The Resilience of the Indian Act
The Indian Act has been said to have racist roots and that it is inscribed in injustices, however, even with these negative attributions that Act has been receiving justifications from both the First Nations and from the Canadian State. through the social theory that was developed by Mordern, the justification on how people move in different ways within the cycles that have been developed in the society. There are different ways through which the resilience of Indian Act can be described and how they are used as the longstanding legislation that is used in the Canadian state. Resilience can be defined as the ability that the social entities must ensure that they absorb, tolerate, cope up and adjust with the social and environmental threats that are found different areas. The Indian Act is resilient, this means that even if there has been attempt by both the First Nations and the Canadian State to dismantle it, the attempts have not been successful, the Act has not been changed. It is important to understand the social theories that describe the resilient of Act, this is because they can allow one to develop an insight on why the legislation that is considered as controversial is still being used. Through the understanding, it will also be possible to develop proper relationship between the government of Canada and the indigenous people living in the state.
Explaining the Resilience of the Indian Act
The first way in which the Indian Act resilience can be explained is through the sociological institutionalism. Each party that is involved in the act is made aware of all the cultural values that are embedded in the legislation and the assumption that the indigenous people are uncivilized and should be assimilated into the modern European way of life is promoted. Rational choice institutionalism also explains the resilience of the act. This means that a compromise must be made by both parties (Morden 118). Discursive institutionalism can also explain the act’s resilience; this means that the act has been given the legitimacy that have been put in place. The last theory that explains the resilience is the historical institutionalism, through this theory states that the decisions made must preserve the institutions that have existed over time.
Response
The Indian Act has been resilient over time because of the need to ensure that the relationship between the indigenous people and the Canadian state government is good. There are different theories that have been developed over time to explain the resilience of this Act is explained. The various theories that exist and which explain the resilience of this theory have both given explanations that point to the relationship between the government and the indigenous people. Even though the roots of the act are based on the racism and injustices, through the theories the act does more to ensure that there is peace and unity. The efforts by the First Nations and the Canadian state to change the act have not been successful, there has not been any notable change which can be documented. It is because of this reason that the Indian Act has been said to be resilient. From the actions in the past, it is not possible for the theory to be changed any time soon. It remains to be resilient.
Works Cited
Morden, Michael. "Theorizing the resilience of the Indian Act." Canadian Public Administration 59.1 (2016): 113-133.
