Kendra Lancaster

Colonization has been praised for its economic developments of so-called “primitive societies”, the spread of “morally right” Judeo-Christian beliefs and effective modes of governance. To many, this phenomenon was simply a justified reality of history. Invasion, genocide and slavery were justified through percieved racial, religious and intellectual authority. The prioritization of the importance of the economy over Indigenous or environmental well-being has been evident in every case of colonization. The importance of trade, exploitation of resources and increase of material wealth for the colonizers was and is continuously legitimized. The modern day ramifications of colonialism have resulted in gross human rights violations for Indigenous peoples and ultimately, affect everyone. Indigenous people around the world have faced oppression, marginalization and exploitation suffered at the hands of their oppressors. But before reconciliation can be found, reparations of the past must be acknowledged.