PhD Oral Exam - Jedidat Matoush, Political Science

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

This research is a contribution to the literature on Indigenous politics which encourages scholars to explore the intricacies and complexities of Indigenous nation-building and self-determination in Canada. Through discourse analysis of the annual reports of the Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Nation Government, and consultations and interviews in three Eeyou communities, it demonstrates that Indigenous nations go through different stages of self-government in which their priorities, needs and interests transform. With culture as my focus, my analysis illustrates how culture takes on different meanings depending on the stage of self-government.

I argue that after years of struggle, the Eeyou Eenou are now in a time of decolonization in which culture has moved beyond the realm of discourse and pragmatic efforts are being made to promote, institutionalize and protect culture. As a response to the resurgence paradigm, or Indigenous Political Theory, which claims that self-government is harmful to Indigenous groups and people, this research demonstrates that self-government may in fact be used as a tool of decolonization. This is because self-government, although it requires Indigenous communities to adhere to western values and has a neo-liberal emphasis on economic development and resource extraction, with time, provides the resources and power to shape Indigenous societies in accordance with their values and cultures.