JANUARY 2015 · A climate of trust is essential in any conversations of race and racism. Teachers...

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News in Review, January 2015

1. Our Canada: Are We Racist? (Duration: 17:50)

2. Oil Price Plunge (Duration: 16:03)

3. First Nations Land Disputes (Duration: 17:47)

4. Canada and China Relations (Duration: 14:46)

JANUARY 2015

News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 1

CONTENTS

In This Issue ........................................................................................................ 2

Our Canada: Are We Racist?

Setting the tone ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Having a “courageous conversation” – Is Canada racist? ............................................................................. 5

Video review ................................................................................................................................................. 7

Written reflection ......................................................................................................................................... 9

Oil Price Plunge

Minds on ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Setting the Stage ......................................................................................................................................... 10

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 12

Climate change and the future of oil .......................................................................................................... 15

First Nations Land Disputes

Do Canadian treaties matter? ..................................................................................................................... 17

Digging deeper: Numbered treaties in Canada .......................................................................................... 18

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 20

Canada and China Relations

Minds on ..................................................................................................................................................... 23

Setting the stage ......................................................................................................................................... 23

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 25

What’s a FIPA? ............................................................................................................................................ 28

Trouble for Julia and Kevin Garratt ............................................................................................................. 29

JANUARY 2015


IN THIS ISSUE

Our Canada: Are We Racist? (Duration: 17:50) Many Canadians see their country as safe, clean and equal. But is that third notion really true? Do we

actually treat each other the same regardless of skin colour? Duncan McCue sets out to answer the big

question: are we racist?

News in Review Study Modules

Canada's Disgrace: Our Missing Aboriginal Women, October 2014

Michael Brown's Shooting: Racial Divide in America, October 2014

How Tolerant Are Canadians?, May 2010

Racism: Then and Now, October 2001

Related CBC Programs

The Book of Negroes

Diversity in Ads

Ideas (CBC Radio):

The Business of Race

Is Race a Fiction?

Massey Lectures 2013 ‐ Blood: The Stuff of Life

Ipperwash, Dudley George and Police Surveillance

ReVision Quest Volume 2: Racism and the Olympics (CBC Radio)

White Privilege: Does It Exist?

Who Do We Think We Are?

Oil Price Plunge (Duration: 16:03) Falling oil prices this past fall may have made consumers happy as they paid far less at the gas pumps.

But what does it really mean for Canadian industry and, ultimately, the economy?


Oil and the Dollar: The Canadian Crunch, December 2005

Energy Shock: The Rising Price of Oil, November 2004

Rising Oil Prices: The New Energy Crisis, April 2000


The Cost of Living

The Next Energy Crisis: Taking Responsibility

JANUARY 2015


First Nations Land Disputes (Duration: 17:47) Since Europeans first arrived in Canada, non‐Natives have laid claim to lands that were once under the

control of the Native population. Increasingly First Nations people are asking for their land rights to be

honoured. Here are two very different cases where a land dispute could leave someone in financial ruin.


Idle No More: A Protest for Aboriginal Rights , March 2013

Native Rights: Sharing Resources, November 1999

Nunavut: Birth of a Territory, April 1999

Oka, September 1990


8th Fire: Whose Land Is It Anyway?

Canada: A People's History: Taking the West

"Got Land": The Controversial T‐shirt Slogan

Ipperwash, Dudley George and Police Surveillance

This Land is My Land: Nisga'a First Nation Moves to Privatize Land (The Current, CBC Radio)

Canada and China Relations (Duration: 14:46) China is Canada's second largest trading partner but not always a political ally. This edition of News in

Review looks at the complications that arise between countries when money conflicts with values.


Hong Kong: The Umbrella Revolution, November 2014

Electronic Waste and China, December 2008

China and The Olympic Games, September 2008

Tibet, China and the Olympics, May 2008

Selling Nuclear Energy: Questions About Candu, February 1997


China Rises

China's Earthquake: The People in the Pictures

Voyage of the Black Dragon

News in Review – January 2015 – Teacher Resource Guide

OUR CANADA: Are We Racist?


SETTING THE TONE

Discussions of race and racism are emotional. When faced with uncomfortable and sensitive issues such as race, some people will “shut down” to avoid strong feelings.

A climate of trust is essential in any conversations of race and racism. Teachers should validate and enable student voice, identify and experiences by modeling attentive and respectful listening and dialogue.

Glenn E. Singleton and Cyndie Hays developed a helpful set of agreements that they found most helpful when talking about race in educational settings. They have named these purposeful and respectful discussions about race, “courageous conversations.”

The four main agreements of a courageous conversation are outlined here.

1. Stay Engaged Staying engaged and committed to having conversations about race is one way to commit to a culture of dialogue where important social problems can be examined. There may be patterns in participation based on racial groups. “Falling into silence” is one of the patterns of participation that Singleton and Hay analysed, “White participants often resort to silence in fear that their comments will be misconstrued as evidence of racist thinking, while participants of color may feel it is unsafe or futile to give voice to their inner thoughts.” The teacher should note patterns of silence and have students reflect on and share with each other what is giving rise to the silence. Pausing to allow students to write a few notes is helpful throughout difficult parts of the conversation.

2. Expect to Experience Discomfort This agreement acknowledges that talking about race and racism is difficult and awkward. People do not want to say anything that will potentially offend and are hesitant to speak openly and honestly about their own experiences, feelings and beliefs. All of us have been socialized into a set of racialized points of view, and we will likely experience discomfort when hearing viewpoints that challenge our own.

