Return to search

"Almost islands": A research synthesis of Aboriginal communities in Canada as metaphorical islands

The purpose of this study is to describe the geographic distribution of Aboriginal people who live in remote, isolated Aboriginal communities in Canada in terms of how geographic settings and features, particularly those that are characteristic of island dwellers, are related to and can impact aspects of culture and identity. Through this process, data was collected using a research synthesis, which allowed for a great deal of data from various sources to be analyzed, extracted, and coded. Based on this qualitative study, numerous geographic characteristics similar to those of islanders and islands emerged. Physically, islands and Aboriginal communities represent bounded, finite spaces that are located on the periphery and are impacted by isolation. These unique isolated areas allow for islanders and Aboriginal people to experience ethnic homogeneity and strong attachments to place, both of which allow for the preservation of culture and identity. That being said, islanders and Aboriginal people both experience migration as a way of life, and leaving their places of origin to experience life in larger, more diversely and densely populated areas is necessary for many. As a result of these findings, this study compares isolated Aboriginal communities in Canada and Aboriginal people to various small islands around the world as well as islanders, through various spatial metaphors.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:PCU.r.ca#ir_8689
ContributorsTennant, Sara K. (author), Randall, James (Thesis advisor), Randall, James (Supervisory Committee Member), Baldacchino, Godfrey (Supervisory Committee Member), Preston, Jane (Supervisory Committee Member), Randall, James (Examination Committee Member), Baldacchino, Godfrey (Examination Committee Member), Preston, Jane (Examination Committee Member), Fox, Michael (Examination Committee Member)
PublisherUniversity of Prince Edward Island
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, thesis
Format178, electronic, application/pdf
CoverageCanada, Ethnic identity., Canada, Social conditions., Effect of environment on, Canada., Canada, Canada, Social conditions., Canada
RightsIn presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, the author has agreed that the Robertson Library, University of Prince Edward Island, may make this thesis freely available for inspection and gives permission to add an electronic version of the thesis to the Digital Repository at the University of Prince Edward Island. Moreover the author further agrees that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised the author’s thesis work, or, in their absence, by the Chair of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty in which the author’s thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to the author and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in the author’s thesis., Contact Author

Page generated in 0.0026 seconds