Skip to main content Accesibility Help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
Cancel
×
×
Home
  • Home
Article
  • Cited by 12
  • Cited by
    Crossref Citations
    Crossref logo
    This article has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by CrossRef.
    Hoffart, Renée and Jones, Nicholas A. 2018. Intimate Partner Violence and Intergenerational Trauma Among Indigenous Women. International Criminal Justice Review, Vol. 28, Issue. 1, p. 25.
    James, Matt and Stanger-Ross, Jordan 2018. Impermanent Apologies: on the Dynamics of Timing and Public Knowledge in Political Apology. Human Rights Review, Vol. 19, Issue. 3, p. 289.
    Kulhawy-Wibe, Stephanie King-Shier, Kathryn M. Barnabe, Cheryl Manns, Braden J. Hemmelgarn, Brenda R. and Campbell, David J. T. 2018. Exploring structural barriers to diabetes self-management in Alberta First Nations communities. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, Vol. 10, Issue. 1,
    Ladner, Kiera L. 2017. Taking the Field: 50 Years of Indigenous Politics in the CJPS. Canadian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 50, Issue. 01, p. 163.
    MacDonald, David B. 2017. Replicating Atonement. p. 163.
    Benvenuto, Jeff 2016. Violence, Religion, Peacemaking. p. 119.
    Woolford, Andrew and Gacek, James 2016. Genocidal carcerality and Indian residential schools in Canada. Punishment & Society, Vol. 18, Issue. 4, p. 400.
    Chalmers, Jason 2016. A Genocide that Precedes Genocide: Reconciling “genocide” and “indigeneity” with a paradox of otherness. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, Vol. 12, Issue. 2, p. 177.
    James, Matt 2015. Degrees of freedom in Canada's culture of redress. Citizenship Studies, Vol. 19, Issue. 1, p. 35.
    Egan, John P. 2014. Injection Drug Users, Aboriginality, and HIV: A Postcolonial Glance From a Strong Ally. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, Vol. 2014, Issue. 142, p. 37.
    Macdonald, David B. 2013. Reconciliation after Genocide in Canada: Towards a syncretic model of democracy. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, Vol. 9, Issue. 1, p. 60.
    Hankivsky, Olena and Dhamoon, Rita Kaur 2013. Which Genocide Matters the Most? An Intersectionality Analysis of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Canadian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 46, Issue. 04, p. 899.
    ×
  • Get access
    Add to cart USD25.00
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    Log in Register

The Genocide Question and Indian Residential Schools in Canada

  • David B. MacDonald (a1) and Graham Hudson (a2)
Abstract

Abstract. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been investigating the array of crimes committed in Canada's Indian Residential Schools. Genocide is being invoked with increasing regularity to describe the crimes inflicted within the IRS system, the intent behind those crimes, and the legacies that have flowed from them. We ask the following questions. Did Canada commit genocide against Aboriginal peoples by attempting to forcibly assimilate them in residential schools? How does the UN Genocide Convention help interpret genocide claims? If not genocide, what other descriptors are more appropriate? Our position might be described as “fence sitting”: whether genocide was committed cannot be definitively settled at this time. This has to do with polyvalent interpretations of the term, coupled with the growing body of evidence the TRC is building up. We favour using the term cultural genocide as a “ground floor” and a means to legally and morally interpret the IRS system.

Résumé. La Commission de vérité et réconciliation a enquêté sur la matrice de crimes commis dans les pensionnats indiens au Canada. Le mot génocide est invoqué avec une régularité croissante pour décrire les crimes infligés au sein du système des pensionnats, l'intention derrière ces crimes, et l'héritage qui s'en est ensuivie. Nous posons les questions suivantes: le Canada a-t-il commis le génocide contre les élèves Aborigènes en essayant de les assimiler de force dans des pensionnats indiens? Comment la Convention des Nations Unies sur la prévention de génocide peut-elle aider interprétations des revendications de génocide ? Si ce pas de génocide, quel autre descripteur est plus approprié ? Notre position pourrait être décrite comme « séance de clôture »: la question de génocide ne peut être réglée définitivement en ce moment. Cela concerne les interprétations polyvalentes du terme, couplé avec le corps grandissant d'évidence que le CVR accumule. Nous préférons le terme génocide culturel comme « un rez-de-chaussée » et comme un moyen de légalement et moralement interpréter le système IRS.

