Research exists within the place and history

Reading the articles for this week, I stumbled at the words of John Macdonald about the voting by the Chinese immigrants in Canada: “… they would send Chinese representative to sit here, who would represent Chinese eccentricities, Chinese immorality, Asiatic principles altogether opposite to our wishes; and, in the even balance of parties, they might enforce those Asiatic principles, …” (p. 30). His speech goes on with mentioning Aryan race; when reading this, I immediately remembered the ideologies of the Third Reich. His line of thought represents the imperialistic view and policies (based on that view) he carried out, while in the office. Stanley (2014) further summarises that Macdonald’s exclusion of the Chinese was part of his larger project: the creation of a society of people from Europe on the territories of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people of Canada. (p. 32)

Anti-colonialism theory allows us to critically analyze the history and policies put in place at those times. Through critical analysis, we are able to look at the broader picture of how politicians` views can transform into the national policies that have influenced multiple societal groups and continue to influence our present lives and attitudes today. “In future years, Macdonald’s Aryan vision would mean further legal and popular restrictions on Asians, Africans, Jews and Moslems as well as the continued exclusion of Aboriginal peoples” (Stanley, 2014, p. 32).

Research, as said by Dei (2013), can not exist outside of place and outside of history; so, understanding what land we are on and what historical events preceded our location and social frameworks is the essential part of the anti-colonial perspective that shall challenge the normative research paradigm. I personally prefer the concept of Space as an encompassing definition of the actual physical as well as communicative, spiritual and a variety of multiple  kinds of interaction segments we all exist in.  

 

I think the curriculum can be changed as a reflection of  the new (anti-colonial) research paradigm; the issue remains how we can equip the teachers who were educated within the old paradigm with tools to fully embrace and implement the changes in the every day teaching practices.

 References

Dei, G. (2013). Critical perspectives on indigenous research. Social Studies. 9(1), pp. 27-38.

Stanley, T. (2014). John A. Macdonald and The Invention of White Supremacy in Canada. Canadian Issues. Fall 2014, pp. 29-32.