Indigenous people, also known as the aboriginals, refer to the first group of persons in a given country, which may be the native Americans, Canadians or Australians for this case. For example, the indigenous tribes in the US originally occupied the country, alongside Alaska Natives (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). There are many other aboriginals, more so when it comes to Australian and Canadian contexts. Aboriginals mostly face problems in most cases being overlooked by the governing regulations. Additionally, aboriginals have lived in dire conditions, and also, there are low academic achievements. Compared to other ethnic groups, there is more violence against indigenous women and girls, which has led to gender non-conforming at shocking rates (Ahmad, 2019). Other problems that aboriginals face include violating their voting rights, communal exploitation of the land owned by these people initially, and notable levels of health inequality. It is also important to note that there has been cultural distortion for many native Americans which in reality appears like modern colonialism.
Background and Need
Purpose of the Study
The study aims to investigate the major challenges that groups of indigenous people face in despite existing policies that guarantee equal rights for these groups. The study aims to establish why the policies put in place are ineffective in guaranteeing equality for the indigenous people. Through the study, it is possible to develop frameworks that may effectively improve the state of aboriginal groups in the US, Canada, and other regions in the world. The research helps a reader find important tips that are considerable in navigating the solution towards protecting the native people in the US.
The Research Questions
The research questions for this study include a raft of enquiries as follows:
- Are the current policies relating to aboriginals effective in promoting the rights of these indigenous groups in the US?
- What are the major problems that hinder the success of an effective guarantee of equity and equality for indigenous people in the US?
- What reforms or frameworks are required to drive the protection and respect for indigenous people in the US and other countries
Statement of the Problem
The current policies that relate to aboriginal groups are rooted in assimilation. There is no definite and clear protection of aboriginal groups due to the stereotyped notions that the indigenous people had been inferior to the groups that came later to the industrial revolution and civilization. The problem was significantly evident in the 16th and 17th centuries when Europeans approached various American groups differently regarding respect for human dignity and recognition as key players in a given society (Meneses-Navarro et al., 2020). From the history of colonization in the US, many aboriginals, such as Southwest Indians, have experienced tough battles against society. There were atrocities committed against many native people by Hernando de Soto and other key characters hence, colonialization being evident.
Theoretical Framework
Despite the guarantee for health protection in the US for the indigenous people, many persons under this category still face troubles when getting their health solutions. There is a high level of neo-colonialism since the differences from the majority make it difficult for the indigenous people to get health care effectively. Health policies that protect the aboriginals seem not to be covered as expected, which has led to the the continuation of struggles for these groups. For example, some policies exist to ensure the right to the indigenous people’s well-being and the right to information and communication and information. There is a need for a holistic approach to the right to health for these native groups. Currently, The Department of Justice Sovereignty Policy reaffirms the recognition of Indian tribes among the first groups in the US (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). However, little has been done to promote the sovereignty cues as these Indian natives in the US face challenges of racism and alienation that make segregation to be evident.
Aboriginals have experienced stigma, discrimination, and racial disparities. These groups undergo the challenges due to the challenge between the majority and the minority. For example, during the strike of COVID-19, many indigenous people in US and Australia were challenged by the lack of proper medical care due to the proximity to health care facilities (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). Indigenous people often reside in rural or remote areas where marginalization could hinder the efficacy of social amenities such as standard education and healthcare. The coronavirus disease claimed lives for many indigenous people as the infection rate had increased even for the urban points with advanced medical facilities. Aboriginal culture has been merged with western assimilation, threatening the loss of norms that were part of the indigenous people. In the US administration, many presidents such as Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Bush pushed for the embracing of aboriginal rights recommended by the United Nations. However, despite all the policies set, the US has struggled in implementing the recommendations up to date, which makes an aspect of modern colonialism.
Review of the Literature
A Raft of Policies Promoting the Life of Indigenous People
Many scholarly sources can aid in researching indigenous people in the US, Canada, Australia, and other countries. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly organized a plenary meeting which later developed to be World Conference on indigenous people (Ahmad, 2019). The key aspect in this matter was sharing of perspectives and practices that would see the realization of full implementation of rights for indigenous people in the world. With the UN’s initiative to change the lives of aboriginals, a significant move saw the embracing of rights for indigenous people in the society (Ahmad, 2019). however, these rights have not been attained fully in the US and many other parts where indigenous people form part of the society.
Various policies show concern for aboriginals in relation to anti-colonization in the modern era. For example, ‘Law if Indigenous Peoples in the Americas’ is a statutory aspect that seeks to classify the aboriginals as important people in the society (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). The sovereignty and jurisdictionally through the policy is based on the Act of Congress of June 1934, also known as The Indian Wheeler-Howard Act of 1934 (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). This policy aims to have an inclusive government where aboriginals form parts of key decision-makers in the executive, judiciary, and legislature. Up to today, more than 560 tribal entities have been acknowledged to have liberty and freedom concerning the federal government of the US (Porsanger & Virtanen, 2019). However, most of the amendments seem to expand the majority while the minority being segregated socially, politically, and economically.
Like the US, Canada has also had policies that are leaned towards the aboriginal people’s welfare. For example, the Canadian government signed treaties with aboriginals on land ownership under a policy that was known as Indian Act 1876 (Meneses-Navarro et al., 2020). This act enabled the government to recognize Indians in the national register. Later, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was adopted in 1982, which embraced all the rights for aboriginals in terms of cultural ties and population factors (Meneses-Navarro et al., 2020). Besides several policies seeking to complete full rights for indigenous people, some loopholes have been evident, making these natives face challenges in their daily lives.
