Disaster Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Indigenous Environmental Justice in the Covid-19 Pandemic
By Alexandra Curran, Master’s thesis
Alex Curran is a recent Master of Environment graduate from the University of Manitoba. Her passions include environmental justice and the role of storytelling and strength-based perspectives in decolonial research, which is reflected in her master’s thesis. As a settler researcher, she is dedicated to continuously learning more about working in good ways with Indigenous communities and fostering relationships of kindness and respect.
Alex successfully defended her thesis, Disaster Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Indigenous Environmental Justice in the COVID-19 Pandemic in December 2024.
Thesis Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was experienced by nearly every person around the world. However, while the pandemic was borne by everyone, the weight of everyone’s burden was not equal and was heavily influenced by preexisting inequalities and harmful social structures. As they have in the past, Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as around the world, experienced disproportionate impacts and losses from this most recent crisis. This may be largely connected to the ongoing presence of settler colonial ideologies and structures which, among other issues, resulted in a lack of necessary infrastructure needed to manage the pandemic within First Nations, as well as a patronizing disregard for Indigenous pandemic decision-making. In conjunction, disaster capitalism ensued throughout the pandemic, a practice defined by Naomi Klein as the exploitation of crises by the powerful to further their own agendas, which worked to further compound and hinder Indigenous efforts to ensure community safety and well-being. However, First Nations nonetheless determinedly asserted their self-determination, challenging harmful decision-making and prioritizing community well-being.
This project utilizes two cases (Case Study 1: Keeyask Lockdown, Manitoba and Case Study 2: Ring of Fire, Ontario) to examine how the pervasive ideologies of settler colonialism interacted and influenced disaster capitalism during the pandemic, as well as how Indigenous Environmental Justice (IEJ) was then enacted by communities. An analysis of these cases demonstrate that, while disaster capitalism and IEJ were prevalent during COVID-19, the specific circumstances were nonetheless shaped by distinct, place-based histories and relationships among settlers and Indigenous peoples. Moreover, this project explores the narratives surrounding these cases, including how they were presented to the public by various Mainstream, Alternative/Advocacy and Indigenous news outlets by utilizing a media analysis. This analysis notably observed the considerable inclusion of settler narratives/biases by Mainstream sources, while Alternative/Advocacy, and Indigenous sources specifically, highlighted Indigenous voices/experiences and the context of sovereignty.
Lastly, and being mindful of the general disregard and absence of Indigenous voices within academia and news media, the inclusion of a community experience chapter highlights place-based Indigenous experiences and ways of knowing regarding the Keeyask case study; Demonstrating the complexity of Indigenous relationships with industry and settler government, these experiences moreover spoke to a dedication to continue to take action, heal and move forward in a good way.
By exploring these subjects of settler colonialism, disaster capitalism and Indigenous Environmental Justice through various lens’ (case studies, media analysis and community experiences) and by utilizing a two-eyed seeing approach which borrowed from qualitative and Indigenous methodologies, this project demonstrates the value of employing multiple perspectives and storytelling when striving to formulate contextualized, respectful and meaningful research.
You can access Alex’s full Masters thesis here.
