Aboriginal History, Identity and Culture: Assignment Analysis

This assignment delves into the history, identity, and culture of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It analyzes John Ralston Saul's perspective in 'The Comeback,' exploring his intended audience, purpose, and challenges to historical narratives. The assignment examines the impact of colonization on First Nations communities, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical context. It addresses key questions about colonization, including its effects on Canadian Aboriginals. The student's responses provide insights into the author's views on shame, sympathy, and guilt, as well as the importance of respecting Indigenous cultures and supporting their rights. The assignment draws on the Coursera resource 'Whose Land is it Anyway?' to provide context for the historical analysis.

Running Head: ABORIGINAL HISTORY IDENTITY AND CULTURE
Aboriginal History Identity and Culture
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ABORIGINAL HISTORY IDENTITY AND CULTURE
Topic- “History is Upon Us” by John Ralston Saul in The Comeback
1) What perspective is the author writing from?
Ans. The author is writing from the perspective of the aboriginal people of Canada who
have been making a significant comeback from the horribly low population, stability and
legal respect(Saul,2014).
2) Who is his audience? Who is he writing this for? Explain
Ans. He wrote this for the non-aboriginal audience of Canada who usually tend to
misinterpret when aboriginal leaders speak(Saul,2014).
3) What is his intention or purpose in writing this piece?
Ans. His purpose is to portray an unfamiliar story of Canada’s past so that people learn
to respect the culture rather than humiliate by sympathizing with them(Saul,2014).
4) Is he sympathetic to Indigenous people?
Ans. No, he is not sympathetic but respectful.
5) Who or what is he challenging or confronting?
Ans. He confronts that from 1850, Canadian history is being rewritten to eliminate the
role and contribution of the aboriginals (Saul,2014). They have been robbed of their
freedom and rights.
6) What does John Ralston Saul suggest must be done in order to free ourselves from the old
negative attitudes?
Ans. He comments that Canadians need to support indigenous people and vote for them
so that their long subdued issues can come at the top of the pile and be fought
for(Saul,2014).
7) What does he say about shame, sympathy, and guilt?

2ABORIGINAL HISTORY IDENTITY AND CULTURE
Ans. He says that ‘sympathy’ is a way to deny our shared values and responsibilities
‘Shame’ is another name of this destructive sympathy(Saul,2014). He drags the
conversation of Lee Maracle and says that the perpetrators should shame on themselves
rather than shaming on the aboriginal people(Saul,2014). He also says that ‘guilt’ is
negative and the non-aboriginals who feel guilt towards the aboriginals are distracted
from the main flow and obligations(Saul,2014).
Topic-Whose Land is it Anyway
1) Why is it important to learn about historical context?
Ans. It is important to learn about historical contexts because it is an important part of
life and without it the stories and memories have less meaning. Without it religious,
political and economic conditions cannot be understood properly.
2) What is colonization, and how has colonization impacted Canada?
Ans. Colonization is the subjugation weaker and poor people by larger or wealthier
power. European colonizers affected Canadian First Nation communities. They
suffered from the European diseases, forced assimilation programs and deadly
weapons while involving in the war between the French and the British
(coursera.org ,2018). The aboriginals of Canada have been highly exploited by the
European colonizers.

3ABORIGINAL HISTORY IDENTITY AND CULTURE
References
coursera.org (2018). 8th Fire episode 3. Whose land is it anyway? - 8th Fire: Aboriginal
Peoples, Canada & the Way Forward | Coursera. [online] Coursera. Available at:
https://www.coursera.org/lecture/aboriginal-education/8th-fire-episode-3-whose-land-is-
it-anyway-imwVY [Accessed 12 Sep. 2018].
Saul, J. R. (2014). The comeback: How aboriginals are reclaiming power and influence. Penguin
Canada.