Royally Wronged: The Royal Society of Canada and Indigenous Peoples

The Royal Society of Canada's mandate is to elect to its membership leading scholars in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences, lending its seal of excellence to those who advance artistic and intellectual knowledge in Canada. Duncan Campbell Scott, one of the architects of the Indian residential school system in Canada, served as the society's president and dominated its activities; many other members – historically overwhelmingly white men – helped shape knowledge systems rooted in colonialism that have proven catastrophic for Indigenous communities. Written primarily by current Royal Society of Canada members, these essays explore the historical contribution of the RSC and of Canadian scholars to the production of ideas and policies that shored up white settler privilege, underpinning the disastrous interaction between Indigenous peoples and white settlers. Historical essays focus on the period from the RSC's founding in 1882 to the mid-twentieth century; later chapters bring the discussion to the present, documenting the first steps taken to change damaging patterns and challenging the society and Canadian scholars to make substantial strides toward a better future. The highly educated in Canadian society were not just bystanders: they deployed their knowledge and skills to abet colonialism. This volume dives deep into the RSC's history to learn why academia has more often been an aid to colonialism than a force against it. Royally Wronged poses difficult questions about what is required – for individual academics, fields of study, and the RSC – to move meaningfully toward reconciliation.

About the Author :
Constance Backhouse is professor of law at the University of Ottawa. Cynthia E. Milton is professor of history at the University of Victoria. Margaret Kovach is professor of education, Department of Educational Studies, at the University of British Columbia. Adele Perry is distinguished professor, history and women's and gender studies, and director of the Centre for Human Rights Research, University of Manitoba.

Review :
"This valuable and timely collection should spark reflection and conversation both within and beyond the Royal Society of Canada. Royally Wronged helps unravel the lingering legacies of colonialism in the 'knowledge' we have produced." Sarah Carter, University of Alberta and author of Lost Harvests: Prairie Indian Reserve Farmers and Government Policy "Representing courage, resilience, and resurgence, [the cover image] captures the recurring themes and ultimate promise of Royally Wronged, a wonderful collection of essays about the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), its historical treatment of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge, and where it might go from here. Animating Royally Wronged is an earnest and genuine effort to think through Canada as a colonial project and to assess the place of knowledge, knowledge networks, and knowledge dissemination in that project." University of Toronto Quarterly