*In case you missed reading this when it was first published last year.*
#Canada’s #NationalParks Are #Colonial #CrimeScenes.
Many see wilderness as a right of citizenship. But the concept of Canada as untouched #nature is unrecognizable to #Indigenous people
In 2017, it felt like the whole country was swept up in the rah-rah celebrations around Canada 150. It was a collective anniversary, a chance to celebrate our history. Well, some of it, anyway. Tied to the many calls to explore the country and take stock of its many wonders, #ParksCanada released its Discovery Pass, which granted free entry to all national parks that year. These natural spaces “represent the very best that Canada has to offer,” it announced in a press release. “They are the essence of our country because they tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples.” But, as Robert Jago explored in his timely essay, Canada’s parks program was built on the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the capture of their territories—a form of “green colonialism.” Parks are wonderful spaces, but they have also acted as #political cover for the control of land, a tactic we still see used today.—Daniel Viola, senior editor, November 2023 issue.
https://thewalrus.ca/canadas-national-parks-are-colonial-crime-scenes/
