De la plume au chandail orange : l’iconographie symbolique dans les mouvements sociaux autochtones au Canada

Abstract

In Canada, Indigenous peoples represent a distinct minority that has been the target of policies of cultural assimilation and discrimination. Today, these Peoples, victims of considerable cultural loss, unite in common movements in which they exhibit a singular protest iconography. The aim of this article is to understand the underlying logic and function of this iconography through the study of three events held in Montreal and Ottawa, in the fall of 2023. Indigenous protest iconography fits into the communication codes of the majority society, while being meaningful to Indigenous peoples. Visible symbols are used as awareness-raising devices with a strong emotional dimension, maximizing external support while contributing to an indigenous collective memory.

Keywords

• activism
• Indigenous peoples
• Canada
• agency
• symbolism
• social movements