Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life

In arresting but harrowing prose, James Daschuk examines the roles that Old World diseases, climate, and, most disturbingly, Canadian politics—the politics of ethnocide—played in the deaths and subjugation of thousands of aboriginal people. This book reveals the dark history behind Sir John A. Macdonald’s “National Dream.” It was a dream that came at great expense, leading to the present disparity in health and economic well-being between First Nations and non-Native populations.

The narrative is not just about the past; it also addresses the lingering racism and misunderstanding that permeates the national consciousness today. This book is essential for anyone looking to understand the complex history of Canada and its Indigenous peoples. It is a powerful reminder of the impact of colonial policies and the importance of acknowledging this history in our society.