Aboriginal Education in Canada as Internal Colonialism

Abstract

The power relationships of colonialism are recreated in the relationship between Canadian First Nations and the colonizing European-derived government. The work of some of the theoreticians who have explained Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relationships in North America in terms of internal colonialism is reviewed. The internal colonial model, however, does not provide a good direction for local advocacy positions. The position derived from that observation is that in order to change the colonial relationship, it must be First Nations people who determine the pace and direction of First Nations development, and the process has to be driven and directed by Aboriginal people.