Settler Colonial Grave Disturbances as Ecocide

Via a series of case studies set in the American Upper Midwest, this talk outlines the ways in which settler colonial disregard and disrespect of spaces of Indigenous death via disturbances of burial sites ties into broader narratives of settler disregard of Indigenous environments. In addition, this talk delves into the ways in which processes of Indigenous cultural resource preservation, such as grave protection, can tie into broader narratives of Indigenous environmental resurgence.

Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria. A citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Smiles’ work focuses on critical Indigenous geographies, human-environment interactions, Indigenous cultural resource preservation and science/technology studies. Their current research centres around Indigenous modes of adaptation and mitigation of climate change via preservation of cultural resources. Smiles is the principal investigator of the Geographic Indigenous Futures (GIF) Lab, one of Western Canada’s first Indigenous geographies-focused research labs.

Social and environmental sciences converge in this interdisciplinary series as they explore how environmental inequality issues in society intersect with health, history, art, education, science, law, Indigeneity and more. Series conveners aim to delve into the complex nature of environmental injustice, exploring the factors contributing to these disparities and the communities disproportionately affected by them. Join them through this seminar series as they dig and unearth perspectives to promote awareness around environmental injustices.

Series Conveners: Hassan Ahmad, Law; Nadine Borduas-Dedekind, Chemistry; William Brown, Theatre and Film; Tim Frandy, Central European and Northern European Studies; Keunhyun Park, Forest Resources Management; Ethan Raker, Sociology; and Tina Wilson, Social Work