Avatar and the perpetuating myth of White Supremacy

So I finally broke down after down right refusal and went to see Avatar. It was extremely difficult for me to bring myself to walk into the theatre and buy the tickets. As a matter of fact when I was at the ticket booth, the words "two for Avatar" took just a bit longer to roll off my tongue. I have been talking about the underlying messages of this movie for some time now, but figured I better see it so I can justify my reasoning. I was told going into the movie that I was coming into the experience (movie watching) with a predetermined mindset. With this I agree. However, every white person going to see this movie is going into it with a predetermined mindset as well. One carved out with such media events as Pocahontas, The Lone Ranger, and Indian in the Cupboard. The completely false and damaging movie Disney put out in 1995 depicted a love affair between Pocahontas and John Smith. The movie shows a beautiful, tanned woman (who seemed to look very Mediterranean) and the tall fit John Smith. The entire movie focused around the love between the two, leading up to the white guy (Smith) becoming somewhat of a savior to the "savage natives". No mention of the fact that Matoaka (Pocahontas' real name) was only 11 at the time and was indeed captured, raped, etc. The Lone Ranger was friend and protector of the "savage native". They can not protect themselves so a white hero (ironically wearing a white hat, after all, white is good and black is evil) has to do the job, because his mastery of their skills is so much better. As Pocahontas helped seal the false story, so too did the Lone Ranger seal the countless people I have met over the years who put their hand in the air and say "HOW". Which leaves the Indian in the Cupboard, a children's movie based on the book of the same name. This books takes things one step further in the whole natives can not take care of themselves mindset, by creating a scenario whereas a very young white child becomes more than a protector to the native, but in a sense a deity. He, after all, provides Little Bear (a name that sounds of inferiority) with all of his needs for survival. If you are familiar with Maslow's hierarchy, you can follow the pyramid from the bottom to the top throughout the movie, without missing a step.
So that is how white folks too are going into this movie with a predetermined mindset. Back to Avatar. As everyone knows, this movie reeks of colonialism. In particular, the colonialism that has been felt on the shore of North America for over 400 years. Some of the script in the movie used "savage natives" "we have given them education, drugs, what more do the want" "this place is covered in trees, they can move to another one". I found as I got deeper into Avatar, I got more and more angry. Not so much because of the colonialism and forcible taking of the land from an indigenous people (that is all too familiar and ingrained in my mind already) but from the deity role once again given to a white guy over the people. Amazingly, he was able to master all the skills of Na'vi in just three months, pulling on the strings of white superiority. Not only did he master these skills with ease, but he went one step further and excelled to the point of mastery that only 5 Na'vi have ever achieved in the collective history of the people (once again, an even harder pull on the white superiority strings) In the end the movie turns out dramatically different that the colonialism faced here in North America, the one positive note to the movie. However, as the Na'vi homeland is being destroyed for the ever precious unobtanium (how corny is that??), the natives/Na'vi quickly realize they are unable to defeat the colonizers with out the help of their new white deity. Ironically this is after a speech where he declares himself "one of them" and refers to the place as his homeland.
So after losing so much sleep last night due to the thoughts running around my head, here I am. Angry? yes. Saddened? yes. Surprised? no. Did I go into this movie with a predetermined mindset? Absolutely. Has it changed? Drastically. This entire movie is a package. It has all the beautiful adornments one might expect from a package, beautiful wrapping paper and bows in the form of a lush beautiful scenery with glowing flowers, scantly clad slim native women, wonderful 3-d animations, and amazing special effects. But like any package, it is what's inside that matters. And if you unwrap this package to its core, it is all about white supremacy and the dependence of all others cultures/races on them.

My heart glowed and hurt all at the same time

This past Friday saw the opening of the Winter Olympics here in Canada. I must say it was pretty amazing watching the host First Nations welcome the athletes to their traditional territory. Then to see a delegation of First Nation dancers represent their territories from across the country was unbelievable. All in all it was so powerful to see our cultures finally put on such a world stage. Unfortunately there was one nation not present. They did not dance, drum, or sing. They did not stand on the sideline to cheer on the other First Nations, or the athletes. They did not rise for the playing of the National anthem, nor did they turn to see the lighting of the torch. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Beothuk of Newfoundland were reduced from a thriving, vibrant culture, to a small refugee population in their own territory, just barely surviving on what little they could find in the interior of Newfoundland. A forced isolation, being driven into the interior of the province over a couple hundred years created a pattern that was impossible to break. There were a few very minor attempts over the 18th century to establish contact, but it was too late. In 1829, the last surviving Beothuk woman died. Her name was Shanawdithit. Success in one place, where as we all saw at the opening ceremonies, thankfully, persistent failure in the rest of the country. If only Shanawdithit's descendants could have danced as well.

