Canada at a Crossroads

Boundaries, Bridges, and Laissez-Faire Racism in Indigenous-Settler Relations

By Jeffrey Denis | Publisher: University of Toronto Press

About the book

Drawing on group position theory, settler colonial studies, critical race theory, and Indigenous theorizing, Canada at a Crossroads emphasizes the social psychological barriers to transforming white settler ideologies and practices and working towards decolonization. After tracing settlers’ sense of group superiority and entitlement to historical and ongoing colonial processes, Denis illustrates how contemporary Indigenous and settler residents think about and relate to one another. He highlights how, despite often having close cross-group relationships, residents maintain conflicting perspectives on land, culture, history, and treaties, and Indigenous residents frequently experience interpersonal and systemic racism. Denis then critically assesses the promise and pitfalls of commonly proposed solutions, including intergroup contact, education, apologies, and collective action, and concludes that genuine reconciliation will require radically restructuring Canadian society and perpetually fulfilling treaty responsibilities.

Editions of Canada at a Crossroads

Hardcover
ISBN 9781442646544
Paperback
ISBN 9781442614475
EBook
ISBN 9781442666016
PDF
ISBN 9781442666009

Read an Excerpt

Drawing on group position theory, settler colonial studies, critical race theory, and Indigenous theorizing, Canada at a Crossroads emphasizes the social psychological barriers to transforming white settler ideologies and practices and working towards decolonization. After tracing settlers’ sense of group superiority and entitlement to historical and ongoing colonial processes, Denis illustrates how contemporary Indigenous and settler residents think about and relate to one another. He highlights how, despite often having close cross-group relationships, residents maintain conflicting perspectives on land, culture, history, and treaties, and Indigenous residents frequently experience interpersonal and systemic racism. Denis then critically assesses the promise and pitfalls of commonly proposed solutions, including intergroup contact, education, apologies, and collective action, and concludes that genuine reconciliation will require radically restructuring Canadian society and perpetually fulfilling treaty responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Canada at a Crossroads about?

Drawing on group position theory, settler colonial studies, critical race theory, and Indigenous theorizing, Canada at a Crossroads emphasizes the social psychological barriers to transforming white settler ideologies and practices and working towards decolonization. After tracing settlers’ sense of group superiority and entitlement to historical and ongoing colonial processes, Denis illustrates how contemporary Indigenous and settler residents think about and relate to one another. He highlights how, despite often having close cross-group relationships, residents maintain conflicting perspectives on land, culture, history, and treaties, and Indigenous residents frequently experience interpersonal and systemic racism. Denis then critically assesses the promise and pitfalls of commonly proposed solutions, including intergroup contact, education, apologies, and collective action, and concludes that genuine reconciliation will require radically restructuring Canadian society and perpetually fulfilling treaty responsibilities.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Canada at a Crossroads?

Society and Social Sciences > Sociology and anthropology > Sociology

Where can I read a sample of Canada at a Crossroads?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781442646544

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Canada at a Crossroads?

Jeffrey Denis

Who is the Publisher of the book Canada at a Crossroads?

University of Toronto Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Canada at a Crossroads is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781442646544) and paperback(ISBN 9781442614475) and ebook(ISBN 9781442666016) and pdf(ISBN 9781442666009)

Where can I buy Canada at a Crossroads online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Canada at a Crossroads?