The Aboriginal versus the non-Aboriginal divide is a great controversy that began decades ago and still exists in our present day. Robert M. Bone states that the divide is indeed the most complex one facing Canada. One may question the validity of that statement. There are, in fact, many divides within the multicultural depths of Canada. So, how does one prove that Bones statement is valid? With the information given from the textbook, as well as outside sources, we can decipher Bones statement to either prove, or disregard his words.
The fault line began hundreds of years ago. It is said that the first people to set foot on North American soil were the Old World hunters about 40,000 years ago (Bone, 2014). The Paleo-Indians (descendants of the Old World hunters) have left behind artifacts that further convince us that they were the first to settle in what is known today as Canada. It is believed that Algonquians are direct descendants of the Paleo-Indians whom still have existing tribes in various parts of Canada. The second major developments in Canada's early history began with the colonization of North America by the French and the British in the 17th Century. This eventually led to a takeover of the land. By 1867, 92% of the population was either British or French (Bone, 2014). The cruelty and humility that the Indians faced during this take over of their own land will continue to follow them throughout the coming years. This was the birth of the fault line of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal divide.
The fault line is further proven as Canada continues to face complexity from the issues that derived from the non-Aboriginals ancestors past doings. The Aboriginal hardships do not end with the European colonization. The issues continue into the late 1800s with the beginning of the residential school programs. Major religious groups, but especially the Roman Catholic Church, operated the residential schools.
