(Peter Power/THE GLOBE AND MAIL)Fleras' article covers various points, one of which I think is extremely important: racist media vs. media racism(!), why media continue to misrepresent Aboriginal peoples as invisible, stereotyped, problematized, white-washed and miniaturized, and so on. He discusses 6 points on the portrayal of Aboriginal people in the media, which I focus on and highlight. So, here we go!
Aboriginal people are portrayed as:
(1) Pure, innocement, mindlessly ecological, vulnerable, and, like children, in need of gov't protection.
Pure? Not so much in this article, but innocent & infantile definitely apply. "Inukstah" is a young man in and out of jail and White (G&M author) explains Inukstah's reaction as someone who smiled and looked bashfully at his jail sandals when asked if he gave the guards a hard time. The reason for all the youth in jail? The interviewed Supt.'s response is that the youth have limited options and when that is mixed with alcohol, it creates problems. Conclusion? Readers are left with the idea that Aboriginals don't know any better (infantile) and need help (from the government, i.e. police).
(2) Violent and threatening savages and in need of government control (probably my favourite)
We learn that Nunavut is struggling on all levels to meet the basic needs of its people. For example, 7/10 preschoolers grow up in houses without adequate food. It also ranks last in virtually every measure: education, general health, substance abuse, employment, income & housing.
The article asks/infers:
With this kind of havoc and hardship, it's hard not to conclude that Nunavut is a failing state – that the bold experiment in domestic nation-building Canada launched in 1999 has gone deeply wrong. Is it at risk of becoming our own Haiti of the Arctic Circle, or can something be done to reverse the damage?
So, why are we comparing Nunavut to Haiti? Sure it may give some reads perspective on the situation, but may it be about the idea that Nunavut is basically a separate state of Canada due to it's geological make up? Nunavut's government is also comprised of 80-85% (article stat) Inuit to reflect the ethnic identity of the territory - similar to the idea of a self-governing state, anyone? Since it's a "failing state", moveover an ethnic failing state the conclusion is that minorities cannot govern themselves and need the Canadian (majority White) government to help them...
Now onto a widely discussed topic: self governance.
Fleras notes that a recurrent image that defines Aboriginal people is they are: "a threat to Canada's territorial integrity or national interests"
This article can be related to the idea that Aboriginal people cannot govern themselves and can reinforces the idea it is not something to be supported. In addition, an article posted a day before this series was more of a 'profile' on Tom Molloy, titled "The Man Who's Reshaping our Home and Native Land". Molloy is described as one of the most influential Canadians, widely due to his background and experience as a negotiator for Aboriginals (and non) for treaties and land claims. He was also one of the key personnel for the creation of Nunavut (G&M statement). Finally, the article ends of by stating that Molloy was recently hired for "talks" with the issue of Caledonia. Two Q's: (1) Is the article alluding to the idea that Aboriginal people need the government, or a spokesperson for them because they cannot govern themselves and (2) Would giving the 'Indians' the right to their land claim in Caledonia ultimately be a step back for Canada because they would not be able to manage it? (*AGAIN, I repeat, I'm merely inferring and questioning the media - this is not a personal attack on Molloy or on Caledonia*)
(3) Back to Nunavut: the low-income, substance abuse, high incarceration, etc. stats given relate to Fleras' points of representation that Aboriginal people can be seen as "a risk to Canada's social order" and are a "an economic liability" (no p. numbers)! Conclusion? Aboriginal people are taking away and abusing hard-earned tax dollars from Canadians, as is with most media narratives about Aboriginal people.
Even though the G&M article was 'uncovering' a social justice issue of interest, espcially to me as I enjoyed the layout and depth of the article, I've made inferences as to how the media ultimately reinforces the framing of minorities. This reinforcement is not only perpetuated in the media, but also by audiences of the media. Many of us receive our ideas and beliefs about the world from the mainstream news (check any public opinion poll from the Canadian Opinion Research Archives or Environics!)
I leave you with a comment on the article:
How do you feel?
Neech.
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