In this digitized page of the Young Worker, a headline reads: "Nineteen Indian Boys Flogged with Strap Soaked in Vinegar" this had a dateline of April 25, 1934.
While the term "Indian" is outdated except in specific legal terms, the article shows the racism of the government, society and the YCL's fight against it then, and sadly is still having to fight against racism today.
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FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIAN PEOPLE! (editorial from 1934)
The inhuman flogging of nineteen boys at the Indian Home at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia brings sharply before the whole toiling youth the misery of the young Indians. Segregated in reservations, denied the simplest democratic rights, considered as wards of the government, discriminated against, the young Indians are brutally oppressed and exploited by the ruling class. The few schools which exist for them are controlled by the catholic church. Indian youths who become educated in one way or another are refused the chance to teach as was shown recently at a school. The Indian people have nearly no say as to their children's education.
This case also exposes the role of the church and brings out sharply the need for struggle for secular education and against religious instruction in schools.
The young workers and farmers of Canada should protest against the oppression of Indians; we must fight for equal rights for them; for the right to vote; for unemployment relief; for special governmental aid to the starving Indian farmers, hunters and fishermen. We should begin to fight for the right of the Indian people to control their own schools, assign their own teachers and have these schools in their own languages.
The fight for Indian rights is part and parcel of the struggle for the RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE INDIAN PEOPLES, which means the right for them to establish their own governments, the right to separate from Canada if they wish.
This case also exposes the role of the church and brings out sharply the need for struggle for secular education and against religious instruction in schools.
The young workers and farmers of Canada should protest against the oppression of Indians; we must fight for equal rights for them; for the right to vote; for unemployment relief; for special governmental aid to the starving Indian farmers, hunters and fishermen. We should begin to fight for the right of the Indian people to control their own schools, assign their own teachers and have these schools in their own languages.
The fight for Indian rights is part and parcel of the struggle for the RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE INDIAN PEOPLES, which means the right for them to establish their own governments, the right to separate from Canada if they wish.
While the Indian youth does not form the most decisive section of the Canadian young workers and farmers, the fight for Indian rights will help develop proletarian internationalism and will help combat national chauvinism and patriotism. The Canadian toiling youth will never be freed from oppression.
This brutal assault must call forth protests which should be sent to the government. We should demand a thorough investigation and punishment of the school principal, Father Mackey. We should support the financial drive carried on by the Indians of the Shubenacadie and other reservations for the purpose of asserting their rights in this case.
As against this case of brutal assault which is but one example of oppression of the Indian people, we have the example of the Soviet Union which freed all peoples formerly oppressed under the Czar's government and where all nations live in fraternal equality. Intensified struggle can wrest better conditions and equality for the Indians and they will lead to decisive battles for the right to self determination. However it will be a SOVIET CANADA which will finally solve this problem for the benefit of the oppressed Indian masses.
Please note that some views of 1934 have obviously changed here in 2009 in light of present circumstances. Examples are the masculine terms like fishermen. Another example is: "we must fight for equal rights for them" and " However it will be a SOVIET CANADA which will finally solve this problem for the benefit of the oppressed Indian masses." sounds paternal but shows that the wording is simply not reflecting the meaning proven by the following lines: "RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE INDIAN PEOPLES, which means the right for them to establish their own governments, the right to separate from Canada if they wish."
The line: "While the Indian youth does not form the most decisive section of the Canadian young workers and farmers..." in light of present day events and the way history has played out shows that this is not exactly the case. Aboriginal peoples are very much in the forefront of battles against imperialism and capitalism. What remains to be seen is when the masses (versus the activists) of the Aboriginal population join the fight, not to mention the rest of the workers and the trade union movement. Because divided we fall.
Please note that some views of 1934 have obviously changed here in 2009 in light of present circumstances. Examples are the masculine terms like fishermen. Another example is: "we must fight for equal rights for them" and " However it will be a SOVIET CANADA which will finally solve this problem for the benefit of the oppressed Indian masses." sounds paternal but shows that the wording is simply not reflecting the meaning proven by the following lines: "RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE INDIAN PEOPLES, which means the right for them to establish their own governments, the right to separate from Canada if they wish."
The line: "While the Indian youth does not form the most decisive section of the Canadian young workers and farmers..." in light of present day events and the way history has played out shows that this is not exactly the case. Aboriginal peoples are very much in the forefront of battles against imperialism and capitalism. What remains to be seen is when the masses (versus the activists) of the Aboriginal population join the fight, not to mention the rest of the workers and the trade union movement. Because divided we fall.
This makes me so proud. 1934 and still the YCL is ahead of the federal government of today!
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