Multiculturalism: Indigenous People and Community Planning in Canada

This report examines the situation of Indigenous people in Canada, particularly focusing on the First Nations, through the lens of multiculturalism. It summarizes key ideas from a study by Prusak, Walker, and Innes (2016) regarding community planning projects by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). The report emphasizes the importance of empowering Indigenous communities through self-determination and cultural sensitivity. It also discusses cultural relativism as a means to avoid ethnocentric judgments and promote understanding between urbanized perspectives and the viewpoints of the First Nations. The role of leadership within First Nations is highlighted, advocating for the adoption of cultural relativism and sensitivity to foster harmony and address the challenges faced by these communities.

Running head: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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Response to Question 1:
Prusak, Walker and Innes (2016) have mentioned in their study about the various
aspects of the indigenous people emphasizing on the aboriginals of the Canada and
community planning project by the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
(AANDC). Indigenous peoples have been a part of Canadian history for a long time. The
group is a set of people that are popularly known as the first peoples of Canada and they have
been always seen from the perspective of the urbanized culture. The study focuses on the
aspects of evaluating the efforts of Indigenous Planning which is aimed towards the
betterment of the First Nations considering different factors like, institutional development,
leadership and authority of the indigenous people in the project. The study has introduced
First Nations as one of the integral part of the indigenous community of Canada and focused
on the community planning done by the federal government (AANDC). The authors
mentioned as community planning being of the key elements in providing the First Nations a
practice self-determination. Multiculturalism is a very sensitive issue and has been present in
the society of Canada for a very long period. Multiculturalism is state when in a region
multiple cultures coexists with each other and study done by Prusak, Walker and Innes aims
projecting the empowerment of those various communities that are coexisting and some of
them collectively known as the First Nations (Prusak, Walker & Innes, 2016). Ideology of
empowering the indigenous people helps in strengthening the future of the indigenous
communities like First Nations by promoting the diversity and harmony among the groups.
Response to Question 2:
Cultural relativism is practice that can enable one to avoid judging the other cultural
practices in a negative on the basis of ethnocentrism rather it encourages to understand the
culture on its own context of culture. Whereas, cultural sensitivity is about having the

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awareness of the cultures in the society, the differences of the cultures and also the
similarities between the individuals but still not taking judgements based on that. Authors in
the study have enlightened about the impact Indigenous Planning can make on the life of the
First Nations along with the institutional development of the Indigenous Planning and
implementing authority of First Nations (Prusak, Walker & Innes, 2016). Cultural relativism
is a way to encourage the appreciation of the federal authorities with more urbanized point-
of-view for the First Nations helping them experiencing the point-of-view of First Nations to
benefit the various small indigenous communities that have been a part of the First Nations.
Another factor that influence the multiculturalism is cultural sensitivity, this is one of the
factor that can influence the understanding of the First Nations and their requirements
regarding the problems they face (Prusak, Walker & Innes, 2016). Cultural sensitivity also
encourages people in accepting the cultures of the indigenous communities, which in this
case are the First Nations. In the study the authors have stated about the importance of
leadership by First Nations, this is possible by adapting with the practice of cultural
relativism and being sensitive enough for the First Nations as well as the other surrounding
cultures in Canada.

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References
Prusak, S. Y., Walker, R., & Innes, R. (2016). Toward indigenous planning? First Nation
community planning in Saskatchewan, Canada. Journal of Planning Education and
Research, 36(4), 440-450.