World War Two and the Influence on Human Rights

‘The contribution of Aboriginal soldiers fighting in the Second World War changed social and governmental attitudes towards their human rights. Aboriginal treatment in the past has been less than satisfactory. At the beginning of the 17th century with the first European settlers arriving in Canada, they took it upon themselves to change the way Canada was governed and this resulted in depriving Aboriginals of rights. Recent evidence of this is the legacy of residential schools which were used to assimilate the Aboriginal youth to a European way of life, thus destroying their identity. In 1876 the Indian Act was created. This document outlined the rights and freedoms of Aboriginals as well as trade clauses. The first draft of the Indian Act was relatively fair, giving Aboriginals sufficient rights but as years passed many policies were revised to favour one side more than the other. This was a significant infringement on their human rights. Despite injustices in the Canadian law system, over 3,000 registered Aboriginals enlisted as troops in the Second World War and of those 17 were decorated for their outstanding bravery. In 1951 there was a revision of the Indian Act that respected Aboriginal rights more. Such changes amended the more oppressive section, legalized potlatch (an Aboriginal allowed them to appear off-reserve in ceremonial dress without permission and many other freedoms other Canadians take for granted. The revisions made to the Indian Act were said to be more similar to the original act made in 1876. This social change of attitude towards Aboriginals was a result of recognition of Aboriginal efforts during the Second World War and Canada’s commitment to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.’