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Compulsory sterilization in Canada of individuals deemed mentally unfit or "socially inadequate" was widespread in the early to mid-20th century.[1] The belief was that by preventing these individuals from reproducing, society would be protected from the perceived negative impact of their genes. This led to compulsory sterilization of thousands of people, many of whom were Indigenous women, individuals with disabilities, and those deemed to have "undesirable" traits.[2]
The legal basis for compulsory sterilization in Canada can be traced back to the passage of the Sexual Sterilization Act in Alberta in 1928.[3] This legislation allowed for the sterilization of individuals deemed mentally deficient or mentally ill without their consent.[3] Similar legislation existed in British Columbia, although records on sterilizations there are incomplete.[4] Additionally, sterilizations occurred in Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario and other regions without specific legal frameworks.[5][6][7] These laws remained in place until the 1970s, when public opinion began to shift and the practice was eventually deemed unethical and inhumane.[8]
Despite legislation Indigenous women allege they were coerced into consenting to sterilization, often during vulnerable moments such as childbirth, from the mid 1970s onwards.[9] In June 2021, the Standing Committee on Human Rights in Canada found that compulsory sterilization is ongoing in Canada and its extent has been underestimated.[10] A bill was introduced to Parliament in 2024 to end the practice.[11]
Although current views that might define these actions as racist or genocidal, they were seen as progressive at the time. Canadian eugenics beliefs and practices operated via institutionalization and medical judgements, similar to other nations at the time, some modern scholars contend this was a form of Canadian genocide of Indigenous peoples, aimed at limiting the rights and existence of a group of people.[12][2]
- ^ "Sterilization of Indigenous Women in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. October 22, 1921. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Stote, K. (2015). An Act of Genocide: Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women. Fernwood Publishing. p. intro. ISBN 978-1-55266-732-3.
- ^ a b Rutherford, Gillian (June 27, 2022). "Reproductive control of Indigenous women continues around the world, say survivors and researchers". University of Alberta. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ "CHAPTER 59. An Act respecting Sexual Sterilization. - BC Laws". Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ Cheng, Maria (2023-07-12). "Canada's Indigenous women forcibly sterilized decades after other rich countries stopped". CTVNews. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Zingel, Avery (2019-07-09). "Indigenous women come forward with accounts of forced sterilization, says lawyer". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Fournier, Sylvie (September 24, 2021). "Black, Indigenous mothers say they were sterilized without full consent at Quebec hospitals". CBC. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ "Eugenics in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 1921-10-22. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Shawana, Christine; Ryan, Chaneesa; Ali, Abrar (January 28, 2021). "Forced or Coerced Sterilization in Canada: An Overview of Recommendations for Moving Forward". International Journal of Indigenous Health. 16 (1). University of Toronto Libraries - UOTL. doi:10.32799/ijih.v16i1.33369. ISSN 2291-9376.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:13was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Ryckewaert, Laura (2024-03-25). "Senate bill seeking to criminalize forced sterilizations raises concerns over unintended consequences". The Hill Times. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Carranza Ko, Ñusta P (2020). "Making the Case for Genocide, the Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Peoples of Peru". Genocide Studies and Prevention. 14 (2): 90–103. doi:10.5038/1911-9933.14.2.1740. ISSN 1911-0359.