Singleton and Hays advise, “Participants should encourage one another to engage in self-examination of their racial identities and personal racial histories. We have found that full engagement and successful management of these intense emotions eventually give way to feelings of liberation.”

3. Speak Your Truth When having a courageous conversation, it is important to talk about what you believe is true based on your owned lived experiences. It is also important to acknowledge your feelings. Avoid talking about ideas in the “third person” such as “I heard someone say that…” or “Well I don’t believe this but I’ve heard some people say…” or “Let me play devil’s advocate for a minute.”

JANUARY 2015 – OUR CANADA: ARE WE RACIST?


Singleton and Hays provide the following reflective questions that may be helpful to examine beliefs in a respectful manner.

Can you tell me what you mean when you say…?

Is it possible for you to say more about…?

Have the thoughts you shared been shaped by others, or is this your own personal perspective?

Why do you think others might want to challenge your perspective?

4. Expect and Accept a Lack of Closure

Courageous conversations are never complete, either in the classroom or the “real world.” There will be no final resolution to the complex issues raised. Accepting and acknowledging this fact before, during and after the conversation honours the dynamic nature of the issues involved.

Source: Singleton, G. E. & Hays, C. (2008). Beginning courageous conversations about race. In M. Pollock (Ed.), Everyday antiracism: Getting real about race in school. The New Press: tolerance.org/tdsi/sites/tolerance.org.tdsi/ files/assets/general/TDSI_Singleton__Hays.pdf

HAVING A “COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION” – Is Canada Racist?

This question veils complexity within its three words. What do we mean when we say “Canada”? Do we mean our laws and government? Do we mean people who work for the government and law enforcement? Does the term “Canada” mean every Canadian citizen or person that lives in Canada? Does the question include past events or does it address the present day only?

The question, “Is Canada racist?” is actually a placeholder question or umbrella question that gets us to think about a range of other specific questions about race in Canada in order to successfully address the question.

Below are some questions to discuss in class, using the four agreements of courageous conversations:

Questions on Race

a) What is race? Who defines race? How do you define race?

b) Is race an important part of your identity? Why or why not?

c) How do you feel when other people define you by a racial identity? Why?

d) Are concepts of race changing over time? Do concepts of race change within cultures?

e) Is race an easy or a challenging concept to discuss? Why?

f) Will race exist in the future?

Questions on Racism

a) What is racism? Who defines racism? How do you define racism?

b) How does racism impact your life?

c) How do you feel when talking about racism?

d) Why is racism a personal and a social and an institutional problem?

e) Has racism in Canada changed over time?

f) Does racism in Canada still exist?

g) What is “white privilege”? Do you agree that it exists? Why or why not?

h) Are people taught racism? How and why?



Questions on Racism (continued)

i) Is it possible to be “colour-blind”? Why or why not?

j) Will racism exist in the future?

Questions on Racism in Canada

a) What examples of institutional racism can you detail from Canadian history?

b) Are all races in Canada treated equally in terms of education, health care, the legal system, employment opportunities and within the immigration system?

c) Are all races equally represented in positions of power in government, business and in popular media in Canada?

d) Do you think Canadians are more or less racist than other nations? Why do you think this is?

e) Is Canada attempting to be a more diverse and tolerant society? How so?

f) Are you committed to breaking down barriers between races in your school and community? How so?

g) What has been your personal experience with racism in Canada?

Furthering Your Understanding

Visit the following websites that explore race and the experience of racism:

American Anthropological Association: Understanding Race Exhibit

understandingrace.org/home.html

CBC’s Your Community Blog: #My ExperienceWithRacism

cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/11/myexperiencewithracism‐canadians‐share‐their‐

stories‐with‐cbcca.html

1. Once you have explored the materials on these sites, reconsider some of the courageous

conversation questions you have discussed in light of your new knowledge.

2. Create new questions that you would like to explore based on your new learning.



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

1. a) Read the article, “Test Yourself for Hidden Bias,” posted at the Teaching for Tolerance website: tolerance.org/Hidden-bias. The article defines important terms, explains how we learn prejudice, details the effects of bias, and outlines what you can do about unconscious stereotypes and prejudice. It also links to a well-known Harvard test that measures unconscious bias.

b) Create a visual organizer that summarizes and connects important information from the article.

While viewing

1. The number of mixed race couples in Canada has doubled since 1991 to almost five percent. TRUE FALSE

2. Describe three examples of racism experienced by people interviewed in the story.

3. What experiment design was created by Kerry Kawakami to study the psychology of prejudice?

4. How did the disappearance and death of Tina Fontaine demonstrate social indifference to Aboriginal women?

5. Prime Minister Harper considers the death of Tina Fontaine a crime rather than a sociological phenomenon. TRUE FALSE

6. How do Roland Jean and Jen Agg compare Canada and the United States in terms of racism?



Post‐viewing

1. To what degree to you agree or disagree with Stephen Harper’s statement that the deaths of Aboriginal women are individual crimes and not a sociological phenomenon?

2. Consider the experiment featured in the video.

a) Do you have any questions for the experimenter? If not, imagine a few questions that could be asked about this experiment. Either way, list your questions.

b) Do you think the experiment should be changed in any way? Why or why not?

3. Compare Kerry Kawakami’s experiment in the video to this informal social experiment that received national attention on YouTube after the Ottawa Shooting incidents of October 22, 2014:

Canadians React to Racism After Ottawa Shooting: youtube.com/watch?v=p9rFprD_Qf4

What conclusions could you draw from this experiment? Do you think it has more or less credibility or validity than Kerry Kawakami’s experiment? How do the two experiments differ in intent, design, validity, reliability and ethical considerations?



