Book
A poison stronger than love: the destruction of an Ojibwa community
Yale University Press • New Haven • Published In 1985 • Pages:
By: Shkilnyk, Anastasia M..
Abstract
In this study, Shkilnyk documents the terrible consequences of an overly paternalistic and misguided government community development program. In 1963, the Department of Indian Affairs coerced 500 Ojibwas to abandon their isolated and spacious settlement and move to a cramped suburban-style housing complex. Closer to the highway, the new settlement was connected to the town of Kenora whose employment opportunities and business services would have a modernizing influence on the band, or so policy-makers thought. Wage work in town and a fall in fur prices broke up the traditional winter practice of trapping by extended families. In 1970, the discovery of mercury poisoning in the nearby lakes and rivers closed down commercial and sports fishing, which had been important sources of employment and income for the band. With all former productive avenues cut off, the Grassy Narrows Ojibwa became totally dependent on government jobs and welfare. Alcoholism became rampant. Cases of child neglect, juvenile delinquency, violent deaths, and suicide were far above national averages. Shkilnyk shows how provincial and federal governments failed to act responsibly to avoid liability.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2000
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Arctic and Subarctic
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Regional Planner
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1998
- Field Date
- 1976-1979
- Coverage Date
- 1873-1980
- Coverage Place
- Twentieth Century Ojibwa, Grassy Narrows, Ontario, Canada
- Notes
- Anastasia M. Shkilnyk ; foreword by Kai Erikson ; photographs by Hiro Miyamatsu
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-265) and index
- LCCN
- 84040202
- LCSH
- Ojibwa Indians