Last Stand of the Lubicon; A Case Study of Media Representation of the First Nations, From a Native Perspective

Abstract

<p>This thesis has three major sections. The first section examines representation of Natives by Non-Natives. The history of "The White Man's Indian," sociological intention of constructions this section is discussed in connection with of 'primitive societies'. The of this section is to demonstrate the deep rooted ethnocentric mis-representation Non-Natives have perpetrated about First Nations. The result is a consistent "engineering of consent" to oppress and displace First Nations. The exclusion of the Native voice has suppressed facts that challenge "Western thinking" with regards to development, progress and evolution.</p> <p>The Native Perspective section outlines the basic themes emerge from analysis of First Nations' statements on their situation. First Nations philosophies are often in conflict with 'Western thinking'. The Native Perspective section focuses on Lubicon Lake Nation's land claim. The Lubicon are given the opportunity to present their struggle through their discourse, recorded during fieldwork at Little Buffalo, Alberta. The Lubicon content is analyzed and then compared to a Native newspaper's coverage of their situation.</p> <p>The third section is a content analysis of mainstream newscoverage of the Lubicon land claim and blockade. The comparison demonstrates the systematic bias in newscoverage. The three newspapers, two dominant and one Native represent the Lubicon "story" in quite different contexts. The findings demonstrate how the "engineering of consent" is reproduced in contemporary situations.</p>