Canadian genocide of Indigenous peoples

Canadian genocide of Indigenous peoples
They Came for the Children a publication by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Location	Canada
Target	Indigenous peoples in Canada
Attack type	Genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, collective punishment, sexual abuse, starvation, forced conversion
Assailants	Government of Canada, Catholic Church, Anglican Church, United Church, and Presbyterian Church
Motive	Capitalism Christianity French Imperialism British Imperialism Settler colonialism White supremacy

Throughout the history of Canada, the Canadian government (its colonial predecessors and settlers) have been accused of many atrocities variously described as ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, ethnocide and genocide, against the Indigenous peoples in Canada.^[a][2][3][4] The term cultural genocide began to be utilized in the 1990s when researchers and Indigenous leaders started to declare the actions of churches and the government regarding residential schools were genocidal.^[5] There is debate among scholars about the designation used and if the term genocide legally applies to Canada's experience.^[6][7][8][9]

Canada is a settler-colonial nation whose initial economy relied on farming and exporting natural resources like fur, fish, and lumber.^[10] This resulted in the dispossession of lands and forced migration of Indigenous peoples using various justifications.^{[11][12][13][14]} The Canadian government implemented policies such as the Indian Act,^[b] health-care segregation, residential schools and displacement that attempted forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples into Euro-Canadian culture while asserting control over the land and its resources.^[16][12] Despite current views that might define these actions as racist or genocidal, they were seen as progressive at the time.^[17] In response, Indigenous communities mobilized to resist colonial policies and assert their rights to self-determination and sovereignty.^[18]

Although Indigenous genocide denialism is a component of Canadian society, a period of redress began with the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by the Government of Canada in 2008.^[19] This included recognition of cultural genocide,^[20] settlement agreements,^[19] and betterment of racial discrimination issues, such as addressing the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women.^[21]

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