Problem:
Use simple tenses, 4-5 pages
Industrialized resource extraction has risen as a significant issue in Canada, particularly impacting isolated Indigenous communities in the North. This essay examines the effects of such extraction on the culture and economy of these communities, referencing the NAHO article, "Resource Extraction and Aboriginal Communities in Northern Canada: Cultural Considerations," alongside the theoretical perspectives of community lost, community saved, and community liberated proposed by Quan-Haase regarding community dynamics. By focusing on the "community lost" perspective, I will argue that Indigenous communities experience substantial cultural and economic degradation due to the pressures of industrialization, making this perspective the most reflective of their reality.
Understanding the Three Perspectives
Quan-Haase (pp. 186-89) outlines three theoretical views on community dynamics relevant to this issue:
Community Lost: This perspective suggests that the arrival of external industrial influences leads to the decline or displacement of a community's traditional structures, values, and practices. In simpler terms, this means that communities suffer because long work hours due to industrial demands leave little time for family interactions. As a result, family unity decreases, leading to isolation. Individuals may lose their sense of belonging and social cohesion as they adjust to a more commercialized lifestyle, detaching from their cultural identity.
Community Saved: In contrast, this viewpoint argues that external influences can strengthen community ties. Here, industrialization might provide economic opportunities that allow communities to survive or thrive while still preserving their cultural practices.
Community Liberated: This perspective presents industrialization as a means of freeing communities from traditional limitations. It suggests that such changes allow access to new ideas and opportunities, fostering innovation and growth that empower individuals and promote cultural exchange.
Each of these frameworks provides a different way to assess the consequences of resource extraction on Indigenous communities.
Community Lost: A Case for Cultural and Economic Detriment
The NAHO article illustrates the significant impacts of industrialized resource extraction on Indigenous communities in Northern Canada. One major observation is the loss of cultural practices and social structures that are vital to community identity. The article notes that industrial activities disrupt traditional land use, which is essential for Indigenous culture and survival (NAHO: 3). As industries like mining and forestry expand, the land originally used for hunting, fishing, and gathering is repurposed, severing connections to ancestral practices and teachings. This situation directly aligns with the "community lost" perspective, showcasing how cultural identity connected to the land is eroded.
Economically, although industrialization may generate jobs, these positions often do not harmonize with the traditional economy and can be temporary or exploitative (NAHO: 7). The article states that industries may offer low-paying jobs that do not provide a living wage or lead to sustainable economic growth for the community. This shift from a self-sufficient economy to one that depends on external entities can further disrupt community structures and increase reliance on outside corporations. This aspect highlights the economic vulnerabilities and challenges to self-determination faced by these communities, reflecting the "community lost" narrative.
Additionally, the psychological repercussions of these losses are significant. As traditional lifestyles fade, community members may experience feelings of dislocation, alienation, and despair. The disruption of social structures and loss of intergenerational teachings can undermine mental well-being and community cohesion, marking a fundamental loss of identity and purpose (NAHO: 6). While advocates for industrialization may emphasize potential economic gains, the NAHO article stresses that these gains often come with substantial cultural and emotional costs. Within this context, the "community lost" perspective effectively characterizes the realities depicted in the assessment of the impacts of industrial resource extraction. Industrialization makes it very difficult for community to hunt and move freely on their land. Moose and other animals had been displaced, making it difficult for hunters. People are forced to buy market food instead of traditional food that improves health of the indigenous people. NAHO articles also stresses the health risk that make occur in the industrial mining due to contamination through dirt and dust.
Conclusion:
Through the lens of "community lost," the substantial consequences of industrialized resource extraction on Indigenous communities in Northern Canada reveal a trend of cultural and economic decline rather than empowerment or revitalization. As these communities endure the challenges posed by industrial forces, the degradation of cultural identity and the precariousness of economic stability become clear. The evidence presented in the NAHO article confirms that the negative impacts surpass any claimed benefits, underscoring the relevance of the "community lost" perspective in comprehending the deep effects of industrialization on these Indigenous communities. Need Assignment Help?