Book review

The book ‘Clearing the plains: Disease, politics of starvation and the loss of aboriginal life’ by James Daschuk (2014) draws attention to the inhumane acts that Canada engaged in when trying to get rid of natives. Throughout the book, the author presents the various approaches employed by Canada and the effects that they had on the locals. A good example is the case where Canada cleared a plain to further weaken the natives who were already starving. The region had been struck by famine and this had resulted in a severe decline I the number of bison that the natives relied on for food. The Canadians acted under the notion that they were trying to bring progress to the lands they sought to expand to as a way to justify their actions. The acts they carried out however affected the natives more as a significant number lost their lives or had to flee to foreign lands.

Throughout the book, the author shows the correlation between the actions that the Canadians engaged in and their consequences on the natives. While the original idea was to bring progress, the desired results favored the Canadians and placed the natives at a disadvantage. Although a great number of natives were either manipulated, forced or willingly agreed to relocate in order to allow the progress promised by the Canadians, the progress only sought to benefit the Canadians more.

The author points out how, despite the Canadians promise for progress, the indigenous people are yet to enjoy the benefits promised. The indigenous people are the ones most affected by issues related to poverty, racism and low life expectancy (Daschuk, 2014). The Canadians on the other hand are seen doing better off and this, according to the author, is as a result of the occurrences that took place when the Canadians first engaged with the natives with the false promise of bringing progress.

Reference

Dashuk J, (2014) “Clearing the plains: Disease, politics of startvation and the loss of aboriginal    life” U of R press