Peace, Luby, Labelle and Norman all argue that the language we use to discuss North American history matters to how we interpret the past. Building on their work, create another example illustrating how the words we choose reshape our understanding of the past.
Luby, Labelle and Norman argue that we should only use the term Indigenous when we are discussing broad regional patterns that encompass diverse peoples. Identify the First Peoples upon whose land you are living and learn about their history and the local treaty context.
With these readings in mind, take a look at your syllabus and textbook. Where, when and how do they begin their discussion of Canadian history. Do you agree with the decisions that have been made about the scope of Canada’s past? Why or why not?
The introduction argued that the themes discussed in these readings could be applied broadly to subjects such as childhood, gender, labour, sexuality, slavery, or women. What might a similar essay about the Canadian history of one of these subjects look like?
