Views from the Lake: International Harmony and Historical Erasure in Photographs of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Photographic representations of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, from 19th-century topographical images to modern tourism materials, have long symbolized international harmony and cross-border unity. However, these visual narratives strategically erase the colonial history of boundary-making and the displacement of Indigenous communities, whose lands were divided by the 49th parallel. By analyzing recurrent visual tropes of openness and harmony, this study reveals how colonial photographic practices reinforced a narrative of unity while obscuring violence, exclusion, and environmental exploitation. The research employs a critical analysis of historical photographs and documentation to expose these contradictions, offering a nuanced perspective on the park's symbolic significance.

Cavaliere, E. A. (2025). Views from the Lake: International Harmony and Historical Erasure in Photographs of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. RACAR : Revue d’Art Canadienne, 50(2), 58–82. https://doi.org/10.7202/1125280ar