Award-winning historian James Daschuk will present a lecture on Sir John A. Macdonald’s policies toward First Nations of the Great Plains when he is featured in the annual Melville-Nelles-Hoffman Lecture in Environmental History at York U on Nov. 18.
“Clearing the Plains and Clearing the Air: Environmental History and National Memory in 2015” will explore how Canadians can integrate indigenous history into commemorative events for the 150th anniversary of our Confederation.
It runs from 4:45 to 6:45pm in the private dining room in the Schulich Executive Learning Centre.
In light of these commemorative celebrations, Daschuk says that “our understanding of this environmental history has taken on new meaning.”
Daschuk is the author of the bestselling book Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life, which received the John A. Macdonald Prize and the Governor General’s Award for Canadian history.
The book was written as an environmental history of indigenous health and disease in western Canada, and it considered the interrelationship of climate, species and other aspects of environmental change on the Great Plains.
Audiences across Canada were drawn to this national bestseller, finding new and troubling insights into Canada’s history of colonial expansion in the Prairies.
Daschuk is an associate professor at the University of Regina.
This event is open to all members of the public. A reception will begin at 4:15pm, with the lecture at 4:45pm.