WRITTEN REFLECTION

Choose two of the following quotes and write a personal reflection on how the quotes resonate with you:

“Today’s 12‐year‐olds are keenly aware of racial subtleties that would likely be invisible to people of

my mom’s generation — different shades, parental influences, subtle mixes. Living in an era of mixed

races doesn’t mean the obliteration of race — it means the creation of whole new complex categories.

But it also means, one hopes, that these categories cease to hold so much significance.” – Hune‐Brown, Nicholas (February 12, 2013). Mixie Me. Toronto Life.

Retrieved from: torontolife.com/informer/features/2013/02/12/mixie‐me/5/

“Is it too late to say I don’t like talking about race? It makes me uncomfortable, as it does so many

other Canadians, There’s a distinctly Canadian feeling, that, if we all act halfway decent and just ignore

it, the race thing will more or less sort itself out. There’s also a sense, even in conscientiously liberal

circles, that those who natter on about racism or ‘identity politics’ are, if not whiners, exactly, then

definitely a little tiresome. I feel it, believe me. Of all the many privileges that come with whiteness,

being able to ignore race entirely is one of the most precious.” – Hune‐Brown, Nicholas (February 12, 2013). Mixie Me. Toronto Life.

Retrieved from: torontolife.com/informer/features/2013/02/12/mixie‐me/6/

“If racism was born out of an over‐active imagination, it lingers today due to a lack of one. The

universe hasn’t revealed a new paradigm for discrimination that will satisfy our yet burning desire to

create social hierarchies and groups.” – Mann, Jagdeesh (November 11, 2013). Does race sill matter in Vancouver? Asian Pacific Post.

Retrieved from: asianpacificpost.com/article/5846‐does‐race‐still‐matter‐vancouver.html

“Yet only comedians from a minority background can get away with making racial jokes. Because

racism is still a two‐headed beast that involves laughter and pain, a white comedian cannot make the

same jokes.” – Mann, Jagdeesh (November 11, 2013). Does race sill matter in Vancouver? Asian Pacific Post.

Retrieved from: asianpacificpost.com/article/5846‐does‐race‐still‐matter‐vancouver.html


OIL PRICE PLUNGE


MINDS ON

Canada is the 5th largest producer of natural gas, crude oil and energy in the world. In fact, the petroleum sector employs 550 000 Canadians (either directly or indirectly) and accounts for $18 billion in revenue for Canada’s federal and provincial governments.

How would a drastic drop in the price of oil mean affect people relying on this sector of the economy?

SETTING THE STAGE

Nobody saw this one coming. After reaching a high of $107 a barrel in the summer of 2014, oil prices plunged more than 50 per cent, closing at just under $50 a barrel by early 2015. And as the price plummeted, nervous energy sector workers looked on in shock, wondering what the future had in store for them. The free fall in the price of oil became the business story of 2014.

Too much oil It is naïve to think that oil prices could either remain stable or even keep going up. History has been very clear: oil is a commodity and responds to the business cycle like any other commodity. Supply and demand will either drive the price of oil up or down depending on how much crude is available. In the fall of 2014, it became very clear that there was a glut of oil on the market and the price of crude spiralled downward.

Definition – Glut An excessive quantity, surplus or oversupply.

Why the glut? One of the contributing factors to the emergence of the oil glut has to do with countries like Canada and the United States finding ways to enter the oil game. Canada has managed to tap into the huge supply of oil sands crude in Alberta and exploit oil reserves off the coast of Newfoundland. In the United States, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling have allowed our neighbour to the south to extract their own oil and become major oil producers. Thus, the era of importing oil has been replaced by an era of extraction and self-sufficiency. Similar enterprises have emerged around the world, creating an oil glut as too many sellers appeal to too few buyers.

Another factor is the push towards sustainable energy. Cars and trucks have become more fuel efficient. Many nations are replacing coal power with more environmentally friendly alternatives, with some investing heavily in wind and solar power. This has created less need for crude as we move to a greener approach to energy consumption — a prospect that will continue to grow as we head deeper into the 21st century.

JANUARY 2015 – OIL PRICE PLUNGE


Losers The oil glut has created an energy market with very low crude prices. This stands to have a negative effect on the Canadian oil industry. Oil sands extraction in particular is costly, with the breakeven point hovering around $60 a barrel (the price of oil was under $50 a barrel on January 6, 2015). A sustained dip below the breakeven point will mean job losses and shutdowns in Alberta and, to a lesser extent, Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, offshore drillers in Newfoundland and Labrador will also have to buckle in for a bumpy ride if prices don’t go up. Just to be on the safe side, many oil sector companies have already put projects on hold and some subsidiary businesses have started to lay off employees.

Winners The manufacturing and service-based economies of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia stand to gain the most from low crude prices. Some financial analysts believe that these provinces may even outpace Alberta in terms of economic growth in 2015.

Other winners include anyone who has to put fuel into their vehicle. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians pump 41 billion litres of gas into their cars and trucks every year. A price drop of 20 cents a litre frees up $8 billion for consumers to spend. The question is: will they spend that money? With the per capita debt load of Canadians at record levels, will consumers be more inclined to bring what they owe under control rather than buy more goods and services?

To consider

1. Why was the falling price of oil the business story of 2014?

2. What factors contributed to the emergence of an oil glut?

3. a) Who stands to suffer the most if oil prices remain low?

b) Who stands to gain the most if oil prices remain low?



