Serpent River Resurgence tells the story of how the Serpent River Anishinaabek confronted the persistent forces of settler colonialism and the effects of uranium mining at Elliot Lake, Ontario. Drawing on extensive archival sources, oral histories, and newspaper articles, Lianne C. Leddy examines the environmental and political power relationships that affected her homeland in the Cold War period.

Focusing on Indigenous-settler relations, the environmental and health consequences of the uranium industry, and the importance of traditional uses of land and what happens when they are compromised, Serpent River Resurgence explores how settler colonialism and Anishinaabe resistance remained potent forces in Indigenous communities throughout the second half of the twentieth century.

Prizes

Winner of Clio Prize for Ontario History Awarded by the Canadian Historical Association 2023 (Canada),Winner of Indigenous History Book Prize Awarded by the Canadian Historical Association 2023 (Canada),Winner of The CHA Best Scholarly Book in Canadian History Prize Awarded by the Canadian Historical Association 2023 (Canada),Winner of 2023 Governor General’s History Award for Scholarly Research Awarded by Canadian Historical Association 2023 (Canada),Short-listed for 2023 Speaker’s Book Award Awarded by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario 2023 (Canada)

"In Serpent River Resurgence, Leddy does an excellent job of chronicling and describing the events that brought the land of the Serpent River First Nation from a pristine wilderness to a state of horrific pollution. She also paints a picture of the people’s tenacity and leadership towards healing the land and reviving their homeland." - Doug Cuthand (Canada’s History)

Lianne C. Leddy is an associate professor of indigenous studies at Wilfrid Laurier University and a member of Serpent River First Nation.