Conversations with a Dead Man- the Legacy of Duncan Campbell Scott. Lauded for his poetry, he is despised by Canada’s aboriginals for his actions as a federal bureaucrat an attempts to supress First Nations culture.

Conversations with a Dead Man- the Legacy of Duncan Campbell Scott. Lauded for his poetry, he is despised by Canada’s aboriginals for his actions as a federal bureaucrat an attempts to supress First Nations culture.

Mark Abley: Biography of DC Scott: lauded poet, vilified bureaucrat

This week, Montreal columnist and author Mark Abley is my guest as we talk about his latest book, Conversations with a Dead Man: The legacy of Duncan Campbell Scott.

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Montreal author, poet, and columnist Mark Abley: his recent book is called *Conversations with a Dead Man: The legacy of Duncan Campbell Scott*
Montreal author, poet, and columnist Mark Abley: his book published in 2013 is called *Conversations with a Dead Man: The legacy of Duncan Campbell Scott*

Scott straddled two centuries in Canada, the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, a period of great change in the country.

More than that however, he is an enigma.

He was lauded in his time as a great poet and writer,

But he was also at the time a highly placed federal bureaucrat who oversaw policies for Canada’s aboriginals, most of which at the time were designed to supress and even eliminate First Nations cultures across Canada.

While still noted for his literary contributions, he is now also reviled for his role in promoting and carrying out what we know now are disastrous and abusive policies for Canada’s aboriginals.

Duncan Campbell Scott (Left) at 50 in his Ottawa garden in 1913, with the British poet Rupert Brooke, 25 who was on a tour and who would become famous for his war poetry.
Duncan Campbell Scott (Left) at 50 in his Ottawa garden in 1913, with the British poet Rupert Brooke, 25 who was on a tour and who would become famous for his war poetry. © THOMAS FISHER RARE BOOK LIBRARY / UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

In his book Abley creates an extremely interesting and readable scenario to explore both of these seemingly conflicting aspects of Scott, while also deftly revealing a not very well known and dark period of Canadian history, one that still haunts and has repercussions to this day.

The James Bay Treaty signing party at Fort Albany in 1905. Standing: Joseph L. Vanasse (L), James Parkinson (R) of NWMP. Seated: Commissioners Samuel Stewart (L), Daniel George MacMartin, Duncan Campbell Scott (R)
The James Bay Treaty signing party at Fort Albany in 1905. Standing: Joseph L. Vanasse (L), James Parkinson (R) of NWMP. Seated: Commissioners Samuel Stewart (L), Daniel George MacMartin, Duncan Campbell Scott (R)Foreground: HBC Chief Trader Thomas, August 3, 1905 © Archives of Ontario, I0010627

I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation with author Mark Abley

Mark Abley website

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