Canada’s Colonial Imagination

Tyler Shipley, Professor and author, starts the episode off by explaining just what the term 'colonial imagination' means. He tells us how it was used to justify the genocide of Indigenous peoples here, and how it STILL shapes how Canada interacts with the world.

He gives countless examples of Canada's modern day colonial interventions in the global south, often with our eyes on resource extraction. Repeating the same patterns of land grabs, assimilation and violence. The mining sector being at the heart of many of the worst human rights violations encouraged or even facilitated by the government of Canada.

How do we retain such a squeaky clean image on the world stage? A lot of states-craft and nationalist propaganda helps - as does the colonial imagination that we've collectively retained as settlers.

Tyler also pushes back on the notion Canada is seen as peacekeepers anymore. The mask is slipping, and the Liberals seem fine in playing war hawks and coup supporters with the world watching.

The discussion necessarily turns to Palestine and how the colonial imagination plays out, not just in the occupation, but in how Canadians are reacting to it all back home.

At the end Tyler reminds us that part of the battle is simply education and revealing some of the parts of our history that may challenge how people see Canada. So be sure to share the episode with a friend.

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Resources:

• The myth of Canadian generosity – Briarpatch Magazine
• Soccer, Imperialism, and Resistance in Honduras - The Bullet
• Canada In The World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination – Fernwood Publishing
• Tyler A. Shipley Homepage