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

In March 2014, Maclean’s magazine published an article that many considered laughable. With oil prices seemingly stable at around $100 a barrel, reporter Jason Kirby wrote about Vancouver-based financial analyst Bob Hoye’s prediction that oil prices could go into a free-fall in the not too distant future. Hoye’s reasoning: demand for crude had peaked and the market was flooded with cheap oil. According to Hoye, the only place for oil prices to go was down.

1. Why would many people consider Hoye’s position to be laughable?

2. What is the strength of Hoye’s reasoning? Why did it appear that he was probably right on the money with his prediction?

While viewing

1. Who benefits when oil prices are low?

2. Who suffers when oil prices are low?

3. Why does Alberta need the price of oil to rebound to a higher level?

4. Who is OPEC and what did it do to drive the price of oil down?

5. How important is oil in terms of Canada’s overall economic growth?



6. How did Canada manage to turn the oil sands into a profitable economic initiative?

7. Which provinces benefited from the oil boom that started after 2000? Which provinces stumbled?

8. How high does the price of a barrel of oil need to be for energy companies to make money?

9. What are the likely consequences if oil slips below $60 per barrel?

10. Why is it dangerous to rely too much on one commodity — in Canada’s case oil — moving deeper into the 21st century?

11. a) How low do analysts at Morgan Stanley think oil prices could go in 2015?

b) What two factors could force the price of oil down?

12. How is Precision Drilling changing its short-term plans based on the low cost of oil?

13. a) How much tax revenue do economists at TD estimate governments have lost since the price of oil started dropping?

b) How many jobs does this kind of reduction represent?



14. What is the flipside of lower energy costs?

15. What is the relationship between a weaker dollar and falling oil prices?

16. Besides Canada, which other countries are feeling the pressure from plunging oil prices?

17. Why haven’t the Saudis taken steps to help improve the price of oil?

18. Who are cheap oil producers targeting by keeping the price of oil low?

Post‐viewing

In an effort to manage Alberta’s coffers when times are tough in the oil industry, the provincial government set up the Alberta Heritage Fund using energy-related revenue. The fund currently has a little over $17 billion waiting to be used, if and when it is needed.

Norway also has a fund that has been built by using revenue generated from its nation’s oil reserves. That fund currently has over $900 billion available for the people of Norway to access if needed.

Alberta has a population of just over 4 million. Norway has a population of just over 5 million.

In light of this information, consider the perspective of energy analyst Michael Lynch who, upon reflecting on falling oil prices, said, “I keep telling people, it’s not boom and boom, it’s boom and bust. People complain about short-termism in the private sector, but short-term thinking is also in government. Prices go up and people think this is how it’s going to stay, that they can keep spending money the way they had. But the good times don’t always last.” (Maclean’s, November 3, 2014)

How are the positions of Alberta and Norway reflected in the Lynch quote?



CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE FUTURE OF OIL

Lima’s ambitious climate goal In late 2015, the United Nations will hold its annual climate change conference in Paris, France. This event promises to be very contentious as UN member states attempt to come up with a legally binding, universal agreement on climate change with the need to dramatically curtail carbon emissions at the top of the agenda. The 2014 conference in Lima, Peru, was designed to set appropriate goals for the negotiating parties to work toward in Paris. One of those goals includes an ambitious attempt to get the nations of the world to agree to long-term zero-emissions standards by 2050. In the bargaining group’s view, developed nations would see their emissions peak in 2015 and then steadily decline to the point of carbon neutrality by 2050. The overall goal is to achieve negative carbon emissions by 2100 (The Guardian, December 8, 2014). This goal is consistent with what the scientific community has been recommending for the last 20 years.

Canada: Not up to the challenge UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is concerned that Canada will not be up to this challenge. He points out that Canada is already well behind its self-imposed goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020

(as of 2012, Canada had reduced emissions by 5 per cent). Ban Ki-moon says that, as a developed nation, Canada needs to take a lead in providing visionary solutions to the climate change problem.

Will Canada make excuses in Paris? Going into the Paris climate change conference, many critics are concerned that Canada will find a way to avoid a legally binding climate deal. With the Canadian economy relying heavily on the energy sector, critics worry that Canada will choose economics over the environment. To justify this concern, some point to the fact that the government of Canada and the oil industry celebrate the fact that we have 150 years’ worth of bitumen crude in the Alberta oil sands — even though the planet desperately needs to move away from fossil fuels immediately!

In fact, a study published in the science journal Nature warns that burning all of the oil sands crude would have catastrophic consequences for the planet. Climate scientists warn that 2050 represents a point of no return in terms of getting global warming under control (2014 was the hottest year on record), with carbon neutrality being a must by 2100. Our future as a planet hinges on our ability to stop burning fossil fuels.

To Consider 1. What was the ambitious goal set in Lima? What do scientists think of this approach to addressing climate

change?

2. Why does Ban Ki-moon think that Canada might not be up to the climate change challenge?

3. What do some critics fear will happen when Canada attends the climate change conference in Paris?

Definition – Carbon neutralityAchieving ecological balance between activities that emit climate pollution and processes that reduce the

impact of that pollution to zero (or close to zero). This means phasing out fossil fuel emissions while

phasing in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other measures to bring down emissions.

Source: Yamin, Farhana (May 23, 2014). What is 'carbon neutrality' – and how can we achieve it by 2050? Retrieved from: theelders.org/article/what-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-we-achieve-it-2050



Critical Thinking

Some people fear that governments around the world are putting short-term economic gain ahead of long-term environmental sustainability. In other words, governments are more concerned with money than the planet. This perspective is not new.

