"Crazy white man" was a term that was tossed around freely in the Mackenzie Delta when I was there in the mid 60's. It was thrown back and forth . White people used the phrase as well as aboriginal and when both groups were together. I'm sure that crazy white man was used in other circles in hatred.
I have no idea of the origin of the term but there were many situations that could have brought up it's origin. There would be a long history . European explorers came first, then whalers, missionaries, traders and government. All of them showed examples of not knowing how to cope and taking advantage of the original people.
One example of crazy will stay in my memory forever. I was not involved in this incident but have read and heard much about it. The Canadian government decided in the early fifties that Inuit in northern Quebec would be better off if they relocated some of them. The government decided that game was becoming scarce in the area and that relocation of some families from Port Harrison ,Quebec, would ease the situation on game.
So they choose 10- 12 families and moved them to Resolute Bay. These people were moved against their will. They were dropped off in Resolute Bay by ice breaker at the end of September with tents and a supply of food to get them started. Resolute Bay is one of the coldest locations in the Arctic. There is little game there. The modern Inuit had never been that far north.
These people suffered great hardship.
The real reason these people were moved was to be land inhabitants to claim sovereignty to the Arctic Islands. The early fifties was at the time of the cold war and Canada didn't want to find Russians inhabiting arctic islands. The Inuit called themselves human flagpoles.
I'm sure you would agree that this was a completely loony and heartless move by the Canadian government and it would deserve the term crazy whiteman.
Now there are countless more examples of what white people did to earn the label "crazy whiteman".
Can you imagine how alone they must have felt:(
ReplyDeleteLonely and in a very precarious situation.
DeleteThe forced relocation of the Inuit for sure falls into the category of "crazy white man" policies. Unfortunately the white man still doing bad things to Aboriginal people and Africans too. Unfortunately all in the name of greed and delusions of superiority. That's my opinion anyway. I get very upset over what goes on all around the world.
ReplyDeleteYour second last sentence is dead on.
DeleteIt is so disturbing to me to see all the ways we have taken advantage of the land's original inhabitants. In the U.S. there were many horrible things done to the American Indians. It is heart breaking to me. From some things you have said it sounds like it was a similar situation in your country only with the Inuit. Can you imagine how any of us would act if someone tried to move us away from our land and home?!
ReplyDeleteFirst Nations were treated as bad or worse. First nations have suffered on a continuing basis as their land was taken.
DeleteInstead of crazy, I’d say cruel. And that goes double for what went on south of you.
ReplyDeleteThat's just a horrible thing to do. Crazy has connotations of not knowing better but I'm sure the whitemen responsible for that knew exactly what they were up to
ReplyDeleteYes, they knew exactly what they were doing . They wouldn't let these people go back either.
DeleteCrazy and harmful.
ReplyDeleteNice summary.
DeleteWhen people of speak of being a "proud Canadian," (or substitute whatever country you wish), the term always puzzles me. I am neither a proud Canadian, nor an unproud (I probably just invented a word) Canadian. I simply am Canadian. I have been very proud of some of the actions taken by Canada and disgusted and disappointed, horrified even, with others. The decision to move these people, along with the residential school system, are two of the most heinous acts in the history of the country. In that context, proud Canadian? I think not.
ReplyDeleteWe all have to take some responsibility for what happened.
DeleteSome of it is historical, Red, happened before we were born.
DeleteHello, Wow, that is heartless. I have heard this term, many times in movies. It reminds me of the Trail of Tears, when the crazy white men made the Cherokee Indian move from their homes.
ReplyDeleteTake care, wishing you a happy day!
Now you've really got me thinking about the origin of the term.. Yes, I do remember it from a movie.
DeleteSadly there are many examples of such treatment of the aboriginal people of Canada in our history, such as the residential schools. Reconciliation has a long way to go in this country.
ReplyDeleteIt's more than reconciliation. People have to be repaired healed.
DeleteWE NEED TO REMEMBER THESE STORIES! What white colonialists did to human beings.
ReplyDeleteCrazee Whiteman.
ReplyDeleteI expected this title to be more of the adventures of that surely a little crazy, young man who went off to the Mackenzie Delta on a wild goose chase.
But no.
I can see how this title might have come into being. I also recall hearing of or reading about moving native Canadians to retain Canadian sovereignty in the north.
Unfair to expect people from a particular area to move to another place and all will be well.
Show lack of understanding I'm thinking.
Alphie
I like your first sentence and I think is more accurate than I would care to admit.
DeleteIt's easy to see why the term got started there. Makes me wonder what the native population called the crazy white people here.
ReplyDeleteWell check out the native languages and you'll find out. I knew what bad was in Inuktituk.
DeleteThat sounds downright cruel. I am ashamed of our history, but it is still going on everywhere, in every country. Do you think that we are doomed to be brutal and sadistic forever?? I truly hope that we will evolve into more humane people.
ReplyDeleteYou raise a very serious question. We have a long way to go on this issue.
DeleteYes, Crazy White Men. I hope the poor reluctant settlers survived the white man’s craziness.
ReplyDeletePeople can be cruel to one another even in the same tribe.
DeleteHeartless and cruel. Indigenous peoples have been used very badly throughout the world, throughout history, and Canada has been no better in that regard.
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes think we're pretty good , but we're not.
DeleteVery cruel indeed!
ReplyDeleteThey were taken against their will to a very inhospitable area.
DeleteTreating people like pawns was, and still is, heartless and cruel. We have to speak up against it when we see it. and we do still see it.
ReplyDeleteIt just comes in different forms and they always try to justify things.
ReplyDeleteThat same term can also apply here in the U.S. in the treatment of American Indians, sadly enough.
ReplyDeleteYes, a very cruel and heartless move by the Canadian government! It qualifies for crazy white man!
ReplyDeleteA tragic story. It is as if the relocated families were being treated like prisoners.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous.
ReplyDeletethis was ruthless indeed dear Red
ReplyDeletei found this one very disturbing
this is obvious that people with power and authority thought themselves absolute owner of the land where ever they found s suitable habitat they took it by all heartless means no matter what the cost was ,so such titles were hardly anything
such invasions are evident to us only from few thousand years ,i wonder about world before that and my heart sinks