Dr. Peter Cook

Biography

Peter Cook is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria. His academic journey began in the Ottawa Valley and was shaped by his education at the University of Toronto, Université Laval, University of Ottawa, and McGill University. He developed a keen interest in early Canadian history and Indigenous-settler relations during a summer job at the Archives Nationales du Québec in Sainte-Foy, leading him to focus his research on the interactions between Indigenous nations in eastern North America and European colonial societies from the sixteenth to early nineteenth centuries. His recent publications include the coedited volume 'To Share, Surrender: Indigenous Settler Visions Treaty Making Colonies Vancouver Island British Columbia,' as well as articles exploring the historical complexities of Indigenous alliances and settler colonialism in Canadian history, which have received recognition within academic circles, such as the William Koren, Jr. Prize from the Society for French Historical Studies. He is dedicated to exploring how historical narratives shape our understanding of contemporary Indigenous issues, particularly through graduate supervision focusing on various aspects of Indigenous historiography. His courses encompass a range of topics including Canadian Confederation, Indigenous-Settler Relations, and the history of piracy in Canada.

Research Interests

Courses