Read the two passages below and answer the questions that follow:

1 At a planting of a Tree of Peace in Philadelphia in 1986, Mohawk Chief Jake Swamp shared a

creation myth with those in attendance:

In the beginning, Creator made people and gave them everything they needed. Creator only

wanted one thing in return: Always remember and appreciate the gifts of Mother Earth.

What followed was a prolonged period of ignorance, crime, war, and injustice.

To help put the world back on track, Creator sent a Peacemaker to teach people how to honour

Mother Earth, to turn away from violence, and to embrace justice for the sake of those who are

living and the seven generations of people to come.

Source: Paraphrased from Yarrow, David (September 1987). The Great Law of Peace – New World Roots of American Democracy. Retrieved from kahonwes.com/iroquois/document1.html.

a) What message does this myth provide for people today?

b) While Canadians celebrate low gas prices at the pumps, some would say that, as good stewards of the planet, we are called to take care of the entire ecosystem — not just satisfy our immediate material needs. What would Mother Earth have to say about the current state of affairs in Canada in terms of energy consumption and climate change?

2 In 1790, Edmund Burke wrote that society “…is a partnership in all science, a partnership in all art,

a partnership in every virtue and in all perfection. As the ends of such a partnership cannot be

obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living,

but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”

Source: Burke, Edmund (1909-14). Reflections on the French Revolution. Harvard Classics.

a) On the one hand, Canada has enough oil sands bitumen crude to last the next 150 years. On the other hand, climate scientists say the planet needs to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Are these opposing realities a reflection of society breaking its partnership with “those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born”? Explain.

b) In light of Burke’s statement, how can we build a partnership that looks out for the future of all Canadians?


FIRST NATIONS LAND DISPUTES


DO CANADIAN TREATIES MATTER?

Activity: Beginning an inquiry on the impact of Canadian treaties with First Nations people

Big Idea: Historical treaties between the First Nations people and European colonizers continue

to impact the lives of all Canadians.

Focus Question: To what extent to you agree with this “big idea”? Why?

1. To begin an inquiry into the impact of historical treaties in Canada, analyse photos from an internet image search “Idle No More + treaty rights.”

2. Complete the chart by analysing a minimum of three (3) photos. These photos should trigger your curiosity and provide some context that furthers your understanding of the issue of First Nation treaty rights.

What I see in the photo What I infer from the photo Questions arising

3. Research one of your questions arising. Be sure that the question is specific enough that you can focus your search for information on First Nation treaty rights in Canada. Use credible sources representing two different perspectives.

4. Reconsider the statement “Historical treaties made with First Nations people and European colonizers continue to impact the lives of all Canadians.” Reflect on what you have learned from the initial photos analysis, creation of inquiry questions, selecting and analysing sources.

JANUARY 2015 – FIRST NATIONS LAND DISPUTES


DIGGING DEEPER: NUMBERED TREATIES IN CANADA

Canada entered into treaties with various First Nations. This allowed the Canadian government to pursue economic growth and settlement in the Canadian West and the North. The treaties are numbered 1 to 11 and are often referred to as the “numbered treaties.” These agreements gave large areas of First Nations land to the Crown in exchange for reserve lands, hunting and fishing rights, and various other kinds of compensation, such as farm equipment, clothing and annual payments.

When the terms of the treaty are considered today, the benefits to the Crown outweigh the benefits to First Nations people. Why did the Native peoples sign these treaties? What is the impact of these treaties today?

Each of the eleven treaties was unique but to get a deeper understanding of the complexity of these historical negotiations, it is useful to delve deeper into the multiple perspectives found in the story of a single treaty.

Treaty 9: Considering Diverse Points of View

Treaty 9, the James Bay Treaty, was negotiated in 1905 between the Treaty Commissioner for Ontario and First Nations leaders. This treaty effectively put northern Ontario into the government’s hands, but First Nations leaders believed that they were signing an agreement to share the land, not to give it away. This fundamental difference in the meaning of the treaty continues to impact the relationship between First Nations people and other Canadians.

To look at Treaty 9 in greater depth, choose one of the following three activities (A, B or C):

Activity A: Perspectives on Treaty 9 A panel of experts offer different perspectives on

Treaty 9 – CBC Radio’s Ideas, January 10, 2013:

cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2013/01/10/george‐

macmartins‐big‐canoe‐trip‐2/

Listen to the introduction (up to 3:30 min.) and

answer the following questions:

1. What does Treaty 9 state?

2. Who do you think is the greatest benefactor

of this treaty? Why?

3. Why do you think that First Nations leaders

would sign this agreement?

4. Listen to the rest of the program (50 min.)

noting how different points of view are

expressed by the eight different experts. Who

makes the most and least persuasive

argument(s)? What is their argument and

what facts do they rely on to make their

argument? What further questions would you

like to pose to the panelists?

Activity B: Trick or treaty? Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin talks

about her film, Trick or Treaty?, which focuses on

the story behind Treaty 9:

cbc.ca/q/blog/2014/11/18/alanis‐obomsawin‐

asks‐were‐first‐nation‐treaties‐a‐scam/

1. What arguments does Alanis Obomsawin

make regarding the injustice of Treaty 9?

What is her most persuasive argument?

2. Why is Treaty 9 especially important to Alanis

Obomsawin?

3. Why does Treaty 9 still impact the First

Nations living under it?

4. What positive changes does Obomsawin see

in terms of justice for Aboriginal peoples?

Why is she hopeful?



