According to Ayn Rand and many of her cult's followers like Alan Greenspan, the First Nations didn't "use the land correctly" therefore they were invalid occupants.

Colonialism will use any sophistry necessary to murder and loot.

[–] glimmer_twin@hexbear.net 50 points 7 months ago

The whole “the land wasn’t being used” is pretty much the oldest justification for colonialism, it goes back to Locke and those other freaks

[–] huf@hexbear.net 40 points 7 months ago (1 children)

step 1: genocide them
step 2: the land reverts to wilderness since you genocided the people who tended it
step 3: look, they arent even using it! IT'S FREE REAL ESTATE!

[–] TheDoctor@hexbear.net 28 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Colonizers were also famously unable to recognize indigenous agriculture for what it was because it was so labor-efficient and integrated with local ecosystems. I’d imagine this extends to most aspects of indigenous life, even among the larger more centralized civilizations.

[–] Des@hexbear.net 19 points 7 months ago

"weird how these eastern chestnut forests are a garden of eden even if we are too stupid to know how to use them"