Uncovering White Settler Colonial Discourse in Curricula with Anticolonial Feminism

Abstract

This paper explains a specific anticolonial feminism theoretical framework, which is utilized as a lens to enact a critical discourse analysis to uncover the ways white settler colonial ideology and discourse is (re)produced and subverted in the Ontario English curricula. This is important as the documents aim to be inclusive in their introductory goals, but throughout the documents’ expectations they (re)produce white settler colonial ideology and discourse. Although sometimes framed in problematic ways, there are opportunities within the curricula to subvert white settler colonial ideology and discourse. Overall, the paper brings to light the overt and covert ways in which the Ontario English curricula both (re)produces and subverts white settler colonial ideology and discourse and the importance of remaining in these uncomfortable spaces for reflection.