McGill-Queen's native and northern series Telling it to the judge : taking Native history to court

Type

Book

Authors

Ray, Arthur J.

ISBN 10

0773539522

ISBN 13

9780773539525

LCCN

KE7709.R39

DDC

342.7108

Tags

Canadian, Memoirs, First Nations, Canada, Indigenous Peoples. British Columbia, Métis

Series Name

McGill-Queen's native and northern series

Abstract

"In 1973, the Supreme Court's historic Calder decision on the Nisga'a community's title suit in British Columbia launched the Native rights litigation era in Canada. Legal claims have raised questions with significant historical implications, such as, "What treaty rights have survived in various parts of Canada? What is the scope of Aboriginal title? Who are the Métis, where do they live, and what is the nature of their culture and their rights?"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."--Pub. desc.

Description

Content
Taking fur trade history to court -- Roles and reversals of the historical researcher -- Defending traditional fisheries and harvesting rights -- Interpretation of a treaty : share or surrender? -- Witnessing on behalf of a forgotten people -- Defining Metis communities and customs -- Defending the aboriginal right to hunt -- "To educate the court."

Biblio Notes

Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-251) and index.

Number of Copies