Lessons in Legitimacy: Colonialism, Capitalism, and the Rise of State Schooling in British Columbia

An examination of how early state schooling in British Columbia taught students the legitimacy of settler capitalism.

Between 1849 and 1930, government-assisted schooling in British Columbia supported the development of a capitalist settler society. These institutions administered different systems that trained Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in their unequal roles in the emerging social order. Lessons in Legitimacy examines education for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students—through public schools, Indian Day Schools, and Indian Residential Schools—and how educational institutions normalized settler capitalism and its making of British Columbia.

Combining insights from history, Indigenous studies, historical materialism, and political economy, Lessons in Legitimacy reveals how a historical understanding of schooling’s uses can inform contemporary discussions about the role of education in reconciliation and improving Indigenous-settler relations.

Sean Carleton is assistant professor of history and Indigenous studies at the University of Manitoba.