A Drunken Opinion; A Research Topic From "Reel Injun"

               Today and in the past, people have always believed that “Aboriginals become drunk off of smaller amounts of alcohol because of a difference in digestion processes” (Ojibwa, American Indian Alcoholism). It is then assumed that this makes them more commonly cause issues. Resultantly, "The Drunken Indian" has become one of the most well-known stereotypes against Indigenous peoples. The truth is, there is no scientific evidence behind this; “Aboriginals metabolize alcohol the same way that non-Aboriginal people do” (Thompson and Genosko, Punched Drunk: Alcohol Surveillance and the LCBO 1927-1975). As a matter of fact, according to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, “the proportion of daily drinking is actually seven times higher among non-Indigenous people” (McCue, News Stereotypes of Aboriginal Peoples). So, where did this stereotype originate then? 

                 One main source of how the Aboriginals in Canada got this stereotype comes from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s history. In 1876, the Indian Act ruled prohibition for all Indians and non-Indians who looked or acted like Indians and placed them all on the "Indian List". This law was put into place because it was believed that Aboriginal people were “more constitutionally prone to develop an inordinate craving for liquor and to lose control over their behavior when they drink” (Thompson and Genosko, Punched Drunk: Alcohol Surveillance and the LCBO 1927-1975). This became a problem when Aboriginals in the Armed Forces of WWII who were allowed to drink returned home and still wanted the privilege of consuming alcohol. So, in 1951 complete prohibition across Canada changed to optional prohibition by province. Ontario privileged partial prohibition but the Aboriginals could only drink on licensed properties, they could not purchase alcohol from the LCBO and they still had to prove that they could consume alcohol in healthy doses and be law abiding before they could gain the full right. This right was finally earned in October of 1959 and changes were made accordingly. 

               This history before 1959 created the stereotype of the “Drunken Indian” that is still known today. Since Aboriginals were prohibited from purchasing legal alcohol, Caucasians automatically assumed that they had problems with it. Then, when Aboriginals had to revert to bootleggers, they ended up drinking much more dangerous intoxicants which made them blameworthy of being problem causers and essentially gave Caucasians a reason to create this label. Also, the “Indian List” was similar to and got confused with the “Interdiction List”. The Interdiction List was a classification made by the LCBO to prohibit more dangerous drinkers from the use of alcohol, for example those who had convictions of criminal acts involving alcohol abuse, or neglected their families or suffered financially due to alcohol. Confused with the difference in lists, Caucasians believed that only Aboriginals were these prohibited dangerous drinkers and therefore the alcohol abusing Aboriginal image was created.

                Altogether, confusion of lists or historical laws is no reason to continue the belief of a myth. Society must consider and learn the truth before jumping to conclusions and discrimination.

Indians holding up stereotypical shirts sold today

A stereotypical flask sold in stores today