Below is an essay I wrote for Hist 1120. Within, I examined a petition from the Algonquin to the Governor General in 1862 (pre-Confederation). The essay examines the cultural and spiritual impact of settler-colonialism on the traditional lands and practices of Indigenous folks – specifically in the Algonquin territory, but beyond as well.
In terms of teaching, this course offered me a great deal of learning in regards to the manner in which settler-colonialism fragmented and stratified Indigenous lands. It deepened my understanding of how colonial policies disrupted traditional ways of life, dislocated communities, and erased cultural connections to the land. This understanding has greatly informed my teaching practice, wherein I aim to centre Indigenous epistemology and voices, while allowing room to dissect how settler-colonialism continues to disrupt Indigenous ways of life.
Recently, a peer had read to us a Secwepemc transformer story of Sk’elep which recounts how the territory was formed. They mentioned that, where we see a University or similar institution, Secwepemc people see thousands of years of history, story and memory. This concept sat heavy. It was a reminder that the land is more than just a physical space—it is a living repository of knowledge, culture, and identity. Our insitutions remain as scars on land steeped in cultural memory.
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