Copyright
COPYRIGHT: © Canadian Political Science Association 2012
Corresponding author
David B MacDonald, Political Science Department, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph ON, N1G 2W1david.macdonald@uoguelph.ca
Graham Hudson, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto ON, M5B 2K3, graham.hudson@crim.ryerson.ca
References
Hide All
Aboriginal Healing Foundation. 2010. Reconciliation: A Work in Progress. Ottawa, ON: AHF.
Alston-O'Connor, Emily. 2010. “The Sixties Scoop: Implications for Social Workers and Social Work Education” Critical Social Work 11(1): 1–10.
Assembly of First Nations. 1994. Breaking the Silence. Ottawa ON: AFN.
Assembly of First Nations. 2004. Resolution no. 52. July 20–22. http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id_389~ (April 27, 2011)
Barkan, Elazar. 2003. “Genocides of Indigenous Peoples: Rhetoric of Human Rights.” In The Specter of Genocide: Mass Murder in Historical Perspective, ed. Gellately, Robert and Kiernan, Ben. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Barta, Tony, Finzsch, Norbert, and Stannard, David. 2008. “Three Responses to ‘Can There Be Genocide without the Intent to Commit Genocide?’” Journal of Genocide Research 10 (1): 111–113.
Bischoping, K., and Fingerhut, N.. 1996. “Border Lines: Indigenous Peoples in Genocide Studies.” Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology 33(4): 481–511.
Cairns, Alan. 2003. “Coming to Terms with the Past.” In Politics and the Past: On Repairing Historical Injustices, ed. Torpey, John. Lanham MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Cardinal, Harold. 1999. The Unjust Society: the Tragedy of Canada's Indians. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.
Carlston, Kenneth. 1950. “The Genocide Convention: A problem for the American lawyer” American Bar Review 36: 205–09.
Chalk, Frank. 1994. “Redefining Genocide.” In Genocide: Conceptual and Historical Dimensions, ed. Andreopoulos, G.. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Charny, Israel. 1994. “Toward a Generic Definition of Genocide.” In Genocide: Conceptual and Historical Dimensions, ed. Andreopoulos, G.. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Chrisjohn, Ronald and Young, Sherri. 1997. The Circle Game: Shadows and Substance in the Indian Residential School Experience in Canada. Penticton BC: Theytus Books.
Churchill, Ward. 2004. Kill the Indian, Save the Man: The Genocidal Impact of American Indian Residential Schools. San Francisco CA: City Lights Books.
Curthoys, A. and Docker, J.. 2001. “Introduction: Genocide: definitions, questions, settler-colonies.” Aboriginal History 25: 1–15.
Davis, Robert and Zannis, Mark. 1973. The Genocide Machine in Canada. Montreal: Black Rose.
DeGagné, Michael. 2002. “Implementing Reparations: International Perspectives.” Sydney AU: Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. http://www.hreoc.gov.au/movingforward/speech_degagne.html (Accessed June 21, 2010).
Deiter, Constance. 1999. From our mothers' arms: The intergenerational impact of residential schools in Saskatchewan. Etobicoke ON: United Church Publishing House.
Draft UNDRIP, United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.SUB.2.RES.1994.45.En?OpenDocument (Accessed April 27, 2011).
Drinnon, Richard. 1980. Facing West: The Metaphysics of Indian-hating and Empire-building. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Friesen, John and Friesen, Virginia. 2002. Aboriginal Education in Canada: A Plea for Integration. Calgary: Detselig.
Grant, Agnes. 1996. No End of Grief: Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Winnipeg: Pemmican.
Green, Leslie C. 1988. “International Law: A Canadian Perspective.” In The Canadian Encyclopedic Digest Ontario. 2nd ed.. 17. Toronto: Carswell.
Haig-Brown, Celia. 1988. Resistance and Renewal: Surviving the Indian Residential School. Vancouver: Arsenal.
Henderson, James. 1994. “Empowering Treaty Federalism.” Saskatchewan Law Review 58 (1): 241–329.
Henderson, James Sakej. 2008. Indigenous Diplomacy and the Rights of Peoples: Achieving UN Recognition. Saskatoon CA: Purich Publishing Ltd.
Hitchcock, R. and Twedt, T.. 1997. “Physical and Cultural Genocides of Various Indigenous Peoples.” In Century of Genocide: Eyewitness Accounts and Critical Views, ed. Totten, S., Parsons, W. and Charny, I.. London: Garland.
Hudson, Graham. 2008. “Neither Here Nor There: The Non-Impact of International Law on Judicial Reasoning in Canada and South Africa.” Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence, 21 (2): 321–355.
