Aboriginal people in Canada have long struggled to regain control
over their traditional forest lands. A history of alienation,
marginalization, and social inequality has made this an uphill battle,
but the past few decades have seen significant gains in the quest for
Aboriginal self-determination. The historic signing of the
Nisga'a Treaty in 1998 paved the way for other agreements forged
through the BC Treaty process, and Aboriginal participation in resource
management is on the rise in both British Columbia and other Canadian
provinces. Some Aboriginal communities have started their own forestry
companies, and many are starting to benefit more directly from forest
resources.
Aboriginal Peoples and Forest Lands in Canada brings together
the diverse perspectives of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal scholars to
address the political, cultural, environmental, and economic
implications of forest use. This book discusses the need for
professionals working in forestry and conservation to understand the
context of Aboriginal participation in resource management, including
the history of both co-operation and confrontations such as blockades.
It also addresses the importance of considering traditional knowledge
and traditional land use and examines the development of co-management
initiatives and joint ventures between government, forestry companies,
and native communities.D.B. Tindall is Associate Professor with
joint-appointments in the Department of Forest Resources Management and
the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia.
Ronald L. Trosper is Head, American Indian Studies,
University of Arizona. Pamela Perreault is a member of
Garden River First Nation in Ontario and currently works as an
independent consultant for First Nation communities and
organizations.
Contributors: Trena Allen, Laura Bird, Michael
Blackstock, Keith Thor Carlson, Brian Chisholm, Ken Coates, Norman
Dale, Jason Forsyth, James S. Frideres, J.P. Gladu, George Hoberg,
Tamara Ibrahim, Naomi Krogman, John Lewis, Holly Mabee, Andrew Mason,
Monique Passelac-Ross, Gabriela Pechlaner, Stephen Sheppard, M.A.
(Peggy) Smith, Marc G. Stevenson, Mark L. Stevenson, and Rima
Wilkes.
