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RACE RELATIONS AS COLLECTIVE DEFINITION: RENOGIATING ABORIGINAL‐GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IN CANADA
Author(s) -
Fleras Augie
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
symbolic interaction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.874
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1533-8665
pISSN - 0195-6086
DOI - 10.1525/si.1990.13.1.19
Subject(s) - symbolic interactionism , perspective (graphical) , government (linguistics) , sociology , race (biology) , ethnic group , politics , social relation , position (finance) , epistemology , gender studies , social science , political science , law , anthropology , economics , linguistics , philosophy , finance , artificial intelligence , computer science
Recent trends in Canadian aboriginal‐government relations are examined by way of an interactionist perspective on race and ethnic relations. Employing Blumer's notion of group interaction as socially constructed and collectively defined, aboriginal‐government relations are proposed to have undergone a reassessment in response to various developments. This is particular true of the situation in Canada where Native Indians have become actively involved in a ‘collective redefinition’ of their relational status. Failure, however, to achieve a constitutionally‐based self‐governing position has cast light on the politics of aboriginal renewal. In applying Blumer's interactionist perspective, debate over the direction of aboriginal‐government relations are shown to embody both competing images and definitions, as well as shifting tactics and adjustments.