Dances with Contradictions:Indigenous “Success” Through Assimilation
January 20, 2009 by Dirk
Ethan Baptiste’s review of Calvin Helin’s much touted book Dances with Dependency: Indigenous Success through Self-reliance (self published by Mr Helin after 32 failed attempts to have it published by a reputable publisher) starts off…
The author provides some excellent interpretations of the historical injustice, critique on current situations and political constrains of Aboriginal governance structures and instills hope in the reader that there is an end, with valid solutions, to such unrelenting problems faced by all Aboriginal people. Tragically, Helin offers nothing innovative or practical and simply mirrors and concedes to the will of the Canadian corporations and government’s wishes. It is tragic because this book is so widely promoted throughout mainstream media as the answer to the problems facing Aboriginal people and now, Indigenous leadership are beginning to acknowledge and endorse Helin’s misguided solutions.
Having read the book,I fully concur.
I would add, like Widdowson’s and Howard’s widely touted book, Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry ,the reason that their book,Calvin Helin’s,& others get the coverage that they do…
Is to be found in the way the author’s frame their argument/thesis. That being,around an unchallenged acceptance of the preeminence of settler society. In short they do not rock the boat,and like settler society/”white people” they place the onus on indigenous peoples.
Settlers society gets a free pass to continue on much as it has since first contact,all change must come from indigenous peoples.Indigenous peoples bring nothing to the table.They are the “problem”,a “burden”, for which a “solution” must be found.
As for the indigenous leadership whom have chosen to acknowledge and endorse Helin’s misguided solutions,no big surprise there.After all many “Indian Act Chiefs” are already playing the “whiteman’s” game, as set out & defined in the “Indian Act”.
Rather than insisting that settler society honor and respect the Treaties and agreements that were negotiated in good faith nation to nation, back in the day.Indeed any relationship between indigenous peoples & settler society/Canada,that aspires to be democratic and just, is only possible, if first…
Canada renews it’s respect for these treaties.
Secondly, engages with First Nations peoples with the explicit aim of implementing the provisions as set out in these treaties & agreements.
Read Ethan Baptiste’s full review of ,”Dances with Dependency” here
Great title for your post dirk. It’s an important issue that is being framed solely from a right wing perspective.
Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry is a poorly written racist screed. I suspected that it would be bad when Wente praised it but when I actually looked the book, I was shocked. An excerpt from their chapter on the failings of Aboriginal Education, entitled Honouring the Ignorance of our Ancestors:
Of all the initiatives of the Aboriginal Industry, the research that is intent on justifying self-government over education is the most disturbing, as education is the area where solutions to the aboriginal question lie. Lack of education is at the heart of aboriginal peoples’ cultural underdevelopment and their inability to participate in the Canadian workforce…
The authors go on to criticize non-aboriginal supporters of Aboriginal Education as being condescending, while in practically the same breath referring to Aboriginals as “blissfully ignorant”, “shielded from reality” and basically naive. How is that not condescending? How is claiming eurocentric culture superior not condescending?
Sheesh, I’ve read Aboriginal people described in the same terms by racist Indian Agents in archived government correspondence dating through the 1930s, 40s and 50s. They are flogging a retrograde position and their work is being hailed as an important read by the likes of such extreme right wing racists as Tom Flanagan.
Seriously, they have the nerve to use the term, “the aboriginal question”? This is the same language used by Hitler when devising his doctrine of Final Solution. For these right wing racists, the solution is to eradicate Aboriginal culture and identity through assimilation.
Their first line of attack that is getting lots of media attention is the issue of Aboriginal self-governance over education. All right wing think tanks are publishing reports on this issue as of late. The government is proposing to cut grants for post-secondary education and conservatives are chiming in with rants of equality for all Canadians. As Grand Chief Ron Evans recently wrote to the Winnipeg Free Press, the problem isn’t Aboriginal control over education but lack of federal funding.
B.York said..”Great title for your post dirk. It’s an important issue that is being framed solely from a right wing perspective”…
thanks,as for the title it was easy,just a parody of Calvin Helin’s title,Dances with Dependency”…
Responding to your statement that,this is an issue being solely framed from a right-wing perspective.
I disagree somewhat,”right”,”left” labels do not apply.Many on the “left” have just as many prejudices and misunderstanding of this issue.
I see it more as a lack of imagination on part of many(if not most)non-indigenous people and an inability to think outside of a Judeo/Christian/European/Western perspective.Or as Gerald Taiaiake Alfred stated…..
“an inability
to comprehend indigeneity outside of being the object of colonization and empire”
Interesting review.
I have yet to pick up the book…but something I did want to mention is that regardless of the gaping problems and criticisms of these kinds of books, there DOES exist a problematic and deeply entrenched Aboriginal Industry in Canada.
Anyone (especially any “aboriginal” person) who does not see this is a part of the problem, and not the solution.
And to lend additional support to Dirk’s assertion, I consider myself to be a lefty.
Totally agree Throbbin an “Aboriginal Industry” does exist.To state that,or to acknowledge that corruption and nepotism are part and parcel of the Band Council system is nothing new or really controversial.
Sure as shit not among indigenous peoples.
I find it interesting that Calvin Helin enjoys tax-free income on a reserve in Vancouver. Hmmmm…..
If you are interested in objective, in-depth analyses of the “American Indian” condition as it relates to economic advances, then check out the “Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development”.
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/hpaied/