Activity C: The Canadian

government’s perspective Watch the video made by Aboriginal Affairs and

Northern Development Canada on pre‐1975

treaties: Cede, Yield and Surrender: A History of

Indian Treaties in Canada. A transcript of the

video is also provided.

aadnc‐aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100029174/

1100100029176

1. What are the areas of contention and

disagreement in the various treaties?

2. Why are the interpretations of treaties so

complicated?

Your community If you want to build a more just and positive relationship with Aboriginal people it is important to commit yourself to further understanding the Aboriginal people who lived and continue to live in your community. Researching the following questions may begin your journey of understanding, acceptance and reconciliation.

If you are of Aboriginal heritage, find ways to deepen your sense of belonging, knowledge and understanding of your culture, language, beliefs and communities.

1. Who were the Aboriginal peoples who lived in your community in the past? Research whether or not there is a specific treaty related to the land of your community.

A helpful site to determining treaties in

your community and province –

Maps of Treaty Making in Canada

aadnc‐aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100032297/

1100100032309

2. Who are the Aboriginal peoples living in your community today?

3. Take action such as visiting a Native Friendship Centre, reserve or Aboriginal organization or community event both to increase your understanding and to celebrate the knowledge and culture of Aboriginal peoples in your community.

Acknowledging the land In some public spaces, land owners who want to show respect for Indigenous people are posting a sign or marker to acknowledge the (shared) traditional territory that they inhabit.

As a way of demonstrating respect for Indigenous people, at the beginning of many events, conferences and workshops —particularly those pertaining to community, education and diversity — an acknowledgement of the (shared) territory is offered by the host.

The following is a script suggested by Safe Harbour, a BC provincial diversity program, for use at events:

“I wish to acknowledge the ancestral,

traditional and unceded Aboriginal territories of

the _________________ Peoples (e.g. Coast

Salish),

and in particular, the

_____________________________ First Nation

(e.g. Squamish, Musqueam, Tsleil‐Waututh)

on whose territory we work, live and play /

on whose territory we stand.”

What do you think of this practice of acknowledging the land?

Further Your Understanding Research the Two Row Wampum, a cultural artifact of the First Nations people of Eastern Canada that exemplifies the complexity of treaty issues.



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

1. Brainstorm as many examples as you can of conflicts, internationally and in Canada, that involve land rights. Why do you think issues of land rights are complex and high stakes for all parties involved?

2. Considering the results of your inquiry on First Nations Treaties and land rights, what do you think are the key areas of conflict and potential cooperation between First Nations people and Canadian provincial governments?

While viewing

1. Why did the developer buy the land?

2. How much land was purchased? 60 acres 100 acres 160 acres

3. Why is the land sacred to the Sumas First Nation?

4. There was a similar land dispute over this land ten years ago. True False

5. The BC Government keeps a registry of First Nation graves and spiritual sites but that information isn’t shown on land title documents when someone buys a property. True False

6. What have Canadian museums recently returned to the Stó:lō people?



7. Why does the developer John Glazema want compensation from the province?

8. Which provincial government ordered Darlene Necan, a homeless Frist Nations woman, to stop building a home where she once lived?

9. What hardships does Darlene Necan face?

10. Why does she not live on her own reserve?

11. Who do supporters of Darlene Necan want to intervene in this case?

12. Why is it unlikely that the Crown will back down and allow Darlene to build her home?

Post‐viewing

There are many regions of Canada that do not have treaties, or other legal agreements regarding land ownership. Since 1975 the Canadian government has settled 15 “comprehensive land claims” with Aboriginal people in Canada. First Nations can file “specific claims” with the Canadian government if they feel that treaty or other legal agreements have been broken or they have grievances related to how the government administers lands and assets under the Indian Act.

Consider the excerpts from two websites (on the following page) regarding First Nation treaties and land claims in Canada. One represents the viewpoint of the Canadian government, the other the viewpoint of Amnesty International.



Post‐viewing, continued…

1. What is the source? What is the intended purpose of each organization?

2. What is the viewpoint presented?

3. Who is the intended audience?

4. Which viewpoint do you think is more credible? Why?

5. What further questions and research could you undertake to examine these viewpoints in more depth?

1 Aboriginal Affairs and Northern

Development Canada (AANDC)

AANDC negotiates and implements land

claim and self‐government agreements on

behalf of the Government of Canada. The

Department is also responsible for fulfilling

obligations in historic treaties.

Strong partnerships among Aboriginal

people, governments and the private sector

are emerging as we address outstanding

land claim and treaty issues and work

toward self‐government. Land claims and

self ‐government agreements achieve the

following:

• greater certainty over rights to land and

resources therefore contributing to a

positive investment climate and creating

greater potential for economic

development and growth;

• greater control for Aboriginal people

and Northerners over the decisions that

affect their lives.

Source: Acts, Agreements, Treaties and Land Claims. Retrieved from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada: aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/ 1100100028568/1100100028572

2 Amnesty International – "A National

Commitment?"

The Canadian Constitution affirms the

inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and

the Treaties that they have entered into

with Canada. Canadian courts have called

the protection of Indigenous rights “an

underlying constitutional value,” “a national

commitment” and a matter of “public

interest."

Governments in Canada are supposed to act

as guarantors of these rights. Instead, in

positions taken during negotiations and

before courts, governments in Canada have

consistently sought to minimize their

responsibilities. Processes to resolve

disputes over Indigenous land rights are so

adversarial, prolonged and costly that the

Inter‐Commission on Human Rights has

concluded that lands claims processes in

Canada don’t meet international standards

of justice.

