A Mind Spread Out on the Ground

Capitalism is an economic system where people or corporations own capital goods. In theory, components of the economy like prices, production, and the distribution of goods are determined mainly by competition in a free market. As Elliott uses the term, she is emphasizing the ways capitalism has been used to put profit before all else, including the basic human rights of Indigenous peoples.

Colonialism is when one country acquires political control over another country, sending settlers to live in said country and exploiting it for economic gain. In the context of this book, Elliott specifically refers to the colonialism exerted over the Americas, when settlers forced her First Nations ancestors off of their lands in order to exploit their resources. In a contemporary context, colonialism can take on a slightly different meaning, as the settlement has already taken place, but members of Indigenous nations are still being exploited.

Often referred to as the Iroquois, a term used by French settlers which many consider derogatory, this Indigenous confederacy’s actual name is the Haudenosaunee, meaning “People of the Long House.” They are still commonly referred to as Six Nations, and this confederacy of Indigenous nations populated northeast America prior to their displacement by colonizing European nations.