Telling It to the Judge

Taking Native History to Court

By Arthur J. Ray
Categories: Canadian History
Series: McGill-Queen's Indigenous and Northern Studies
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
Hardcover : 9780773539525, 304 pages, October 2011
Paperback : 9780773540804, 304 pages, October 2012
Ebook (PDF) : 9780773586475, 304 pages, October 2011
Ebook (EPUB) : 9780773586482, 304 pages, October 2011

Description

Arthur Ray's extensive knowledge in the history of the fur trade and Native economic history brought him into the courts as an expert witness in the mid-1980s. For over twenty-five years he has been a part of landmark litigation concerning treaty rights, Aboriginal title, and Métis rights. In Telling It to the Judge, Ray recalls lengthy courtroom battles over lines of evidence, historical interpretation, and philosophies of history, reflecting on the problems inherent in teaching history in the adversarial courtroom setting. Told with charm and based on extensive experience, Telling It to the Judge is a unique narrative of courtroom strategy in the effort to obtain constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights.

Reviews

"... a very informative, enlightening, and entertaining book." Choice

“Arthur Ray draws upon many years of experience as an expert witness in this autobiographical account of his participation in court cases concerned with Aboriginal rights.” British Journal of Canadian Studies

"By telling his story and placing the reader in the courtroom, the author provides a very informative, enlightening, and entertaining work. Summing Up: Highly recommended." CHOICE