Source: Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Retrieved from Amnesty International: amnesty.ca/our-work/ issues/indigenous-peoples/indigenous-peoples-in-canada


CANADA AND CHINA RELATIONS


MINDS ON

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his first trip to Asia, he was denied a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese president, in part because he wanted to put China’s human rights record on the agenda. In response to the snub, Harper said, “I think Canadians want us to promote our trade relations worldwide, and we do that, but I don’t think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values — our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights. They don’t want us to sellout to the almighty dollar.” (The Globe and Mail, October 13, 2010)

Do you agree with the prime minister’s perspective? Are his comments a reflection of Canadian values?

SETTING THE STAGE

When Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party first came to power in 2006, trade with China was not a high priority. In fact, some political insiders say Harper resented the high-profile “Team Canada” trade missions that his predecessor Jean Chretien made to the emerging economic powerhouse. By 2014, however, the resentment (if there was any) was long gone and trade with China became one of Harper’s top priorities.

Harper’s change of heart While Stephen Harper was cool to the idea of trade with China in 2006, many of his Conservative colleagues were not. They worked hard to convince the prime minister that China’s

burgeoning middle class was hungry for the fruits of Western capitalism: namely trade, investment and profit. Eventually, in 2011, negotiators from Canada and China came to terms on an agreement that set the ball rolling on a number of other deals that, by the end of 2013, represented billions of dollars in bilateral exchanges between the two nations.

Hard to resist The 2011 agreement constituted a significant trade deal and strengthened economic and political ties between the two nations (Harper also managed to get the Chinese to lend the Toronto Zoo two giant pandas). A year later, Canada and China came to terms on a much more comprehensive trade deal — one that stood to boost trade over the long term, giving Canada access to the huge Chinese market and giving the Chinese access to Canada’s natural resources.

Things nearly fell apart However, things nearly fell apart when the Chinese government quickly ratified the trade pact, while Canada shelved the agreement. With

JANUARY 2015 – CANADA AND CHINA RELATIONS


the deal in limbo, matters grew worse when a Chinese state-owned company paid $15.1 billion to take over a major Canadian petroleum producer operating in Alberta’s oil patch. This frightened the Harper government enough to ban Chinese state-owned companies from scooping up any more Canadian oil companies. Next, the prime minister publicly expressed security concerns related to a Chinese telecom company that was hoping to bid on a redesign of the government’s communications infrastructure. Finally, in the summer of 2014, Harper accused the Chinese of trying to hack into Canadian government computers. It looked as though the two countries were at an impasse.

Change in an instant But in an instant everything changed. Suddenly, in September 2014 (after an hour of debate in a trade committee meeting late on a Friday afternoon) the government ratified the 2012 trade agreement. Next, plans were made for the prime minister to head to China to sign another trade deal. This one included $2.5 billion in

bilateral agreements and called for the creation of a currency hub to allow for direct exchanges between Chinese and Canadian businesses without the inconvenience (and expense) of validating transactions in U.S. dollars.

Motivation Optimists claimed that Harper and the Conservatives were motivated by the mountain of cash that stood to be earned by improving trade relations with China. The cluster of deals even had some wondering if it was just a matter of time before China surpassed the United States as Canada’s number one trading partner. Pessimists saw the trade deals as a massive sellout of Canadian economic independence and democratic values. Many even wondered if the Chinese leveraged Canada’s $30 billion trade deficit against them. How ever we interpret the motivations of the Harper government, what is readily apparent is that Canada and China are now long-term business partners.

To consider

1. a) Why was Prime Minister Harper initially reluctant to negotiate trade deals with China?

b) Why did he change his mind?

2. How did the Canada-China trade relationship nearly fall apart?

3. Review the Harper quote in the Minds On section at the start of this section. In light of your reading, do Prime Minister Harper’s sentiments ring true?



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

A Canadian Press-Harris Decima poll in 2012 found that 71 per cent of respondents viewed the prospect of Chinese companies taking over Canadian companies as bad for Canada. The majority of respondents even felt that Chinese companies taking over foreign companies based in Canada as a bad thing.

Why do you think many Canadians are leery of Chinese participation in the Canadian economy?

While viewing

1. a) Who is Canada’s largest trading partner?

b) Who is Canada’s second largest trading partner?

2. For the mill in the video, what impact did China’s 13 per cent duty on dissolving pulp have?

3. How much is the Canada-China trading relationship worth?

4. What two differing perspectives emerged from Harper’s cabinet regarding improving trade relations with China?

5. How has the Harper government changed its approach when it comes to dealing with China?

6. What actions have the Chinese taken to jeopardize good relations with Canada?



7. What does former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney mean when he says, “Engaging China doesn’t mean agreeing with China”?

8. a) How has the Chinese government treated some religious minorities living in Zhejiang?

b) What did Prime Minister Harper do to show his concern over China’s treatment of religious minorities?

9. Why does Guy Nelson think Canada should be careful about telling China how best to treat its citizens?

10. What is the value of the trade deals signed by Canada and China during Harper’s visit in 2104?

11. a) What happened to Julia and Kevin Garratt?

b) What did Prime Minister Harper do to address the plight of the Garratt’s?

12. Why is the currency hub an important component of Canada’s future business dealings with China?

13. What difficult issues did Harper say he addressed with the Chinese government?



Post‐viewing

In the fall of 2014, Canada ratified the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with China. The deal allows Chinese companies to sue Canada through international trade courts that are in no way bound by Canadian law. The agreement also allows Canada to hide these lawsuits from the Canadian people.

1. Why do some critics of FIPA find provisions like these to be contrary to Canadian values?

1. Do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint? Explain your answer.



WHAT’S A FIPA?

