Biography


Early Life

Duncan Campbell Scott is considered one of Canada's most influential Confederation poets. He was born - 5 years before Canadian Confederation - on 2 August 1862 in Ottawa, Upper Canada (now: Ontario) to Reverend WIlliam Scott and Janet MacCallum; Scott died 19 December 1947 in Ottawa. Scott lived through a major milestone in Canadian history that had an immense impact on Canadian culture: Confederation. From an early age he had wished to become a doctor but as his family did not have the necessary finances, he became a civil servant working for the Canadian government.



Duncan Campbell Scott



Literary Influences

Scott's literary passion was sparked by Archibald Lampman, who was also a writer. While they have been both considered significant Poets of the Confederation, along with Bliss Carmen and C.D.G. Roberts, Lampman and Scott were also close friends, who often worked together on literary works. A popular co-authored novel written by Lampman and Scott was At the Mermaid Inn, which is a novel about the famous Mermaid Inn Tavern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid_Tavern).
Another great influence on Scott's literary works, was his employment as a civil servant; specifically his job as head of the Department of Indian Affairs from 1913 to 1932. He worked for the Canadian government, dealing with the so-called "Indian Problem". Scott's job made him work closely with First Nations people usually in isolated areas.

The Indian Problem

The "Indian Problem", as described in the journal called the North American Review, was the Canadian government's view of First Nations people as "savages" and "uncivilized". The governments goal was to assimilate First Nation's people, supposedly for their greater good, and "cultivate them and make them contribute to the national wealth" (Schurz, 1881). The basic goal of assimilation was to conform the First Nations people to the "proper" colonialized ways, following the Christian faith and speaking the English language. Unfortunately, this so-called Indian problem was horrendously dealt with, and resulted in what has been referred to a "cultural genocide" of First Nations people. The Canadian government believed that "best chance for success [for the First nations people] was to learn English and adopt Christianity and Canadian customs" (CBC News, 2008). Assimilation happened the most forcefully with the installation of residential schools (link to http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-residential-schools.html). While working to assimilate these First Nations people, Scott explains that:

"I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought 
continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone… Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department, that is the whole object of this Bill."
(National Archives of Canada, 1978)

Treaty No.9 Commission at Fort Albany near James Bay in 1905
(Scott and others at the signing of Treaty No.9, where the Canadians attempted to make negotiations for land with the First Nations people)


First Nations Influence

The influence of Scott's involvement with the First Nations people is apparent throughout his literary works, and is especially predominant in his two poems "The Onondaga Madonna" and "The Forsaken". Scott's job required close work with the First Nations people, and this work influences his thoughts of the First Nations people over time.
A film called "The Poet and the Indian" (link to http://www.tamarackproductions.com/DCS.php) reveals the principles behind the assimilation of the First Nations people (a campaign led by DC Scott), and the film also portrays the vast effects that this notion had on First Nations culture.


Duncan Campbell Scott, 1943
Credit: courtesy of the Public Archives of Canada