Copper Thunderbird by Marie Clements exposes negative attitudes towards Aboriginal people in Canadian society and institutions. "Drunk Indian; lazy Indian; stupid Indian; useless Indian; humorless Indian; bull-headed Indian (Dokis 58-62; Clements 15-17, 34-37, 80)." It expresses these racial attitudes, historical injustices, and their implications through the life of Norval Morrieseau who suffered from systemic racism; he was Indian and did not fit into the “white” version of Canadian identity. This racism has served as a crucial tool to uproot and convert indigenous communities, creating a system that excludes them from equality. The way this racism is portrayed within Copper Thunderbird as Norval's bitchy aunt and her attitude towards her is intentional. Its presence is comparable to that of the media's involvement in showing the nation negative and stereotypical images of Aboriginal youth and women. Investigating the postcolonial archetype in Copper Thunderbird, Clements reveals the changing faces of systemic racism and contemporary colonialism in Canadian institutions and practices; and how mainstream media misappropriates Aboriginal identity. Nothing has changed since the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867 and “British” North America as Aboriginal people continue to face the same colonial attitudes today (Alfred and Corntassle 597-614). The way the bitchy aunt interferes in every aspect of Norval's life, both in moments of happiness and sadness, is what the Canadian government has done to the Aboriginal community; constantly gnawing away at their humanity. For the past 50 years, the federal government has fought Aboriginal people at all levels, such as over land claims, access to medical care... half of the paper... n Defense Academy Press, 2007.Milloy, John Sheridan. ""A National Crime: Building and Operating the System, 1879 to 1946." A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System, 1879 to 1986. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999. 51-75. Print .Shilling, Vincent. “What is Native American Embezzlement?” YouTube, 17 September 2013. Web. 2 March 2014. .Vocal, Chelsea. “Apihtawikosisân.” nowhere until we turn the narrative around. NP, 22 August 2013. Web. 16 March 2014..Zinn, Howard. "Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress." . London: Longman, 1996. 1-22.