"Divided we fall, United we stand: Internalized oppression and its affects on Community Development within Aboriginal communities"

Abstract

Community development starts with community healing. This is not a new idea, but one that is needed in order for Native and non-Native communities to peacefully co-exist within Canada. In order to initiate developing new initiatives in a community, that particular community must be ready for new initiatives to be developed. Some communities are not at that level because of factors related to alcohol and drug abuse. Some communities are not yet capable of fully understanding the concepts of "community development" and "community healing." Many people, both Native and non-Native, ask these questions: "Why can't things change in Canada for Native people? Why can't 'they' (meaning Natives) get anything done within their communities? This paper explores these questions. The hypothesis is that, in order to get anything done, whether it is political, social, economical or personal, within this country, Aboriginal people need to stand together as a nation, not just merely independent communities, reserves or cultures. There are theories explaining how people can heal and come together to work towards one common purpose. The ones that will be discussed here are Empowerment Theory, Aboriginal Theory, Community Development Theory and the National Coalition Building Institute Theory. These theories have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to community development, but 98 how they deal with the internalized oppression that holds people back from their full potential as human beings is a common theme in all of them.