Introduction
In general, the existing literature is united in the opinion that the socialization of indigenous people is a complex and challenging process characterized by the existence of multiple difficulties related to the economy and relations with other groups. Thus, during the colonial stage, there were no attempts to create beneficial conditions for aboriginal people or provide them with opportunities to socialize or improve their economic status.
On the contrary, all European states considered them as undesired elements on lands that can provide benefit (Dunbar-Ortiz 45). It resulted in numerous wars and military conflicts with multiple victims among the aboriginal population of North America. The first economic relations were not fair as traders from Europe did not offer equal terms of cooperation and tried to deceive the local community
Body o f the Paper
The trade between colonizers and people living in North America was characterized by some features. First of all, it presupposed the exchange of raw materials, such as fur and animal pelts, and some ready products brought from Europe (Nelson). For this reason, the price was not fair as colonizers and traders were able to establish their own course and demand the amounts of goods they wanted (Dunbar-Ortiz 67).
For a long period, of time it remained the only scheme available for aboriginal people. Other economic relations emerged in the form of the alcohol trade, especially in multiple reservations, which was extremely beneficial for Europeans as products of crafts were exchanged for beverages (Dunbar-Ortiz 76). In such a way, the trade between European colonizers and aboriginal people continued to evolve but did not contribute to the improved collaboration between these groups.
During the long period, aboriginal people experienced a specific and biased attitude that excluded them from the social discourse and preconditioned the high level of isolation. This factor also impacted their economic status and development as exclusion preconditioned the absence of real opportunities to earn or find a job. Reservations provided them with a chance to continue using agriculture as a leading source of income. The industrial revolution that introduced multiple challenges into the economics of the USA and Canada was not significant for the functioning of aboriginal people as their occupations did not change (Dunbar-Ortiz 156).
At the same time, the rapid development of various industries preconditioned the need for new workers and cultivated a shift in people’s mentalities towards the reconsideration of relations with depressed groups. From this perspective, the industrial revolution in the USA became the event that facilitated the inclusion of local tribes into the life of communities.
Speaking about socialization issues related to aboriginal people, it is critical to mention the existence of residential schools as one of the first attempts to reconsider the role of this group in the functioning of states. The primary goal of this system was to isolate children from the impact of their homes, traditions, and cultures, and assimilate them into the dominant culture to guarantee their becoming members of common communities (Dunbar-Ortiz 134).
This idea rested on the belief that aboriginal cultures were unequal to dominant ones and had to be eliminated to make a new generation similar to other people living in this area. The discriminative and biased approach resulted in causing much harm to the culture of indigenous people and their relations with other citizens and stipulated the aggravation of collaboration between peoples.
The situation significantly changed during the World Wars that critically altered societies of that period. Previously, aboriginal people were discouraged from enlisting as potential recruits; however, during these two military conflicts, thousands of the representatives of this cohort served in armies of the USA and Canada (Dunbar-Ortiz 199). For this population group, it meant alteration of the attitude and its inclusion in the social discourse.
Their economic status also evolved under the impact of shifts in people’s mentalities and perspectives. The predominantly agricultural nature of aboriginal economies was preserved; however, there were attempts to create new projects or involve in exchange or processes that occurred in the area (Dunbar-Ortiz 201). It preconditioned the rapid increase in various sectors of the economy, along with the traditionally strong position of the agricultural one. For this reason, the second half of the 20th century is characterized by the revitalization of aboriginal economies and their evolution.
Today, there are multiple projects and attempts to include indigenous people in international discourse and provide them with opportunities for economic evolution. For instance, there are some innovative solar energy projects organized among the indigenous communities to improve the energy supply and offer new jobs (Dunbar-Ortiz 231). Today, there are also projects for the inclusion of young representatives of these cohorts in specific educational programs to create the basis for future discourse and improvement of economics (Nelson).
At the same time, there are still multiple problems such as poverty and low-income levels that threaten the well-being of these groups and prevent them from evolving (Nelson). For this reason, there is a need for new projects aimed at the elimination of the gap between indigenous people and other citizens to create an environment characterized by enhanced collaboration.
In such a way, the peculiarities of social and economic relations between indigenous people and European colonizers can be analyzed regarding the classic economic theory presupposing that the generation of a stable income is the only desired goal. Holding the powerful position, Europeans were not interested in the evolution of infrastructure or inclusion of aboriginal people in discourse as it would mean the need for specific guarantees and consideration of their needs along with the introduction of fair and flexible prices (Sowell 78).
For this reason, for several centuries, locals suffered from biased attitudes, discrimination, and isolation that was supported by poverty and the absence of opportunities to create powerful economies or engage in some beneficial trade relations. Only with the evolution of the society and the increased importance of the ideas of tolerance and humanism, along with the industrial revolution and the need for new workers and markets, aboriginal people acquired a chance to become active players and improve their economic status (Nelson). However, today, there are still multiple problems that should be solved to ensure that their state will be enhanced.
Conclusion
Altogether, economic relations and socialization of aboriginal people can be considered two extremely complex processes that experience the impact of multiple factors impacting their scope and pace. During the first stages of cooperation with Europeans, indigenous people had no chances to attain fair conditions and were considered inferior to representatives of dominant cultures. In the course of society’s evolution, they acquired new opportunities for the development of their economics, but the situation remains complex because of the problems with socialization and the need for inclusion to create meaningful cooperation with other peoples living in North America.
Works Cited
Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Beacon Press, 2015.
Nelson, Rodney. “Beyond Dependency: Economic Development, Capacity Building, and Generational Sustainability for Indigenous People in Canada.” SAGE Open. Web.
Sowell, Thomas. Basic Economics. 5th ed., Basic Books, 2014.