Meaningful Pasts: Historical Narratives, Commemorative Landscapes, and Everyday Lives

In Meaningful Pasts, Russell Johnston and Michael Ripmeester explore two strands of identity-making among residents of the Niagara region in Ontario, Canada.

First, they describe the region’s official narratives, most of which celebrate the achievements of white settlers with a mix of storytelling, rituals, and monuments. Despite their presence in local lore and landmarks, these official narratives did not resonate with the nearly one thousand residents who participated in five surveys cond...