Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackDog204
Indigenous people were the victims of genocide, but it was mainly in the 19th century. Let's not forget the Government of Canada trying to erase their identity, language, and culture during the forced residential school program, which only ended in the early 90s.
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By modern standards it's pretty hard to deny there were genocidal actions in 19th century Canada. The question is how important that was to our founding. The push for integration and Christianization of McDonald doesn't mean Canada was one of the most pluralistic and best societies being formed in the world in the 1860s.
Forcing them to speak English and integrate into Canadian and modern life and the general largely church led atrocities that were widespread at residential schools (and other schools led by clergy even elite private schools) but the reason they lasted into the 90s is bands requested to keep them open.
The legitimate aim of getting Canadians to understand the unique struggle Indigenous Canadians have had might justify the false narrative that borders on a caricature around residential schools but claiming there were mass graves and making it a crime to deny something that has no evidence is 1984 level group think. Into the 2000s there were happy reunions celebrating the excellent education they got at residential schools.
Indigenous relations is certainly the biggest stain on Canada's history that needs no exaggeration only reflection on the errors made in building probably the most free AND accepting nation in the world.
I bet if you ask a lot of Canadians they would think you were and are better off as an Indigenous person in the US rather than Canada. Hence it's relevance to this whole debate.