First Nation University, well worth saving

As you may or may not know, First Nation University in Regina may be forced to close its doors due to the down right nasty spending habits, ok, let's just say it, theft of "tax payers money" The board has since been disbanded because funding has been cut at multiple levels. Let me start out by saying let's cut funding to all levels of government. If you have been following the news lately here in Nova Scotia,you will get what I mean. After all, $8000+ generators wired up to your home is not exactly above board, nor are the plasma televisions, $2000+ digital cameras, or 3 ipods all bought on the same day. Anyhow, this university is well worth saving, as it is providing the same thing each and every university out there provides, education...and yes culture. This culture comes in a slightly different package and here is where some of the public problems start. Comments I have been reading include verbal diarrhea such as "get an honest education that is actually recognized world-wide"(interesting seeing how the writer spelled recognized wrong), "why should my tax dollars go to help someone learn their culture?" cash in your child tax credits and welfare cheques to pay for it" What people forget to realize, or are so oblivious to the ocean of whiteness we live in, is that this school is teaching the exact same things. One can go to school at FNUC and get their education while at the same time, learn about their culture. They can read FN authors, learn about FN music, ceremonies, and traditional elder teachings. This is the same stuff that is taught, as one poster put it, at "normal" universities. Think about it, at say, Acadia, you learn about white writers, white music, white history, white thinkers, but we do not names these white, we simply call them music, literature, history, philosophy. We have all read Shakespeare, Longfellow, Blake, etc. These are considered classics. I ask, classics to who? Personally I find them quite boring and stuffy...but some folks like them. This university has gone through hell due to its leadership, we all know that, but do not knock the education provided, just because it does not fit your culture, does not mean it is not good. Who is to say one is better than the other, other than being better for the individual. Please save First Nation University.

Reality check

I wanted to do a fact sheet so people would know exactly what First Nation people of Canada live through, but figured why reinvent the wheel (which by the way is less than half as old as the current oldest evidence of people living in Nova Scotia). Thanks to the Assembly of First Nations, here is a breakdown of facts that very few Canadians know:

The Reality for First Nations in Canada

First Nations people in Canada…

Live in Third World conditions:

· First Nations living conditions or quality of life ranks 63^rd, or amongst Third World conditions, according to an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada study that applied First Nations-specific statistics to the Human Development Index created by the United Nations.[1]

· Canada dropped from first to eighth as the best country in the world to live primarily due to housing and health conditions in First Nations communities.

· The First Nations’ infant mortality rate is 1.5 times higher than the Canadian infant mortality rate.[2]

· A study by Indian Affairs (the “Community Well-being Index”) assessed quality of life in 4,685 Canadian communities based on education, labour force activity, income and housing. There was only one First Nation community in the Top 100. There were 92 First Nations in the Bottom 100. Half of all First Nations communities score in the lower range of the index compared with 3% of other Canadian communities.

Die earlier than other Canadians:

· A First Nations man will die 7.4 years earlier than a non-Aboriginal Canadian. A First Nations woman will die 5.2 years earlier than her non-Aboriginal counterpart (life expectancy for First Nations citizens is estimated at 68.9 years for males and 76.6 years for females).[3]

Face increased rates of suicide, diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS:

· The First Nations suicide rate is more than twice the Canadian rate. Suicide is now among the leading causes of death among First Nations between the ages of 10 and 24, with the rate estimated to be five to six times higher than that of non-Aboriginal youth.[4]

· The prevalence of diabetes among First Nations is at least three times the national average, with high rates across all age groups.[5]

· Tuberculosis rates for First Nations populations on-reserve are 8 to 10 times higher than those for the Canadian population.[6]

· Aboriginal peoples make up only 5% of the total population in Canada but represent 16% of new HIV infections. Of these, 45% are women and 40% are under 30 years old. HIV/AIDS cases among Aboriginal peoples have increased steadily over the past decade.[7]

Face a crisis in housing and living conditions:

· Health Canada states that as of May 2003, 12% of First Nations communities had to boil their drinking water and approximately ¼ of water treatment systems on-reserve pose a high risk to human health.

