THE ROLE OF ABORIGINALITY IN REVERSING STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE IN CANADIAN CITIES A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Environment and Sustainability in the School of Environment and Sustainability University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By Mangaliso Mohammed © Copyright Mangaliso Mohammed, January 2016. All rights reserved. PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in the partial fulfilment of the requirement of the Master of Environment and Sustainability degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis work or, in their absence, the Executive Director of the School. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Request for permission to copy or to make other uses of material in this thesis in whole or part should be addressed to: Executive Director School of Environment and Sustainability Room 323 Kirk Hall 117 Science Place University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5C8 Canada OR Dean College of Graduate Studies and Research University of Saskatchewan 107 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A2 Canada i ABSTRACT Canada‟s Prairie cities are an exciting context for understanding cultural growth and diversification of urban spaces because more and more Aboriginal peoples are identifying and experiencing their lives in the urban realm. At the same time though, urban spaces are also a source for serious cultural and socio-economic challenges for Aboriginal peoples. With the sustained pattern of growth in the urban Aboriginal population experienced in Canada‟s Prairie cities today, there is a need for Aboriginal involvement and participation in creating policies and programs for urban Aboriginal peoples. I explore how the city of Edmonton is engaging with Aboriginal peoples and organizations in the city to enable their rights, needs and aspirations in city planning processes. The thesis engages the concept of “Aboriginality” to explore how Aboriginal cultures can be enabled by urban planning processes to develop and manifest their values and identities in the city so that urban spaces can shift toward decolonized places. Knowledge learned from the research can be used to inform municipalities across Canada on how they can emphasise their Aboriginal heritage as a civic strength for inclusive urban planning in Canada. Engaging Aboriginal peoples and their perspectives in ideas of place-making and civic future seeking will also add more depth to the diversity discourse in mainstream Canada. To explore the research questions, the thesis uses Edmonton as a case study. Interviews involving Aboriginal citizens, Aboriginal organizations, and municipal officials are used as a method for collecting the data needed for the research. Findings reveal that the City of Edmonton is willing to engage with Aboriginal peoples to integrate their perspectives and cultures in the mainstream of urban life. However, the process is still developing and much more complicated in terms of how different Aboriginal peoples want ii to be engaged in city planning and associated policy. Citizens express a general fondness for Edmonton and its many opportunities that can improve people‟s lives. However, though on the surface the city overflows with promises for opportunity and success, underneath the surface, some Aboriginal peoples experience subtle barriers that diminish their capacity to engage and succeed in the socio-economic spheres of the life in Edmonton. Negative stereotypes persist to discriminate against and exclude Aboriginal peoples as viable constituents of the citizenry of Edmonton. Aboriginal organizations in the city are playing a fundamental role in addressing the acute social pressures that Aboriginals face. These organizations also serve to create a collective Aboriginal voice that stands to challenge the negative stereotypes in addition to fostering a non- judgmental space for healing from the impacts of intergenerational trauma. The thesis concludes with the point that Aboriginal engagement is an important platform for raising civic literacy on Aboriginal history and its intersection with city planning and development processes in Edmonton. It engages notions of the city‟s identity and begins a transformation of the systemic bureaucracies that presume universal citizenship in the public domain. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely privileged to have worked under the supervision of Dr. Ryan Walker. I would like to thank my Supervisor Dr. Ryan Walker for taking me on as his student, for being patient with me, and supporting me throughout my time as his student. I have benefited immensely from his advice and guidance which will serve me well far beyond this research project. Dr. Walker, I also must express my appreciation for your kindness and dedication to me as your student which opened doors to a variety of learning opportunities that have enriched me academically and personally. I could not have wished for a better supervisor and mentor for my Master‟s research. To my Committee Advisors, Dr. Philip Loring, and Dr Rachel Engler-Stringer, thank you both for your insightful input and encouragement in this research process. I would also like to thank my external examiner, Professor Felix Hoehn, for his time and commitment to my thesis defence. I would also like to thank all my interview participants. Without you this thesis would not be possible. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedules to offer your invaluable insights on Aboriginal issues in Edmonton. A special thanks to Lisa Baroldi and Lise Robinson for their time and support in helping me find research participants in Edmonton. My family, especially my mother, thank you for supporting me in spirit and for encouraging me throughout my life as a student. Stera, Gugu and Ndumiso, I am grateful for your friendship. You became my Swazi family here in Canada offering me a touch of home that made my life so much more enjoyable in this part of the world. iv Last but not least, I would like to thank the research team members, particularly, Sarem for walking with me in this research project and for being there to vent and discuss various issues at different stages of the research. I would also like to remember, Mark Kroeker, for his energy and enthusiasm that inspired me in developing my own thesis proposal. The research was funded by a SSHRC Insight Grant titled City Planning and Indigeneity on the Prairies, held by Dr. Ryan Walker. I am forever grateful to the SSHRC for providing me the funding to pursue my graduate studies and research. I cannot forget the School of Environment and Sustainability for giving me the opportunity to study at the University of Saskatchewan and realize my academic aspirations. v DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my brother and sister both whom I wish tremendous success in all their aspirations and goals in this life. vi CONTENTS PERMISSION TO USE ................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... vi FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... ix TABLES .........................................................................................................................................x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 1.1. Research questions and purpose ...............................................................................10 1.2. Central argument .....................................................................................................12 1.3. Organization of chapters ...........................................................................................13 CHAPTER TWO: CONCEPTUALIZING ABORIGINALITY AND ITS ROLE IN PLANNING FOR DIVERSITY IN POST-COLONIAL CANADIAN CITIES ...............................................14 2.1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................14 2.2. The city as a physical embodiment of structural violence, and urban planning as a way to either reproduce or deconstruct structural violence ........................................15 2.3. Decolonizing the city: Aboriginality as a fundamental ingredient in planning for diverse and inclusive Canadian cities .........................................................................21 2.4 Embracing the cultural project of Aboriginality a mechanism for