One of the highlights of the Canadian-Chinese trade bonanza was the ratification of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). FIPAs are nothing new: Canada has signed 17 of them and is currently negotiating 10 others with potential trading partners. Each FIPA is designed to open the doors to trade and prevent trading partners from discriminating against companies seeking to operate on foreign soil. For example, Canada uses FIPA agreements to protect the interests of Canadian mining companies operating on foreign soil.

Canada’s FIPA with China What makes the FIPA with China unique is that it seems Canada didn’t want anyone to notice its existence. Initially negotiated in 2012, the Chinese ratified the pact almost immediately. Meanwhile, Canada tucked the agreement away for two years and, when they did ratify the deal in the fall of 2014, they only allowed an hour of debate at a House of Commons trade committee meeting before announcing its approval on a Friday afternoon. Many saw this as a sign that the government was trying to bury the agreement in a news cycle with the fewest number of onlookers.

Critics of the Canada-China FIPA say the Harper government has good reason to want to hide the deal from Canadians. Here are a few of the more contentious points:

• China is on the verge of becoming the largest economy in the world. They have billions of dollars ready to invest. Many fear that this FIPA opens the door for state-owned Chinese companies to buyout Canadian companies, particularly in the natural resource sector.

• China can sue Canada in international trade courts if they can demonstrate they are being treated unfairly. These types of lawsuits have nothing to do with Canadian law. The agreement also stipulates that Canada is under no obligation to disclose these lawsuits to Canadians. Canada has experience with this kind of process. Under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Canada has been sued over 30 times to the tune of about $170 million. Of the 16 cases Canada has brought forward against foreign competitors, they have never recovered a dime and have lost every case.

• The term of the deal is inordinately long — spanning 31 years. After a minimum of 15 years, either Canada or China can opt out with one year’s notice. The agreement extends rights to Chinese companies already operating in Canada by 15 years after the deal is cancelled. By way of comparison, Canada could get out of NAFTA with six month’s notice.

To consider

1. What is the goal of a typical FIPA?

2. Why are people concerned about Canada’s FIPA with China?

3. As this FIPA takes effect, is Canada’s track record of litigation through NAFTA a concern? Explain.

4. Is the length of the deal cause for concern? Why or why not?



TROUBLE FOR JULIA AND KEVIN GARRATT

Minds on Many human rights activists view the government of China as an authoritarian, one-party dictatorship. The Chinese government reserves the right to curtail freedom of expression, association and religion. As a result, people who go against China’s ruling elite are routinely arrested and imprisoned, people forming groups without the permission of the government are disbanded, and religious practice is only possible if those in charge permit it.

Should the way China governs its people be considered before Canada negotiates trade deals with this economic superpower?

Coincidence? The timing seemed too coincidental. A week after Prime Minister Harper accused China of hacking into Canadian government computers, Julia and Kevin Garratt were arrested on espionage charges. This prompted some observers to wonder if the couple were pawns in a spat between Canada and China.

The Garratts From all accounts, the Garratts were the last people you would associate with spying. The couple left Canada and arrived in China in 1984. They initially took on jobs as teachers in southern China before settling in the city of Dandong where they opened Peter’s Coffee Shop in 2008.

Situated on the border between China and North Korea, Dandong is believed to be home for many of the 200 000 North Korean refugees who have fled their homeland. The Garratts were drawn to the region for humanitarian reasons. In addition to their coffee shop, they have worked for the Christian missionary group North Star Aid providing food, clothing and other essentials to both North Korean refugees

and Chinese outcasts. Proselytizing is strictly forbidden by Chinese law and by North Star’s mandate. According to those close to the Garratts, while devoutly Christian, the couple were not actively seeking to convert those they helped to Christianity.

Definition – Proselytize

To attempt to convert someone from one

belief to another. Many Christian

denominations believe proselytizing is a

vocational call of their faith.

The Garratt’s main business enterprise, Peter’s Coffee Shop, had become profitable and was a well-known institution in Dandong. A hub for locals and travelers alike, Peter’s became the go-to destination for people looking for a North American style experience. The Garratts offered dining, hospitality and travel information to their many guests.

Upended The Garratts’ lives were turned upside down in August 2014 when the Chinese authorities arrested them on espionage charges. Word first broke on official Chinese newswires that two Canadian nationals were under investigation for suspected theft of state secrets about China’s military and national defense research. When Canadian officials learned of the charges, they pressed Chinese officials for an explanation and received very little information.

Another theory Not long after their arrest, another theory was put forward. Earlier in 2014, China had started a steady and systematic crackdown on Chinese Christians and foreign missionaries. Hundreds were arrested and detained. Religious expression is only permitted with the official approval of the Chinese government. In other words,



whether Buddhist, Muslim, Christian or Jew, Chinese authorities decide who gets to represent the faith and how they are allowed to express their ideals. The Garratts may have been caught up in Chinese efforts to put a lid on freewheeling, Western-style religious practice.

No charges For their part, Julia and Kevin Garratt are being detained in Dandong in separate locations under

24-hour surveillance, with only 30 minutes of outdoor activity each day. While Canadian consular officials have been allowed to visit them every other week, none of the Garratt’s four children have seen their parents since their arrest in August. To date, the Garratts have not been formally charged with espionage despite repeated interrogations and a lack of evidence linking them to the accusations levied against them by Chinese authorities.

To consider

1. Why were Julia and Kevin Garratt arrested?

2. Why did the Garratts choose to settle in Dandong?

3. What possible reasons were given for the espionage charges?

4. How have the Garratts been treated since their arrest?

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