THE STATE IS A MAN THERESA SPENCE LORETTA

THE STATE IS A MAN: THERESA SPENCE, LORETTA SAUNDERS AND THE GENDER OF SETTLER SOVEREIGNTY BY: ROCIO MUÑOZ

THERESA SPENCE • OPPOSED LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH OF CANADA • -NO CLEAN WATER • -NO PROPER HOUSING • CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL PARTY LED BY PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER WAS AGGRESSIVE AND FAILED TO MEET HISTORIC OBLIGATIONS TO THE LAND ITS PEOPLE. • SHE ENGAGED IN DRINKING FISH BROTH TWICE A DAY. THIS WAS HER FORM OF A HUNGER STRIKE • SHE WANTED TO DO SO UNTIL THE PRIME MINISTER MET WITH HER TO DISCUSS TREATIES.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? • DUE TO FLOODING IN 2009, HOUSES HAVE BEEN INHABITABLE, SEWAGE IS BACKED UP AND THESE CONDITIONS ARE TAKING PLACE IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES. • OF THE 316 ATTAWAPISKAT HOUSING UNITS, 85 PERCENT ARE “UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION.

TO BE CONTINUED… • OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOLLOWED HER EXAMPLE AND STOPPED EATING. • SINCE 1870 S, INDIAN WOMEN IN CANADA HAVE BEEN LEGALLY MANDATED TO DISAPPEAR, THROUGH THINGS SUCH AS THE INDIAN ACT. • IN THE MID AND LATE 19 TH CENTURY, WE SEE A WHITE, HETEROPATRIARCHAL FIGURE THAT SLOWLY BUT GRADUALLY FORCED GEOGRAPHIC REMOVALS, ASSIMILATION PROJECTS AND CITIZENSHIP ITSELF

TECHNOLOGICAL ARTIFACT

TWO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS • WHY DO YOU BELIEVE CANADA HAS FAILED TO FIND THE MISSING INDIGENOUS WOMEN, DESPITE THE MANY YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED? • WHAT OTHER WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CAN HELP ELIMINATE CANADA’S DISREGARD OF THEM.