The History of Lines, the Currency of Law, and the Future of Politics: Using Maps to Predict the Fullest Impact of Colonialism

A momentum towards strong property rights to reinforce democratic principles appears in many countries today. We learn that having a space in our name, taking care of that space, and respecting others’ own property helps in the development of financial stability, respectful social relations, and strong legal regimes. Our governments, businesses, and we, as individuals, should help organize boundaries so that everyone in a community can make family ties, social links, and support a larger legislative entity.

I want to introduce an example of where the boundaries imposed on a space do not reinforce such results. In fact, some events in modern political and socio-economic life would suggest that the boundaries have created more socio-economic stress.  From a federally-created border, to the reserve space, to the subsequent provincially created roads, a certain part of rural Canada has experienced what I see as more hardship due to borders. I hope to use the story of this space as a tool for appreciating how the process of colonialism is not only harmful to our Indigenous families, friends, and neighbours. Colonizing functions, ultimately, still exist and stifle all inhabitants of (what is now) Canada in ways that chip away at whatever form we think our democracy has today. And by showing how colonialism hurts all of us, we can shift momentum towards eliminating this tragic quality of Canada’s existence.

This event is open to the general public and does not require registration (but please note that our seating is limited). It will be followed by a reception in the Piano Lounge, Graham House.

Dr Signa A Daum Shanks is a lawyer, law professor, and historian. Currently working at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, she teaches, researches, and has taught property, torts, legal history, law and economics, game theory, Canadian constitutionalism and Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous legal traditions. Before becoming a full time academic, Dr Daum Shanks worked at a national law firm, MAG Ontario, the federal Departments of Justice and (now) Indigenous Services, and Saskatchewan Justice. Dr Daum Shanks is a Senior Fellow at Massey College. Her poetry has appeared in publications such as the Literary Review of Canada, Folklore, Queen’s Quarterly, and Canadian Literature.

Recognized with the President’s Award from the Women Lawyers Association of Ontario, a scholarly research prize from the Law Commission of Canada, the national Scholarly Paper Award from the Canadian Association of Law Teachers, and the Research Leader Award at York University, Dr Daum Shanks enjoys contributing to various Boards, including the Ontario Bar Association, the OBA Foundation, the CBA’s Law for the Future Fund, the Public Legal Education Association (Saskatchewan), and Saskatoon’s poverty law clinic (CLASSIC). She was appointed by the United Nations as a participant in the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Dr Daum Shanks was a member of the Minister of Innovation’s Legislative Review Panel, the Minister of Heritage Advisory Panel on Online Harm, and in 2021 she was appointed the Prime Minister’s Advisory Panel for Supreme Court Appointments.

Dr Signa A Daum Shanks is also a proud shareholder of the community-owned Saskatchewan Roughriders. She will be in residence at Green College in the second half of October, 2025.