Paths to Peace

Amid constant tumult, Canada's first nations have remained remarkably peaceful.

With so much conflict, violence, and tension in the world, so much peace building left to be done, and the threat of terror even in place where peace has been the norm, the International Day of Peace provides an opportunity, in my mind, to focus attention on the remarkable efforts that First Nations in Canada are making to avoid discord and to find peaceful, sustainable solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

The standard view of First Nations is that they are locked in seemingly interminable conflict. Ask the average citizen on the street about the state of aboriginal politics in Canada and they will immediately focus on major struggles: the long-standing Caledonia stand-off, the bitter tensions at Oka, and the smaller blockades and acts of violence that have occurred in recent years. But as stark and upsetting as the associated imagery is – several of the disputes, including those of Ipperwash and Gustafsen Lake, involved violence and gunfire – it is important to remember that the conflicts remained contained. They did not spread; violence did not beget violence. The death at Ipperwash did not result in additional deaths.

Indeed, if one looks back over the past 150 years, what really stands out is how rare violence has been and how often indigenous-newcomer conflicts were resolved peacefully. The Riel Rebellion of 1885, the one major exception in Canadian history, was small by international standards, with most of the M̩tis and First Nations leaders in the West preferring non-violent solutions to the massive obstacles that they faced. Despite the staggering challenges of poverty, powerlessness, racism, and discrimination that have swept over First Nations communities in this country, aboriginal Canadians have rarely resorted to violence. Canadians have come to see a peaceful blockade Рeven if they are occasionally noisy and angry Рas typical of aboriginal protest. Violence is, in no way, the preferred aboriginal response to difficulty.

There are many reasons that indigenous protests have not led to violence and bitter conflicts. Remember that the First Nations people have deep and justifiable reasons for being angry with both the government and peoples of Canada. Their collective sense of grievance is strong; their frustrations with the slow pace of solving land, legal, and economic issues are profound. Governments in Canada have played significant parts in the process. They are as unnerved by violence and bitter conflict as are Canadians at large. The country has long sought negotiations and legal means of resolving outstanding issues, even if these have proven to be very long, extremely costly, and often unsatisfactory in the end. There is clearly no Canadian desire to settle historical and legal grievances through violence.

The major credit for avoiding violence, however, rests with the First Nations’ leadership. There is a great deal of anger and frustration in many Aboriginal communities. Young men, often disconnected from both traditional activities and the modern economy, are very upset with the status quo, which typically leaves the social and economic burden for unresolved issues on the backs of First Nations people and communities. Over the past few decades, Warrior Societies have become more active, with young people practicing with firearms and organizing for more direct action. Despite the frustration, the opportunities, and the specific crises that had the potential to spark violent protests, however, very little has occurred. That such violence has not materialized is one of the most important, yet little appreciated, aspects of contemporary Canadian society.

First Nations leaders, including elders, traditional chiefs, and elected officials, have worked extraordinarily hard to keep the lid on First Nations protests. They understand the feelings and emotions in their communities. They know that urgent action is required. They share the unease with lengthy negotiations and court proceedings. They also know that violence would not produce a better solution (and that peaceful blockades can often attract attention). Far from the glare of the media and well out of the view of most Canadians, First Nations leaders have done this country and their communities an enormous service. They have pursued peace where violence was possible. They have sought negotiated settlements when conflict seemed inevitable. They have kept their young people focused on the long-term interests of the community.

The International Day of Peace is truly a time to remember those places where violence and conflict are commonplace. It is also a time to remember the peacemakers, including the many First Nations leaders and elders in Canada who have kept their communities off the path to violent confrontation that would only bring more hardship to peoples working very hard to gain their appropriate place in 21st-century Canada.