The Colonial Problem: An Indigenous Perspective on Crime and Injustice in Canada - Softcover

Monchalin, Lisa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442606622 ISBN 13: 9781442606623

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, 2016

Synopsis

Indigenous peoples are vastly overrepresented in the Canadian criminal justice system. The Canadian government has framed this disproportionate victimization and criminalization as being an "Indian problem."

In The Colonial Problem, Lisa Monchalin challenges the myth of the "Indian problem" and encourages readers to view the crimes and injustices affecting Indigenous peoples from a more culturally aware position. She analyzes the consequences of assimilation policies, dishonoured treaty agreements, manipulative legislation, and systematic racism, arguing that the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian criminal justice system is not an Indian problem but a colonial one.

About this title

About the Author

Lisa Monchalin is Algonquin, Métis, Huron, and Scottish and teaches in the Department of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia. She is the first Indigenous woman in Canada to hold a PhD in Criminology. Follow her on Twitter @lmonchalin.

Review

Monchalin's timely and innovative book exposes ugly truths about Canada's 'colonial problem' in a comprehensive and compelling way. With a clear focus on the restoration of justice and harmony for Indigenous peoples, Monchalin provides pathways for reimagining and decolonizing current relationships via land-based resurgence, artistic resistance, community campaigns, and ultimately reclaiming the rebellious dignity of Indigenous nations and peoples. This is an important read for anyone seeking Indigenous perspectives on justice and the impacts of ongoing, shape-shifting colonization on Indigenous communities. (Jeff Corntassel, University of Victoria)

Written from an Indigenous perspective, comprehensive yet easy to read, and complete with discussion questions and activities, this book would be a useful classroom text for justice studies, sociology, Indigenous studies, political science, and history. Highly recommended! (Rob Nestor, Justice Studies, University of Regina)

This textbook is long overdue, brilliantly written, and filled with pertinent information that all Canadians and all Indigenous peoples need to know. Monchalin leaves no stone unturned. Understanding this text is key if we truly want to learn to 'live together in a good way' and move toward a 'just' society. (Wenona Victor, University of the Fraser Valley)

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1442606622
• ISBN 13: 9781442606623
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448