The indigenous tribes in Canada have endured several hardships since the first settlement of the White people in the country. Some of the atrocities they have undergone range from murder, rape, forceful transfer, and unequal treatment from the state bodies and the media. The issue has brought about various discussions about the cause of such mistreatment and the actions that can be taken to curb it. This was the major influence of the documentary Finding Dawn which was prepared by Christine Welsh. The major focus of this film is the narration given by Janice Acoose about the tribulations she underwent and how she found her track.
Hardships Faced by Janice Acoose and Other Indigenous Women
Janice Acoose family originates from the deep interior parts of Canada. Having passed various hardships in those regions, the family decided to relocate to the city of Regina in the 1960s. They held high hopes that city life offered better opportunities, unlike the reserve where such chances were hard to come by. However, they were surprised upon reaching and settling in Regina as the good life they had expected never came along. Janice’s father did not secure a permanent job as he had hoped and he had to rely on temporary menial jobs to fend for the family. The family’s poor background meant that the parents could not afford better education that could place them in permanent and well-paying jobs. Their originality might have greatly contributed to this unexpected reality. This clearly shows the discrimination the indigenous people face across Canada.
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Janice Acoose also narrates how her mother spent hours and days scrubbing the floors of the rich white families in the neighbourhood. At one time she recalls, her mother was raped in her full glare without having any ability to protect her. This was a normal occurrence to many women from the indigenous tribes whom the society viewed as vulnerable and incapable of doing anything. Janice also narrates how she ventured into prostitution after being influenced by her elder sisters who had started earlier. She also narrates how she was raped several times but naively came to accept it as a normal thing to happen to women from the indigenous communities.
The Rebuild
After her near encounter with death, Janice Acoose decided to change her life for the better. She started by thinking about her family, relatives, and members of her community. This provided a sense of pride that encouraged her to start living a positive life. Janice could no longer view herself as a member of an underprivileged community but a tribe with immense potential. She started running as a way of life after realizing the gift her clan had. This greatly teaches the need for one to evaluate his/her abilities and use them to overcome various challenges faced. Janice also recalls the pain she, her family, and other women for the indigenous tribe underwent as a process of rebuilding her life. This gave her the inspiration she needed to stand up and fight for the rights of many women who faced such tribulations due to their originality. This shows the need to use past mistakes and pain not as a source of further tribulation but as an inspiration towards a better life.
Indigenous tribes have faced various tribulations for many years in Canada. There have been many instances where they have faced persecution, their farms confiscated and women being raped. Janice Acoose gives an account of how tough her upbringing was while growing up in the city of Regina. She is accustomed to rape at a tender age when her mother is raped in their presence. Janice is also raped severally as a teenager but she naively accepts it. However, she changes for better by using her heritage and her experience as the primary motivation.
