Content area
Abstract
Aboriginal reconciliation is a process of healing that seeks to repair and restore the legal, political and socio-cultural relationships that exist between Aboriginal peoples and the rest of Canada. In order to heal these relationships, a new approach to reconciliation that emphasizes active, meaningful Aboriginal engagement may be effective. To this end, it is presumed that positive forms of engagement contribute to reconciliation. However, meaningful Aboriginal engagement can only be a successful mechanism through which to achieve reconciliation if the multifaceted differences that define Aboriginal peoples and their histories, cultures, languages and practices are accepted and respected. Moreover, meaningful engagement means effective outcomes wherein the uniqueness of Aboriginal identities are more fully represented and included, so as to foster greater cooperation, mutual awareness, reciprocity and trust between Aboriginal peoples and Canada.
To demonstrate the importance of these factors, a theory of cultural sensitivity is put forward, which posits that respectful, inclusive social interaction that acknowledges Aboriginal distinctiveness may lead to increased social cohesiveness between Aboriginal peoples and Canada. This model is an amalgamation of theories on social capital and social intelligence, only it is broadened to encompass a compassionate awareness and acceptance of Aboriginal distinctiveness in order to promote higher levels of social cohesion, respect and trust across Aboriginal-Canada relations.
Two specific forms of Aboriginal engagement are evaluated: participation in Canadian elections, particularly voter turnout, and involvement in land negotiations. The dissertation seeks to determine the extent to which elections and land negotiations provide positive opportunities for meaningful Aboriginal engagement, and whether improvements need to be made to the election system and negotiations process in order to promote more positive engagement.
Ultimately, it is argued that increased Aboriginal engagement will improve overall social cohesiveness, at the very least by increasing the frequency of positive interactions between Aboriginal peoples and Canada. Where such exchanges are constructive, Aboriginal-Canada relationships should ideally improve through the building of trust and mutual respect. This, in turn, ultimately leads to an increased likelihood of achieving more meaningful Aboriginal reconciliation.
