maru. History is filled with wrongdoing.
Point being—people who are living now cannot be blamed for the things that dead people did many years ago. It’s unreasonable and narcissistic for progressives to take that approach to resolving the issues outstanding.
Ms Arora can be a guest in the land of her birth if she wants to that’s her choice and she best not force that onto others to relieve her woke guilt.