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MASS iNCARCERATiON OF iNDiGENOUS PEOPLES —— THE ONGOiNG EFFECT OF COLONiALiSM

Updated: Oct 21, 2022

Introduction:


This report addresses the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples within the prison system and the effects of mass incarceration on Indigenous individuals with intersecting identities. Throughout the essay, I illustrate the failure of the Canadian government to confront the disproportionate imprisonment of Indigenous peoples, as well as its dismissal of COVID-19's debilitating impact on imprisoned Indigenous women.


Context:


The overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples within the prison system is an ongoing issue in Canada. Mass incarceration significantly impacts the well being and livelihood of Indigenous individuals, especially those with intersecting identities. However, the Canadian government continues to dismiss and deny the interlocking systems of oppression that contribute to the imprisonment of Indigenous communities. In this paper, I will illustrate the ongoing colonial and white supremacist Canadian state and its implications for the mass incarceration of Indigenous peoples. I will also use the intersectionality analysis to highlight the role of overlapping identities in heavy policing and the victimization of Indigenous communities. Then, explain the extent of the global pandemic of COVID-19's effects on Indigenous women...




Author: Yousra Amari




Comments


Unviersity of Toronto Policython wishes to acknowledge the land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and gather on this land.

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