Major Problems with Aboriginals and Legal Reforms Needed
With the US having many assets, the aboriginal people are still poor marking one of the major issues with these native groups. For example, the indigenous people in the US have been marginalized when it comes to shared prosperity, health and insurance, and cultural conservation. It is true to say that the indigenous groups own vast tracts of lands that have rich natural resources and cultural property (Zmyvalova, 2017). These groups have suffered for a long time due to the lack of self-governance and control over the assets since they are forced to follow the dominant groups’ decisions on economic, social, and political matters. The culture of centralization among themselves in the move to have a communal expansion has been overlooked by the other parties, making aboriginals live in poverty.
In Canada and Australia, aboriginals have faced active and passive colonial-centric threats despite many policies existing to neutralize the societal perspective on the different groups of people living. For example, the eviction from the native territories for conservation is a major element that shows the challenges these groups face (Meneses-Navarro et al., 2020). There is a lack of ecological balance since the destruction of sacred sites has been rampant by the authorities. Indigenous persons often find themselves at the receiving end from the government due to the withholding of citizenship and violence used to control matters in their areas. So, the existing policies regarding aboriginals are not effective since most of the elements call for assimilation of the dominant culture sidelining the native people’s lives
Aboriginals face other problems, such as poor living conditions, low educational outreach, and lack of health equity. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, these groups are 30% more likely to be obese, which may lead to illnesses that make them die (Ahmad, 2019 p. 1337). More than 50% of adults are obese when it comes to native people. Hence, there is a risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke (Ahmad, 2019 p. 1339). There is also a lack of funding of health resources which bars culturally competent care for the aboriginals when they face health risks. Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that American Indian and Alaska Native persons face a 6.6% unemployment rate compared to the national 3.9% (Ahmad, 2019 p. 1341). There is a need for reforms such as reviewing the aboriginal rights bypassing the rules in parliament, and implementing them through legal enforcement (Ahmad, 2019 p. 1342). That would ensure the problems faced are not majorly affecting the well-being of the aboriginals living in the US, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Methodology
Research Design
This proposal will be based on a quantitative descriptive research design. The reason is that the study seeks to describe the current status of aboriginal affairs in the US, Canada, and other mentioned countries. Through the research, a reader identifies the policies put in place to protect these native groups, the major problems they face, and the required intervention to guarantee equality in their lives (Tan, 2017). The systematic information about the indigenous people in these areas guides the researcher to know the effective data collection tools and analysis procedures. The analysis and synthesis of data shall be to conclude how current policies related to aboriginals are rooted in assimilation. Therefore, this research design is effective as it can be complemented with other requirements in the study.
Sample
The study shall utilize cluster samples from semi-structured interviews of the members from the indigenous communities. For example, clusters will be grouped depending on the categories such as Indian, Spanish, and Australian groups that were among the first people in the US (Tan, 2017). From the population, about ten clusters will be developed. The responses from the interviews are used to build a projection of the outcome in terms of the major problems and frameworks required for full implementation of equality to aboriginals.
Instrumentation
The study uses a semi-structured interview whereby the interviewee shall not be tied to follow a formalized list of questions. Instead, the questions shall be open-ended, allowing a brief discussion with the parties involved. This instrumentation is appropriate because of the nature of the variables being investigated (Tan, 2017). For example, it is better to ask a person to explain how indigenous people face health inequality than to give them prompts that they tick existence of the same. Thus, this research shall be guarantee quality, reliability, and replicability by using different questions related to one subject.
Limitations and Implications
Limitations
The study has various limitations, more so that which concerns the topics. Asking people to express their take concerning government agendas portrays some risk as some people will be in fear that their feedback may not be concealed to the public domain. Many people do not understand that a study is meant to bring a solution. Rather, they assume a researcher is motivated to apply scientific processes to complete certain tasks for a promised incentive (Tan, 2017). Additionally, the study has limitations on the feedback required due to the mixed reactions that people may have about the rights of aboriginals. Many people will be probed to offer exaggerated responses about the lapse relating to the policies and implementation of the aboriginal group’s key interest. Thus, it might be difficult to measure the authenticity of some answers since they may appear convincing and logical.
Implications
This research will be important to understand the extent to which the indigenous people are being troubled by the marginalization, discrimination, and racial disparities in life. The findings will be feasible to present the outcome for consideration during a review of aboriginals’ state of affairs (Tan, 2017). The results will also be used to show the ability of the researcher to apply scientific methodologies and procedures in quantitative research. Therefore, a complete research impact shall be evident, under the research implications, which complements both the audience and the researcher.
References
Ahmad, A. (2019). A review on development of social entrepreneurship projects among indigenous people.International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 23(4), 1335-1342. Web.
Meneses-Navarro, S., Freyermuth-Enciso, M., Pelcastre-Villafuerte, B., Campos-Navarro, R., Meléndez-Navarro, D., & Gómez-Flores-Ramos, L. (2020). The challenges facing indigenous communities in Latin America as they confront the COVID-19 pandemic.International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(1), 22-27. Web.
Porsanger, J., & Virtanen, P. (2019). Introduction—a holistic approach to Indigenous peoples’ rights to cultural heritage. Alternative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 15(4), 289-298. Web.
Tan, W. (2017). Research methods. WSPC.
Zmyvalova, E. (2017). Book review: Valery Tishkov (ed.), The Russian Arctic: Indigenous peoples and industrial development.Alternative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 13(2), 132-134. Web.