Lasting Impacts of Colonialism

Robinson expands the theme of colonial impact beyond the scope normally portrayed in contemporary media. At the first part of the novel, Lisa briefly details the history of the land where she lives, from the first contact with "Hudson's Bay traders" up until the 1950s when "Alcan Aluminum moved into the area... [and] built a 'city of the future' for its workers" (4-5). Robinson draws attention to how the notion of a "city of the future" with the same name as an Indigenous village is particularly ironic and violent, as if Alcan was trying to leave the Haisla people in the past. In this way, Robinson highlights how colonialism is far more agile and contemporary than the just the Hudson's Bay traders who introduced Smallpox and Tuberculosis. For example, when Mick has an outburst over the government requiring Indigenous people to pay taxes...