A surreal illustration of diverse people building a bridge towards an inclusive future.

Beyond Hyphenated Identities: Decolonizing Multiculturalism for a More Inclusive Future

Theo Raines in Culture & Society December 2025 • 5 min read.

"Uncover the limitations of traditional multiculturalism and explore pathways to genuine inclusion and social justice."

Multiculturalism, as a concept and a policy, aims to foster inclusivity and celebrate diversity. However, beneath the surface of vibrant cultural mosaics, lie complex issues of power, identity, and historical injustices. Traditional approaches to multiculturalism often fall short of addressing systemic inequalities, particularly for Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups. This article delves into the limitations of conventional multicultural frameworks and explores pathways toward a more decolonized and genuinely inclusive future.

Karina Vernon's research from "To the End of the Hyphen-Nation: Decolonizing Multiculturalism" reveals critical insights into how multicultural policies can unintentionally perpetuate colonial structures. The study highlights the ways in which the dominant narrative of multiculturalism in Canada often fails to adequately recognize and address the unique experiences and needs of Indigenous peoples, instead focusing on the integration of immigrant and racialized communities into a pre-existing societal framework.

This article will unpack the complexities of decolonizing multiculturalism, drawing upon Vernon’s analysis and other relevant scholarship. It will examine the limitations of hyphenated identities, the importance of recognizing Indigenous sovereignty, and strategies for building solidarity and alliance across diverse communities. By critically evaluating current multicultural practices, this article seeks to inspire a more just and equitable vision for Canadian society, one that truly honors the diversity and interconnectedness of all its members.

The Limits of Hyphenated Identities and Multicultural Discourse

A surreal illustration of diverse people building a bridge towards an inclusive future.

Traditional multicultural discourse often relies on "hyphenated identities" (e.g., Chinese-Canadian, African-Canadian) to categorize and understand individuals' relationship to Canada. While seemingly inclusive, this framework can obscure complex realities and power dynamics. As Vernon's research points out, the hyphenated identity model often fails to adequately address the unique experiences of Indigenous peoples, whose relationship to the land and Canadian society predates and differs significantly from that of immigrant communities.

Furthermore, multiculturalism, as currently practiced, can inadvertently create a hierarchy where certain cultural expressions are valued over others. The focus on integrating visible minorities into the mainstream often overshadows the ongoing struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. This can lead to a situation where the contributions and concerns of Indigenous communities are marginalized or ignored in broader discussions about diversity and inclusion.

The erasure of Indigenous perspectives: Multicultural policies often fail to adequately incorporate Indigenous voices and concerns, perpetuating a colonial legacy of marginalization.
Reinforcing colonial structures: Traditional multiculturalism can inadvertently reinforce the dominance of European cultural norms and values.
Creating divisions: The emphasis on integrating into a pre-existing framework can create divisions between different marginalized groups.

To move beyond these limitations, it is crucial to decolonize multiculturalism by centering Indigenous perspectives and challenging existing power structures. This requires a fundamental shift in how we understand Canadian identity and belonging, one that recognizes the ongoing impact of colonialism and the importance of Indigenous self-determination.

Toward a Decolonized Future: Solidarity and Action

Decolonizing multiculturalism is an ongoing process that requires continuous critical reflection and action. It involves challenging dominant narratives, amplifying marginalized voices, and building solidarity across diverse communities. This means actively supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, advocating for policy changes that prioritize Indigenous rights, and creating spaces for dialogue and understanding.

One promising approach is to embrace a "relationship framework," as described by Black-Cherokee writer Zainab Amadahy. This framework emphasizes ethical social relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, moving beyond hierarchical models of multiculturalism. By recognizing our shared responsibility to one another and to the land, we can create a more just and sustainable future for all.

Ultimately, decolonizing multiculturalism is not just about changing policies; it's about transforming hearts and minds. It requires a commitment to challenging our own biases, listening to marginalized voices, and working together to build a society where everyone can thrive. The recent Indigenous-led movements offer hope and inspiration for this transformative process. By learning from these movements and embracing a decolonized vision, we can create a more inclusive and equitable Canada for generations to come.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1353/esc.2016.0044, Alternate LINK

Title: To The End Of The Hyphen-Nation: Decolonizing Multiculturalism

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: ESC: English Studies in Canada

Publisher: Project Muse

Authors: Karina Vernon

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the main shortcomings of traditional multiculturalism when it comes to creating a truly inclusive society?

Traditional multiculturalism, while intending to be inclusive, often falls short by not adequately addressing systemic inequalities, particularly for Indigenous communities. It tends to focus on integrating immigrant and racialized communities into an existing societal framework without fully recognizing or addressing the unique experiences and needs of Indigenous peoples, potentially perpetuating colonial structures.

How do 'hyphenated identities' impact the discussion of multiculturalism and Indigenous experiences in Canada?

Hyphenated identities, such as Chinese-Canadian or African-Canadian, are used to categorize individuals' relationships to Canada. However, this framework can obscure complex realities and power dynamics. Karina Vernon's research indicates that hyphenated identities often fail to address the distinct experiences of Indigenous peoples, whose connection to the land predates and differs significantly from that of immigrant communities. This can create a hierarchy where certain cultural expressions are valued over others, marginalizing Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

What does it mean to 'decolonize multiculturalism,' and what specific actions are involved in this process?

Decolonizing multiculturalism involves centering Indigenous perspectives and challenging existing power structures. This requires a fundamental shift in understanding Canadian identity and belonging, one that recognizes the ongoing impact of colonialism and the importance of Indigenous self-determination. It necessitates challenging dominant narratives, amplifying marginalized voices, and building solidarity across diverse communities through active support for Indigenous-led initiatives and advocating for policy changes that prioritize Indigenous rights.

In what ways can current multicultural policies inadvertently reinforce colonial structures and marginalize certain groups?

Current multicultural policies can unintentionally reinforce colonial structures through several mechanisms. They often fail to adequately incorporate Indigenous voices and concerns, perpetuating a legacy of marginalization. Traditional multiculturalism can also reinforce the dominance of European cultural norms and values. Furthermore, the emphasis on integrating into a pre-existing framework can create divisions between different marginalized groups, overshadowing the struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

How can we move beyond the limitations of hyphenated identities and traditional multicultural discourse to achieve a more equitable and inclusive society?

Achieving a more equitable and inclusive society involves challenging the limitations of hyphenated identities and traditional multicultural discourse by actively decolonizing multiculturalism. This includes recognizing and addressing the unique experiences of Indigenous peoples, shifting the focus from mere integration to genuine inclusion, and prioritizing Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. It also requires fostering solidarity and alliance across diverse communities, amplifying marginalized voices, and challenging dominant narratives that perpetuate inequality.