Settler, 2nd Edition Identity and Colonialism

A decade ago, the first edition of this defining book explained what it meant to be Settler — acknowledging that Canada has been forged through ongoing violence, displacement, and assimilation of Indigenous communities and Nations — and argued that accepting this identity is an important first step towards changing relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

The national conversation about settler colonialism has advanced significantly since that time, thanks to Indigenous struggles that have resulted in high-profile official apologies and inquiries into the devastating inequity between Indigenous and Settler lives in Canada. However, this progress is not enough — many of the same problems persist due to the underlying inequities at the core of Canadian identity, politics, and society.

In this revised second edition, Battell Lowman and Barker reflect on the term’s changing, more nuanced, and continued importance. Touching on the rise of right-wing nationalism, the power and limitations of social media, and ten years of federal Liberal government, this new edition of Settler considers the successes and failures of Settler Canadians in supporting decolonization and charting our next steps towards transformative change.