Prisoners of Colonization: The Over-Incarceration of Indigenous Women and Girls

Abstract

<p>[para. 1]: "Indigenous Nations all over Turtle Island on the lands now known as Canada, the United States, and Mexico, are diverse in their traditional cultures and governing structures. Historically, there were nonetheless some general similarities, especially in relation to the important role of Indigenous women. Indigenous women were often viewed at the hearts of our Nations as the life-givers and caregivers of our children, who in turn, would become the future Nations' warriors, hunters, healers, leaders, and life-givers. In addition to their critical roles as life-givers, Indigenous women also acted as inter-tribal interpreters, negotiators, political advisors, and strategists, warriors, and leaders. They were critical in establishing and maintaining trading relations and peace in our territories. The reality that Indigenous women are now overincarcerated today stands in stark contrast to their positions of power pre-contact. I outline below this trajectory of violent dispossession of Indigenous women to incarceration and the ongoing colonial impacts."</p>