James Douglas

Gussying up Colonialism?

Colonialism has as its aim gaining ownership/control of the land and its resources regardless of whether or not the land was already populated by an Indigenous people. Morality aside, colonialism has been very successful in the context of Turtle Island. This is also true in northwestern Turtle Island, where the colonies designated “Vancouver Island” and […]

Was Smallpox Weaponized against First Nations?

[S]ettlers in thrall to colonial ideology saw every unfenced meadow as waste land free for the taking, especially the most fertile land supporting native self-sufficiency. — Tom Swanky, The Smallpox War against the Haida (p 67). July 1, was recently celebrated in “Canada” as Canada Day by “Canadians.” The Dominion of Canada was formed by […]