The Unyielding Battle: Dismantling Systemic Racism on Turtle Island
Turtle Island, a name used by many Indigenous peoples for the continent commonly known as North America, is a land steeped in rich histories, vibrant cultures, and profound resilience. Yet, beneath the veneer of modern nation-states like Canada and the United States, a deeply entrenched system of racism continues to inflict pervasive harm upon its First Peoples. This isn’t merely about individual prejudice; it is about systemic racism – the policies, practices, and power structures embedded within institutions that perpetuate and entrench racial inequality. Addressing this requires more than good intentions; it demands a radical reimagining of justice, governance, and societal relations, rooted in truth and Indigenous self-determination.
The roots of systemic racism on Turtle Island are inextricably linked to the history of colonialism. European arrival brought with it not just new technologies and diseases, but also an ideology of racial superiority that justified the dispossession of land, the suppression of cultures, and the forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples. Treaties, often presented as agreements between sovereign nations, were frequently misunderstood, misrepresented, or outright violated, paving the way for the seizure of vast territories. Legislation like Canada’s Indian Act (first enacted in 1876) stands as a stark example of institutionalized racism, defining who is "Indian," controlling every aspect of Indigenous life from governance to land use, and actively working to erase Indigenous identity. Similarly, in the United States, federal policies like the Dawes Act and forced relocations exemplified a deliberate strategy to dismantle Indigenous sovereignty and communal land ownership.
Perhaps the most devastating manifestation of this systemic racism was the residential school system in Canada and the boarding school system in the U.S. These institutions, operated by churches and governments, were designed with the explicit goal to "kill the Indian in the child." Children were forcibly removed from their families, forbidden to speak their languages, practice their ceremonies, or express their cultures. The trauma inflicted – physical, sexual, and emotional abuse – has created intergenerational wounds that continue to ripple through Indigenous communities today, impacting mental health, family structures, and community well-being. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) famously concluded that the residential school system constituted "cultural genocide," a finding that underscored the deliberate, systemic nature of the assault on Indigenous existence.
Today, systemic racism continues to manifest in virtually every sector of society. The justice system is a prime example. Indigenous peoples are vastly over-represented in prisons and jails across both Canada and the U.S. In Canada, despite making up roughly 5% of the population, Indigenous adults account for over 30% of federal inmates. This disparity is not due to higher rates of criminality, but rather to systemic biases at every stage: racial profiling by police, lack of culturally appropriate legal services, harsher sentencing, and a justice system that often fails to understand the social and economic factors stemming from colonization that contribute to interactions with the law. The over-incarceration of Indigenous women is even more pronounced. In the U.S., while the numbers vary by state, Indigenous people are disproportionately arrested and imprisoned compared to their population size.
Healthcare is another critical area where systemic racism costs lives. Indigenous individuals often face discrimination, cultural insensitivity, and outright neglect within healthcare systems. The tragic case of Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman who live-streamed racist insults from hospital staff in Quebec before her death, brought global attention to the horrifying reality faced by many. Disparities in health outcomes – higher rates of chronic diseases, lower life expectancy, and inadequate access to care – are direct consequences of historical trauma, poverty, and systemic barriers. The Canadian government’s failure to implement Jordan’s Principle, which ensures First Nations children receive equitable access to public services, for decades led to preventable suffering and death, illustrating how policy failures can be deadly forms of systemic racism.
The child welfare system similarly reflects a deep-seated bias. Indigenous children are dramatically over-represented in foster care, often removed from their families at rates far exceeding non-Indigenous children. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "Sixties Scoop" and its contemporary equivalent, echoes the residential school era, tearing families apart and severing cultural connections. Poverty, housing insecurity, and the ongoing impacts of colonization are frequently misidentified as parental neglect, rather than recognized as systemic failures that require community-based, culturally appropriate solutions.
Economic disparities are also glaring. Indigenous communities often lack adequate infrastructure, clean water, and access to economic opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty. The resource extraction industries, while promising economic development, frequently proceed without the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous communities, leading to environmental degradation and further dispossession of traditional lands. This ongoing struggle for land and resource rights underscores the continued fight against colonial patterns of exploitation.
Perhaps one of the most agonizing manifestations of systemic racism is the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). The National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+ in Canada concluded in 2019 that the violence constitutes "genocide," citing a pervasive pattern of state inaction, systemic discrimination, and societal indifference that has allowed thousands of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals to be disproportionately subjected to violence, disappear, or be murdered. This crisis is a direct outcome of systemic racism that devalues Indigenous lives and renders them vulnerable.
Combating systemic racism on Turtle Island demands a multi-pronged approach that goes beyond symbolic gestures. Firstly, it requires truth and reconciliation – not merely as a process, but as a sustained commitment to understanding the full scope of historical and ongoing injustices. This means comprehensive education for all citizens about Indigenous histories, cultures, and the impacts of colonialism.
Secondly, decolonization is paramount. This involves dismantling the colonial structures and ideologies that underpin systemic racism. It means recognizing and upholding Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and inherent rights. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which both Canada and the U.S. have now endorsed, provides a framework for this, emphasizing the right to self-government, land, culture, and free, prior, and informed consent. Implementing UNDRIP is not optional; it is a moral and legal imperative.
Thirdly, Indigenous-led solutions must be prioritized and adequately resourced. Indigenous communities possess the knowledge, resilience, and cultural frameworks to address the challenges they face. This means empowering Indigenous governance, supporting Indigenous languages and cultural revitalization, and investing in Indigenous-led initiatives in justice, healthcare, education, and child welfare. For example, Indigenous courts, restorative justice programs, and culturally specific healing lodges offer alternatives to mainstream systems that have historically failed.
Fourthly, policy and legislative reform are crucial. This includes repealing or amending discriminatory laws like the Indian Act, reforming police practices to eliminate racial profiling, ensuring equitable funding for Indigenous services, and establishing independent oversight bodies with Indigenous representation to hold institutions accountable. It also means addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality through targeted investments and economic reconciliation.
Finally, active allyship from non-Indigenous individuals and institutions is indispensable. This means listening to Indigenous voices, educating oneself, challenging racist stereotypes and microaggressions, advocating for policy changes, and supporting Indigenous struggles for justice and land rights. It requires confronting discomfort and actively working to dismantle the privileges afforded by systemic racism. As Anishinaabe writer and scholar Leanne Betasamosake Simpson states, "Decolonization is not a metaphor." It is a lived reality, a constant struggle, and a necessary process for liberation.
The fight against systemic racism on Turtle Island is not an optional societal project; it is a fundamental test of the integrity and humanity of the nations built upon this land. It is a long, arduous journey that demands unwavering commitment, humility, and courage from all inhabitants. Only through a genuine commitment to truth, justice, and the full realization of Indigenous rights can Turtle Island truly begin to heal and build a future founded on equity, respect, and mutual flourishing. The time for empty promises has passed; the time for transformative action is now.
