Colonial Problem

Indigenous peoples are vastly over-represented in the Canadian criminal justice system, a reality the Canadian government has long framed as an “Indian problem.” This narrative places blame on Indigenous individuals and communities, masking the deeper forces that shape their experiences with crime and punishment. The Colonial Problem dismantles this powerful myth and exposes how colonialism – past and present – lies at the heart of these injustices. Drawing on Indigenous perspectives, research evidence, and critical scholarship, Monchalin shifts the focus to the structures of power that continue to uphold inequality, illustrating how assimilation policies, dishonoured treaties, manipulative legislation, and systemic racism have created the conditions for both the victimization and criminalization of Indigenous peoples. Accessible, compelling, and grounded in Indigenous worldviews, this second edition calls on readers to confront uncomfortable truths about Canada’s foundations and to recognize that meaningful change requires addressing colonialism itself. The book invites students, scholars, and general readers alike to rethink justice in Canada – and to see that what has been labelled an “Indian problem” is, in fact, a colonial one.