Papers & Writing
Published work, book chapters, and working papers. Contact me at emma.nelson@dal.ca for pre-publication drafts.
Known only in death
This paper argues that socioeconomic status determines the treatment of human remains and possibilities for posthumous dignity. As a province with a well-documented history of funerary practices and modern-day policies to subsidize funerals for unclaimed remains, Nova Scotia is a nuanced setting in which to explore socioeconomic inequality in death. Compared with wealthier classes, low income earners may not have the same resources with which to access "a good death" and determine how they are treated posthumously. Despite being conceptualized as a great equalizer, death is deeply affected by class. How do socioeconomic inequalities shape possibilities for posthumous dignity?
Reconciling relationships with the Land through Land Acknowledgments
Co-authored with my MES supervisor, Dr Deborah McGregor, this book chapter explores how our positionality shapes our interactions with land acknowledgments (Dr McGregor being Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, and Emma being a descendant of Scottish-Norwegian settlers). We reflect on some tools that we have used to engage others with the deeply radical roots of land acknowledgments, beyond simple recognition and moving into relationality.
Published in Sacred Civics: Building Seven Generation Cities, Routledge.