Aboriginal Peoples and Politics

The Indian Land Question in British Columbia, 1849-1989

By Paul Tennant
Categories: Political Science, Canadian Political Science, Indigenous Studies, History
Publisher: UBC Press
Paperback : 9780774803694, 318 pages, January 1990
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774854788, 318 pages, January 1990
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Table of contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

1 Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Claims

2 The Douglas Treaties and Aboriginal Title

3 The Douglas "System": Reserves, Pre-Emptions, and Assimilation

4 Segregation and Suppression, 1864-87

5 Demands for Title, Treaties, and Self-Government, 1887-99

6 The Politics of Survival

7 From Intertribal to Province-Wide Political Action, 1900-16

8 Cut-Offs, Claims Prohibition, and the Allied Tribes, 1916-27

9 Coastal Politics: The Native Brotherhood and Tribal Councils, 1931-58

10 Interior Politics and Attempts at Province-Wide Unity, 1958-68

11 Federal Government Initiatives, 1960-9

12 The Formation of New Organizations, 1969-71

13 Big Money and Big Organizations, 1972-5

14 Tribalism Re-Established, 1976-9

15 Forums and Funding, Protests and Unity, 1980-9

16 Aboriginal Title in the Courts

17 The Province and Land Claims Negotiations, 1976-89

Notes

Bibliography

Index

This book presents the first comprehensive treatment of the land question in British Columbia and is the first to examine the modern political history of British Columbia Indians.

Description

Aboriginal claims remain a controversial but little understood issue in contemporary Canada. British Columbia has been, and remains, the setting for the most intense and persistent demands by Native people, and also for the strongest and most consistent opposition to Native claims by governments and the non-aboriginal public. Land has been the essential question; the Indians have claimed continuing ownership while the province has steadfastly denied the possibility.

Reviews

Paul Tennant's book should be required reading for Premier Bill Vander Zalm. Tennant offers an impressive overview of Indian political activity in this century ... tremendously timely final chapter.

- Suzanne Fournier

An excellent new book that is required reading on B.C. land claims.

- John Schreiner

Paul Tennant's history of native politics and the land claims issue in British Columbia is both topical and inclusive. Political science and native studies students, as well as those simply seeking an explanation of the B.C. government's position on native land claims, will find something of value in this book.

- Daniel Ray