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Unceded: Understanding British Columbia’s Colonial Past and Why It Matters Now
242 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2025
6 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
George Abbott
53 books2 followersAmerican theatrical producer and playwright George Abbott cowrote and directed many productions, including
Fiorello!
, which won a Pulitzer Prize of 1959.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 23, 2026
George Abbott learns from his mistakes! I read “Big Promises, Small Government” and found it to be the most boring drawn out piece of work that could’ve been summarized in a few pages, but that is not this!
“Unceded” is leaps ahead of his previous work. It’s well researched, with better storytelling, and a timeline that we can follow quite easily. With the rise of far right wing politics it’s good to see a book documenting some of BC’s colonial history written from intelligence, diligence, and passion.
As a newcomer to the province, I always assumed BC dealt with treaties the same as the rest of Canada, but this book unravels all of those notions and lays bare the history of prominent figures, leaders, and rhetoric. I like that he seems to want to immediately dispel the notion that “it was a different time” right from the get go with Douglas as his opening character.
Highly recommend reading if you’re interested in this kind of history, and although some of it happens over 150 years ago, we are still paying the price for those mistakes. If you find yourself frustrated with the current politics surrounding negotiations with First Nations, this book will most certainly answer some of your questions.
Look forward to more from Abbott and glad I gave him another chance with this book!
“Unceded” is leaps ahead of his previous work. It’s well researched, with better storytelling, and a timeline that we can follow quite easily. With the rise of far right wing politics it’s good to see a book documenting some of BC’s colonial history written from intelligence, diligence, and passion.
As a newcomer to the province, I always assumed BC dealt with treaties the same as the rest of Canada, but this book unravels all of those notions and lays bare the history of prominent figures, leaders, and rhetoric. I like that he seems to want to immediately dispel the notion that “it was a different time” right from the get go with Douglas as his opening character.
Highly recommend reading if you’re interested in this kind of history, and although some of it happens over 150 years ago, we are still paying the price for those mistakes. If you find yourself frustrated with the current politics surrounding negotiations with First Nations, this book will most certainly answer some of your questions.
Look forward to more from Abbott and glad I gave him another chance with this book!
November 4, 2025
A well-researched, well-written book, so four stars on that count. But I found it a laborious trudge through a blow-by-blow account of all the ways the BC gov't, most notoriously Joseph Trutch, obstructed and connived to defeat indigenous land entitlements, so two stars on that end. While in the last 30 years (thanks mainly to Supreme Court rulings) these rights appear to have turned the corner, there's still a long way to go on a slow-moving train.
What would have made it more interesting to me is if the author had included greater cultural and political context. For example, at the time of joining Canada, BC had 4x the number of indigenous people vs European settlers. So why did they not put up more resistance to all the underhanded actions of government? Why over the course of 150 years has there never been an uprising in the face of all the oppressive measures and treachery they confronted? And why have so many successive gov'ts during that lengthy period continued their tyranny? Answers to those questions, or at least posing them, would have added considerably to my appreciation for this book. So I think this book would appeal more to students of BC history, politics and/or indigenous rights rather than the general reader.
What would have made it more interesting to me is if the author had included greater cultural and political context. For example, at the time of joining Canada, BC had 4x the number of indigenous people vs European settlers. So why did they not put up more resistance to all the underhanded actions of government? Why over the course of 150 years has there never been an uprising in the face of all the oppressive measures and treachery they confronted? And why have so many successive gov'ts during that lengthy period continued their tyranny? Answers to those questions, or at least posing them, would have added considerably to my appreciation for this book. So I think this book would appeal more to students of BC history, politics and/or indigenous rights rather than the general reader.
January 20, 2026
In short, I suggest that "Unceded," by George Abbott, should be required reading for every British Columbian.
It not only provides a chronological history of the province's relationship with its Indigenous peoples around land, but more importantly, it provides critical context to where we are today with "the land question" ... with new treaties and new court decisions creating new challenges and new opportunities almost weekly.
While I found it to be an easy and engaging read, built on Abbott's archival research, his experience as a provincial minister in succeeding Cabinets, and his current role as a treaty commissioner, "Unceded" is also incredibly thought-provoking. There were so many times during BC's history, from the Oregon Treaty in 1846 to agreements and announcements well into the 2000's, when political leaders could have made different collaborative decisions that not only respected the presence and interests of our Indigenous neighbours, but would have been much less costly in terms of solutions. Yes, "it was a different time," but the troubling colonial, patronizing, and paternalistic attitudes, with reserves created then reduced while settlement occurred around them, is a tough reminder today.
If you're not sure how we got to where we are today in terms of dealing with Indigenous rights and title, read "Unceded," and you'll have a much better understanding.
It not only provides a chronological history of the province's relationship with its Indigenous peoples around land, but more importantly, it provides critical context to where we are today with "the land question" ... with new treaties and new court decisions creating new challenges and new opportunities almost weekly.
While I found it to be an easy and engaging read, built on Abbott's archival research, his experience as a provincial minister in succeeding Cabinets, and his current role as a treaty commissioner, "Unceded" is also incredibly thought-provoking. There were so many times during BC's history, from the Oregon Treaty in 1846 to agreements and announcements well into the 2000's, when political leaders could have made different collaborative decisions that not only respected the presence and interests of our Indigenous neighbours, but would have been much less costly in terms of solutions. Yes, "it was a different time," but the troubling colonial, patronizing, and paternalistic attitudes, with reserves created then reduced while settlement occurred around them, is a tough reminder today.
If you're not sure how we got to where we are today in terms of dealing with Indigenous rights and title, read "Unceded," and you'll have a much better understanding.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews