Collateral damage or necessary condition for colonization? Epidemics and their impact on First Nations as seen by history textbooks in Québec
This study traces the coverage of epidemics among First Nations in textbooks used for Québec’s national history curricula in education, in secondary school (Histoire du Québec et du Canada, 1982-2006; Histoire et éducation à la citoyenneté, 2006-2017; Histoire du Québec et du Canada, since 2017), as well as in two indigenous textbooks. I conclude that only the Cree textbook offers a full account of the crucial historical impact of the “virgin soil epidemics”.