MA Major Research Papers

Date of Award

2021

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Program

Political Science

Supervisor

Dick, Caroline

Abstract

Violence, harassment, and sexual abuse against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people is an issue that currently plagues our nation. There is a disproportionately high number of incidents occurring at Canadian resource extraction sites, both on “work camps,” colloquially referred to as “man camps,” and within nearby communities. While arguably the most salient consideration in the assessment process, it often does not receive the attention it requires. Consequently, this issue not only adds to the wider systemic imbalances that reproduce racist, sexist, and colonial patterns, but it further contributes to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) national tragedy. This dynamic is a result of the beginning of the settler colonial period and the power imbalances that were first established by primarily white European men. Adopting a critical race feminist approach and applying an intersectional lens to the matter reveals a complex picture of the lived experiences of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people and how they experience harm due to their multifaceted identities. The cases of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nunavut are examined and based on the analysis, this paper examines necessary recommendations for an ethical way forward that prioritizes Indigenous human rights, security, and safety before environmental impacts.

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