Honouring the Spirit of the Late Dudley George: Reviewing Ipperwash Inquiry Recommendations
Standing
Graduate (Masters)
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. B. Jacobs, Faculty of Law
Proposal
The events leading up to Dudley George's death illustrate the problematic relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples. In particular, the loss of land, loss of connection to the land and the loss of sacred burial sites has created a disturbance.
Through the enactment of legislation such as the War Measures Act, the government asserted control over Ipperwash lands. My Ipperwash research was conducted collaboratively with the family of Dudley George. As community members, the George family share their experiences with colonialism, displacement and the impacts thereof; this research is driven from a community-based approach and will help to ensure the needs, impacts, concerns, values and voice of the community is being heard. In working with both the George family and Dr. Beverley Jacobs, this research also explored the impacts of media on Ipperwash events. It will examine inter alia: How powerful is media? How does media narrate Indigenous issues? How does the media frame Ipperwash and Indigenous issues? What are, if any, the responsibilities of the media and/or its representatives? Why do we still see sport teams with names and logos like the Tomahawks which continue this narrative of the lawless “Indian”? Why does the “cowboy” vs. “Indians” narrative continue to emerge?
It has been over 25 years since the Ipperwash crisis which resulted in the death of Dudley George. Yet, Indigenous Peoples remain resilient as strong land defenders attempting to navigate the difficult relationship with the colonial state. Media plays a powerful role in society and it is integral to explore the depths of this power as it relates to Indigenous Peoples, their communities and their territories.
Availability
March 30-April 1 Open 12-3.
Honouring the Spirit of the Late Dudley George: Reviewing Ipperwash Inquiry Recommendations
The events leading up to Dudley George's death illustrate the problematic relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples. In particular, the loss of land, loss of connection to the land and the loss of sacred burial sites has created a disturbance.
Through the enactment of legislation such as the War Measures Act, the government asserted control over Ipperwash lands. My Ipperwash research was conducted collaboratively with the family of Dudley George. As community members, the George family share their experiences with colonialism, displacement and the impacts thereof; this research is driven from a community-based approach and will help to ensure the needs, impacts, concerns, values and voice of the community is being heard. In working with both the George family and Dr. Beverley Jacobs, this research also explored the impacts of media on Ipperwash events. It will examine inter alia: How powerful is media? How does media narrate Indigenous issues? How does the media frame Ipperwash and Indigenous issues? What are, if any, the responsibilities of the media and/or its representatives? Why do we still see sport teams with names and logos like the Tomahawks which continue this narrative of the lawless “Indian”? Why does the “cowboy” vs. “Indians” narrative continue to emerge?
It has been over 25 years since the Ipperwash crisis which resulted in the death of Dudley George. Yet, Indigenous Peoples remain resilient as strong land defenders attempting to navigate the difficult relationship with the colonial state. Media plays a powerful role in society and it is integral to explore the depths of this power as it relates to Indigenous Peoples, their communities and their territories.