Carceral Logics of Colonialism

This chapter explores the historical and contemporary role of Whiteness in colonial – carceral strategies to control First Nations lives. It demonstrates how early forms of colonial carceralism in terms of missions, government reserves, lock hospitals, and cattle station slavery have continued in contemporary carceral strategies of child protection, police lockup, youth detention, community supervision, and prisons. Across these carceral interventions, colonial authorities have sought to imprint White ideologies, values, and ethics on First Nations lives and dispossess First Nations people of country and sovereignty. However, First Nations people have refused these assimilatory forces and continued their laws and cultures. Through the work of Deadly Connections, the chapter demonstrates how First Nations organizations embed decolonization by connecting First Nations people with community, healing, culture, family, and country. Through self-determination, Deadly Connections provides a place for healing from the harms of carceral violence and White institutions by asserting cultural pride and power.