| Summary: | After hundreds of years of contact, the relationships between the people of Native Nations and
the Canadian Nation are still filled with turmoil. This is common knowledge. What isn't well
known, are the personal consequences for children who have Native and non-Native ancestors.
This thesis is written with the assistance of eight people of mixed ancestry, who share their
experiences, ideas, strategies and dreams, to help others who are dealing with similar issues.
This thesis has been organized around the dominant themes and commonalities that have
emerged out of eight interviews, into four sections: CONTEXT, CHALLENGES, STRATEGIES
& GIFTS. The context that mixed ancestry individuals are born into is complex. Euro-Canadian
designs on Native lands and resources resulted in policies that had, and continue to have, a
devastating effect on Native people. Legal manipulations of Native identity, in particular, have
resulted in the emergence of hierarchies of belonging. Such hierarchies are maintained by
enduring stereotypes of "Indianness" and "Whiteness". For some mixed ancestry individuals,
negotiating the polarized hierarchies of Native and Canadian societies can result in feelings of
being split, and the need to harmonize aspects of the self, with varying social environments.
Various strategies are used to deal with such issues, internally and externally. Ultimately,
through choices, strategies and transformations, it is possible to transcend the challenges of
mixed ancestry, and to lead more fulfilling lives. My hope is that this thesis will be of assistance
to people of mixed ancestry and to those trying to understand the complexities of Native-
Canadian relations, at least to the point of inspiring more discussions and research. === Education, Faculty of === Educational Studies (EDST), Department of === Graduate
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