The objective of this paper is to summarize, summarize, reflect, and compare the various aspects of culture that happened to indigenous communities as a result of colonization based on information from two readings. In an attempt to address this issue, there will be analyzing of the themes and ideas presented by Kelm (2011) in “Colonizing Bodies: Aboriginal Health and Healing in British Columbia, 1900-50 I.” This article provides an insight regarding the impacts of residential schools on health and cultural practices. The second reading is the, “On ethnographic refusal: Indigeneity, ‘voice’ and colonial citizenship,” by Simpson (2007). In this article, Simpson focuses on analyzing the changes that have occurred in communities as a result of interaction by people from different ethnic groups. The articles focus on analyzing the impacts that happen when people from different cultures come together. However, Kelm focuses only on harmful effects, while Simpson considers both positive adverse implications of colonialism.
Summary
Kelm analyzes the impacts of colonization on the outcomes of education in British Columbia and other regions. First, Kelm analyzes the objectives of setting residential schools and the changes that occurred as a result of the introduction of colonies in the education system. For example, schools were created with an objective of helping people especially the youths to acquire knowledge and skills capable of helping them to perform their social functions (Kelm, 2011). However, colonization resulted in turning of events as the inclusion of colonialists in the school administration became source of culture clash. The culture conflict led to changing of diet and eating habits contributing to health challenges experienced in the community. According to Kelm, colonialism had negative health effects.
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On the other hand, Simpson considers the impacts of colonialism on indigenous people. The central idea is that colonialists bring people with different cultural views together. According to Simpson, Anthropology has become the voice of the indigenous people by analyzing the events occur in in a particular place at a particular moment. In this case, Simpson considers culture to be the essential aspect for analyzing the differences witnessed in situations where complications arise as a result of differences in the context of operations such as trade, missionary, and warfare. Cultural differences therefore become a way of accounting for the differences between indigenous people and colonialists.
Comparison
Both writers agree cultural conflict is the source of differences experienced when two cultures interact. This statement indicates that people have knowledge, skills, customs, and beliefs that govern their activities in the community. The practices regulated the actions of individuals in a particular geographic region. Cultural conflict occurs in situations where indigenous people resist the ideologies brought by colonialists. When people from a different geographical area, there is always a culture crush that requires strategic approaches to facilitate the social and administrative functions. According to Kelm (2011), the introduction of Indian colonies in British Columbia challenged the cultural practices of the indigenous people, such as eating habits and healthcare practices. In an attempt to effect this argument, Kelm used the concept of residential education systems as a strategy used by colonialists to challenge the cultural traditions of indigenous people. Similarly, Simpson recognizes the importance of institutions as valid avenues for addressing cultural differences between colonialists and indigenous people.
Contrast
Though both writers consider the impact of colonialism on indigenous culture, they have different perspectives regarding the outcomes of the interaction of indigenous people. For instance, kelm associates the introduction of residential schools and colonialism as events that endangered the cultural practices of the indigenous people. For instance, school officials established rules that restricted children from feeding on the foods and adhering to cultural rules of the family. However, the outcomes of colonization remained negative as many of the students in residential schools died of diseases such as tuberculosis. Therefore, Kelm presents colonialism as a source of cultural threat to indigenous cultural practices. However, Simpson considers colonialism to have positive impacts on indigenous people considering the practices in the region before and after the introduction of colonialism. For instance, colonial power created a room for indigenous people such as in Australia to become civilized thus adopting land tenure practices. Therefore, culture conflict creates a room for sharing ideas and civilizing indigenous communities.
Reflection
In my view, the argument by Simpson coincides with my perspective on the impact of interacting with people from different regions on indigenous people. In circumstances where people from different cultural backgrounds come together, there is always a possibility of causing cultural conflict with indigenous people developing culture resistance. Though it may be true that colonialists may have negative impacts, as Kelm argues, this does not always hold, mainly when analyzed from Simpson’s point of view. Anthropological analysis of the effects of colonialism on indigenous shows that colonialism is a source of civilization. This argument holds in the modern world as the globalized world results in acculturation for both the indigenous and colonialists.
Conclusion
Colonialism has both positive and negative impacts on indigenous culture. These differences are associated with the implementation of culture clash as indigenous people try to resist the way of life for colonialists. Kelm argues from the view of Indian colonization in British Columbia and associates colonialism with adverse outcomes, especially in the education and health sector. Simpson considers colonialism to have positive impacts on indigenous people. However, understanding the positive and adverse effects of colonialism on indigenous people requires the combination of the information from both readings.
References
Kelm, M. E. (2011). Colonizing bodies: Aboriginal health and healing in British Columbia, 1900-50. UBC Press.
Simpson, A. (2007). On ethnographic refusal: Indigeneity,‘voice’and colonial citizenship. Junctures: The Journal for Thematic Dialogue, (9).
