Dominion over palm and pine: A history of Canadian aspirations in the British Caribbean by Paula Hastings (review)

Reviewed by: Dominion over palm and pine: A history of Canadian aspirations in the British Caribbean by Paula Hastings Kwamina Abekah-Carter and Paul Banahene Adjei Dominion over palm and pine: A history of Canadian aspirations in the British Caribbean. By Paula Hastings. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2022. Derived from her doctoral research project, Paula Hastings' Dominion over Palm and Pine is a result of a long-incubated endeavour, with glimpses of its content having appeared in various book chapters and articles over the past decade. Drawing from several historical archives in various geographical territories, such as the Caribbean, United States, United Kingdom and Canada, this book presents a transnational history that explains the emergence of unionism in Canada's relationship with the British Caribbean. Hastings also employs a post-colonial and transnational approach to situate this crucial historical information within the framework of whiteness, colonialism, decolonization and black activism. As indicated in the book, the Canadian government endeavoured to effectively acquire new provinces and regions as part of its quest to expand the country's territories. The contributions of Amor De Cosmos and Robert Grant Haliburton in securing Canada's federation with British Columbia and Nova Scotia were also respectively highlighted. Within this period, there was the desire to establish a connection with the British Caribbean territories, and immediately after confederation in 1867, Canada's first nationalist organization advocated for a political alliance with the British Caribbean colonies. Several reasons fuelled Canada's interest to unite with the British Caribbean colonies. These territories were regarded as valuable economic assets as they produced commodities, such as coffee and sugar, that were in high demand in Canada. Additionally, Canada, concerned about American expansion in the Caribbean, saw the union as a means to counter American influence and protect its own interests in the region. Given Britain's retreat from the western hemisphere, the union was also viewed as a way to maintain British influence in the region and to promote Canada's status as a nation. Furthermore, unionists contended that bringing the British Caribbean colonies into Canada would protect the colonies from communist infiltration and ensure their security. The book probes the ideas of Robert Grant Haliburton and his colleagues on the annexation of the Britain's Caribbean colonies, arguing that Canada could take on a paternal role in the region and create a racialized nationality for itself based on the idea of northern dominance. Haliburton's ideas were parts of a larger movement known as Canada First, which sought to promote Canadian nationalism and economic development. However, this movement failed and faded into obscurity as its vision, premised on a spurious racial logic, promoted a racially exclusive agenda in Canadian society. Hastings also documented events that exemplified the depth of discrimination experienced by the Indigenous population and African Caribbean people during this historical period. Government policies towards the Indigenous community were based on the notion that they constituted a racially disadvantaged population requiring a process of cultural assimilation and advancement. Likewise, the African Caribbean people in Canada were seen to be in direct opposition to the racial directive of nation-building. The federal government at the time forcibly relocated the Northwest Indigenous population to reserves, deliberately employed hunger as a means of control and coercively made Indigenous children attend residential schools. Provinces, such as Nova Scotia, also reaffirmed their commitment to segregate schools for White and Black children. In sequential order, the author also discussed the evolution and impact of the various elements that motivated Canada's interest in the British Caribbean, along with endeavours made to create a union. For example, during the First World War, the inkling of shouldering imperial responsibilities and engaging in consolidated efforts to strengthen the British territory gained prominence. The war also increased desire for self-governance in Canada and the Caribbean, with Britain's Caribbean territories remaining colonies whereas Canada was on course to becoming an autonomous territory within the British Empire. After the Second World War, there was a diminishing emphasis on the explicit imperial ethos that had previously bolstered unionist ambitions. Instead, there was a growing sense of unity and cooperation as the multi-racial Commonwealth was established. Nevertheless, Canadian...

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