What is Wrong with Assimilation?

“We recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong” says Mr. Harper in his apology. As an immigrant from a different culture who has done his best to assimilate, let some one tell me why was it wrong?

For last four centuries members of second, third, fourth and umpteenth nations have come to Canada and made their homes here. Some were well equipped to settle down in harsh conditions and did well for themselves and their progeny. Many were poor, uneducated and ill equipped for the conditions. But a large majority of them learnt from other settlers, worked hard and sooner or later assimilated in their lifestyle while preserving their culture and in some cases religion. Their progeny is now proud to call themselves Canadian and contribute to the welfare of the nation.

Imagine for a minute what would have happened if all the immigrants had adopted the hunting gathering life style of the original residents. Or they did what they did at home exactly as it was done there. The country today would be a sparsely populated land far from being one of the richest and most desirable countries in the world. Now look at the political and business leadership of the first nations. Look at your first nation neighbours, colleagues or professionals you come in contact with. Almost all of the respected and successful members of this distinguished group, with the exception of those who inherited their positions, were educated in public school system or in the schools which are being apologized for. Many of them were brought up by second nation mothers or grandparents or adoptive parents. Now look at the first nations who are living in poverty, suffer from addictions, lack self-respect and are generally not equipped to earn a living. Many of them live in remote helmets the way they did several generations ago, as hunters and gatherers. And their life is no better or worse than it was of their forefathers then. A comparable helmet of second nations will either be a self-sustaining farming community or some industrial facility. It is impractical for the communities living in isolated areas as hunter gatherers to expect the benefits enjoyed by Canadians of both first and future nations who have moved on to a modern lifestyle.

It is the same story all over the world. Unassimilated tribes in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America who live the ‘traditional’ lifestyle do not generate the means to have the amenities we take for granted. When these amenities are supplied to them by the governments or the aid agencies, the communities are usually not able to maintain them. In any event, access to these amenities is the first step towards assimilation. The individuals with innate abilities to learn and assimilate do so and move on and those who don’t stay behind in poverty.

Assimilation is not opposed to multiculturism the way it is practised in Canada. Citizens originating from all over the world and belonging to every conceivable religion live and work in the same communities and work places. While they often have different belief systems and speak different languages at home, the general behaviour pattern is quite similar in public. The newcomers have maintained their religion, language and some elements of culture while adopting the lifestyle developed over the centuries by the second nations and they have benefited by it. The partial assimilation has helped every one while those who wished to maintain their identity were able to do so. The schools Mr. Harper is apologizing for were an attempt to achieve the same ends. While it is regrettable that some individuals in important positions misused their authority it is churlish to deny that boarding schools were considered very desirable in Britain and much of the leadership of the Empire was fostered in these schools. The system introduced for the first nations was far from perfect, and no doubt caused some misery, but these schools were set up in good faith and it is unfortunate for all Canadians that they achieved the ends they were set up for only partially.

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