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North Untapped digs deeper into topics covered in articles written by The Maple contributors and other Canadian journalists, exploring politics, foreign policy, imperialism and history from a socialist perspective in conversation with editor-in-chief Alex Cosh.

On the 4th installment of the show's 'Great Guilded North' series Cosh speaks with journalist Cassandra Kislenko about how Canada facilitated one of the worst acts of violence against Indigenous People in this continent's history.

Episode background:
Nova Scotia-born Izaak Walton Killam made his millions through pulp, paper and hydro-electric projects across Latin America. His Montreal-based International Power company controlled a monopoly on electrical power in El Salvador and charged extremely high rates on the country’s exploited workers.

When Indigenous peasants began an organized uprising in 1932, Killam called in a personal favour to protect his capital. This would end in a civilian massacre that would usher in decades of military dictatorship, and ultimately help establish prestigious cornerstones of Canadian arts, culture and academics.

This is part of a series exploring how the ruling elite shape power in Canada. Subscribe to The Maple to support independent journalism and this podcast for as little as $1 per week at https://www.readthemaple.com/

Further reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/may/27/pacific-rim-lawsuit-el-salvador-mine-gold-free-trade

https://nbmediacoop.org/2011/06/16/student-anti-mining-activist-murdered-in-el-salvador/

https://canadians.org/analysis/anti-mining-activists-murdered-el-salvador

https://mediacoop.ca/story/2391

https://progressive.org/magazine/how-el-salvador-won-on-mining/

https://miningwatch.ca/news/2016/10/14/there-are-no-winners-after-seven-years-and-millions-dollars-pac-rim-mining-loses

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/06/bitcoin-city-el-salvador-nayib-bukele/