The Canadian genocide: colonial legacies and sexual violence against Indigenous women

This paper examines the role of sexual violence as a tool of genocide against Indigenous women in Canada. By examining key concepts such as genocide, colonialism, and the Canadian legal system, the paper argues that sexual violence has been systematically used to perpetuate the erasure and marginalization of Indigenous peoples. A historical timeline of sexual violence as a genocidal instrument is constructed, starting with European settlement and the erosion of Indigenous societal structures. The paper investigates the impact of the Indian Act on Indigenous women’s legal rights, and explores the intergenerational trauma caused by sexual violence in residential schools. The paper also address the issue of forced sterilization, environmental pollution, and their consequences on Indigenous women’s reproductive health. Furthermore, it explores the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis, emphasizing the ongoing threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking of Indigenous women. By connecting historical and contemporary forms of violence, the paper ultimately aims to raise awareness of the overrepresentation of Indigenous women as disposable victims and call for the need to confront and address these systemic colonial legacies to promote healing and justice.