· Almost 25% of First Nations water infrastructures are at high risk of contamination.[8]

· Housing density is twice that of the general population. Nearly 1 in 4 First Nations adults live in crowded homes.[9] 423,000 people live in 89,000 overcrowded, substandard and rapidly deteriorating housing units.

· Almost half of the existing housing stock requires renovations.[10]

· 5,486 of the 88,485 houses on-reserve are without sewage service.

· Mold contaminates almost half of First Nations households.[11]

· More than 100 First Nations communities are under a Boil Water Advisory for drinking water.[12]

· Core funding to support on-reserve housing has remained unchanged for 20 years.

· Almost half of First Nations people residing off-reserve live in poor quality housing that is below standard. Most First Nations homes off-reserve are crowded.

· First Nations have limited access to affordable housing: 73% are in core need, most are spending more than the standard of 30% of their income on rent.

Are not attaining education levels equal to other Canadians, even though most First Nations are under the age of 25 and represent the workforce of tomorrow:

· There has been literally no progress over the last four years in closing the gap in high school graduation rates between First Nations and other Canadians. At the current rate, it will take 28 years for First Nations to catch-up to the non-Aboriginal population.[13]

· About 70% of First Nations students on-reserve will never complete high school.[14] Graduation rates for the on-reserve population range from 28.9%-32.1% annually.

· 10,000 First Nations students who are eligible and looking to attend post-secondary education are on waiting lists because of under-funding.

· The number of post-secondary students has been declining in recent years. In 1998-99, participation rates of Registered Indians was at a high of 27,157 but dropped to 25,075 in 2002-03.

· About 27% of the First Nations population between 15 and 44 years of age hold a post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree, compared with 46% of the Canadian population within the same age group.[15]

Lack jobs and economic opportunities:

· Unemployment rates for all Aboriginal groups continue to be at least double the rate of the non-Aboriginal population. Registered Indians have the highest unemployment rate of any Aboriginal group, at 27%.[16]

· Registered Indians have the lowest labour force participation rate of any Aboriginal group, with a rate of 54%.[17]

Yet First Nations receive less from all levels of government than non-Aboriginal Canadians:

· The average Canadian gets services from the federal, provincial and municipal governments at an amount that is almost two-and-a-half times greater than that received by First Nations citizens.

· In 1996, the federal government capped funding increases for Indian Affairs’ core programs at 2% a year, which does not keep pace with inflation or the growing First Nations population. A recent Indian Affairs study found that the gap in “quality of life” between First Nations and Canadians stopped narrowing in 1996.

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[1] Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), 1998. The Human Development Index examines per capita income, education levels and life expectancy to compare the world’s countries.

[2] Statistics Canada; Health Canada, Healthy Canadians, A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators, 2002

[3] INAC, 2002

[4] Health Canada, Health Sectoral Session Background Paper, October 2004

[5] Health Canada, Diabetes Among Aboriginal People in Canada: The Evidence, March 2000

[6] Health Canada, A Statistical Profile on the Health of First Nations in Canada, March 2003

[7] Health Canada, FNIHB Community Programs Annual Review 1999-2000, August 2000

[8] Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

[9] First Nations Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization, Preliminary Findings of the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey 2002-2003, November 2004

[10] 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada

[11] Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, National Aboriginal Health Organization

[12] Health Canada

[13] 2004 Report of the Auditor General of Canada

[14] INAC, Nominal Roll 1994-2000

[15] 2004 Report of the Auditor General of Canada

[16] Statistics Canada, DIAND Core Census Tabulations, 1996, T-11

[17] Ibid.

First Nations help out Haiti

As events still unfold in Haiti, people around the world are helping on however they can. This past weekend Aboriginal Nations for Haitians was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event featured Aboriginal performers and all money raised ($60,000) is going directly to those most in need, the children. What bothers me is all the negative comments around this event. On the CBC website, some of the readers comments include: "I guess it was a loss, since it cost more to fly the cheifs in", "Why don't they fundraise money for themselves", "maybe you could say this Haitian fundraiser was an attempt by Indian bands to appear more national by giving international aid but". This truly show the feelings that are just below the surface of Canadian society. Please do not net me wrong. I am not saying this is every Canadian who thinks this way, but when people express feelings like this towards one group, it is considered hate. It saddens me to read these comments every time there is a story about First Nations in the paper, even positive stories. Congrats to the organizers in Manitoba