Kiernan, Ben. 2007. Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur. New Haven CT: Yale University Press.
Ladner, Kiera. 2003. “Treaty Federalism: An Indigenous Vision of Canadian Federalisms.” In New Trends in Canadian Federalism, eds. Rocher, Francois and Smith, Miriam. 2nd ed.Peterborough ON: Broadview.
Lemkin, Raphael. 1944. Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. Washington DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
MacDonald, David. 2007. “First Nations, Residential Schools, and the Americanization of the Holocaust.” Canadian Journal of Political Science 40 (4): 995–1015.
MacDonald, David. 2008. Identity Politics in the Age of Genocide: The Holocaust and Historical Representation. London: Routledge.
Miller, James R. 2004. Lethal Legacy: Current Native Controversies in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Miller, James R. 1996. Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Milloy, John. 1996. A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System, 1879 to 1986. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press.
MISSING CHILDREN & UNMARKED BURIALS: RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS The Working Group on Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Undatedhttp://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/pdfs/Working_group_on_Mis_7456E0.pdf.
Moses, A.D. 2005. “Genocide and Settler Society in Australian History.” In Genocide and Settler Society, ed. Moses, A.D.. New York: Berghahn.
Neu, Dean, and Therrien, Richard. 2003. Accounting for Genocide: Canada's Bureaucratic Assault on Aboriginal People. Blackpoint NS: Fernwood.
Powell, Christopher. 2007. “What do genocides kill? A relational conception of genocide.” Journal of Genocide Research 9 (4): 527–47.
Regan, Paulette. 2010. Unsettling the Settler within Indian Residential Schools: Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in Canada. Vancouver: UBC Press.
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court relating to the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the establishment of the Court (covering the period ending on 31 December 2003)http://untreaty.un.org/cod/icc/statute/romefra.htm.
Ronayne, Peter. 2003. Never Again? The United States and the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide Since the Holocaust. Lanham MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
Schabas, William. 2008. Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/pdf/ha/cppcg/cppcg_e.pdf (Accessed April 27, 2011).
Schabas, William. 2009. Genocide in International Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
“Schedule N—Mandate for Truth and Reconciliation Commission” In Residential Schools Settlement Agreement May 8, 2006http://www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca/SCHEDULE_N.pdf.
Secretariat Draft First Draft of the Genocide Convention, Prepared by the UN Secretariat, [May] 1947 [UN Doc. E/447]http://www.preventgenocide.org/law/convention/drafts.
UN Secretariat. 1947. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide—the Secretariat and Ad Hoc Committee Drafts—First Draft of the Genocide Convention. May [UN Doc. E/447].
United Nations. 1994–1945. Draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.SUB.2.RES.1994.45.En?OpenDocument (Accessed April 27, 2011)
United Nation General Assembly. 2007. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peopleshttp://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html (Accessed April 27, 2011).
Woolford, Andrew. 2009. “Ontological Destruction: Genocide and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.” Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal 4 (1): 81–97.
Recommend this journal

Email your librarian or administrator to recommend adding this journal to your organisation's collection.

Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique
  • ISSN: 0008-4239
  • EISSN: 1744-9324
  • URL: /core/journals/canadian-journal-of-political-science-revue-canadienne-de-science-politique
Please enter your name
Please enter a valid email address
Who would you like to send this to? *

CAPTCHA *

Skip to the audio challenge
×

Metrics

Full text views

Total number of HTML views: 0
Total number of PDF views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

Abstract views

Total abstract views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between <date>. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed

Cancel
Confirm
×