Resource Rulers: Fortune and Folly on Canada’s Road to Resources

by Bill Gallagher, Alan C. Cairns (Preface)

Today, the courtroom is the battlefield, the boardroom is the trading post, and it’s chiefs (not governors) who recite winning proclamations to the losing side. That’s because natives have racked up the most impressive legal winning streak in Canadian history with well over 150 wins. The defining dynamic of these David and Goliath match-ups is the remarkable rise of native empowerment as Canada’s First Peoples redraw the map of our home and native land.Resource Rulers tracks the rise of native empowerment and its remarkable legal winning streak in the Canadian resource sector. It offers a way forward, with new rules of engagement for resource development and for winning outcomes in the road-to-resources sweepstakes.

354 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2012

Reviews

[Margaret Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author describes the chronological events that led to more than 150 legal cases won by the Natives. The chapters are structured from east coast to west. Though I've been around long enough to recognize just about every case described, I cannot say that I was aware of the outcomes.

Overall a very enlightening read. And maddening. And sad. But it is a good news story, too, because the native people are prevailing. I just wish it didn't have to cost so dang-blang much! Financially,
spiritually, environmentally,and so on.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, jam-packed with legal cases and negotiations. The grammar seems to take a dive at some point, seems like he was in a rush to get through it all. But an excellent resource if you want to get a grounding in the fights over resource development in Canada between First Nations, corporations, and government.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic review of Aboriginal case history in respect to resources. This us a must read for anyone interested in the issues that Canadians are facing regarding the resource industry today.