About this episode

This episode discusses the Alberta Eugenics Act and the forced sterilization of nearly 3,000 individuals deemed 'unfit' to reproduce.

Episode 424: Between 1928 and 1972, the Alberta government authorized the forced sterilization of nearly 3,000 Albertans deemed "unfit" to reproduce. They were told they were having their appendix removed. Many were children. Most had no idea what was being done to them. The targets were the poor, the mentally ill, Indigenous people, immigrants — anyone who didn't fit the province's vision of a productive society. This wasn't a fringe movement. It was backed by doctors, politicians, newspapers, and some of the most celebrated figures in Canadian history. Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia — Eugenics History of Rights Canada — Eugenics Prairie History Journal, University of Alberta Gladue / University of Saskatchewan — Eugenics Resource Eugenics Archive Canada — Timeline Eugenics Archive Canada — Our Stories City Museum Edmonton — Leilani Muir and Eugenics in Alberta National Post — When Canada Lost Its Mind Over Eugenics CBC News — Leilani Muir, Advocate for Alberta's Sterilization Victims, Dies CBC News — Cash Settlement for Sterilized Women (BC) Alberta Law Review — Mikkel Dack Toronto Sun — The Controversial Beliefs of Canada's Famous Five Wired — CRISPR Babies and Human…

People in this episode

Host: Dark Poutine

Topics covered

• eugenics
• forced sterilization
• Alberta history
• social justice
• Indigenous rights
• mental health
• historical injustices

Keywords

• Alberta Eugenics Act
• forced sterilization
• historical injustices
• Indigenous people
• mental illness
• social policy
• eugenics movement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Alberta government, The Canadian Encyclopedia, History of Rights Canada, Prairie History Journal, University of Alberta, Gladue / University of Saskatchewan, Eugenics Archive Canada, National Post, CBC News, Alberta Law Review, Toronto Sun

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