Lament for a First Nation: The Williams Treaties of Southern Ontario

by Peggy J. Blair

In a 1994 decision known as Howard, the Supreme Court of Canada held that the Aboriginal signatories to the 1923 Williams Treaties had knowingly given up not only their title to off-reserve lands but also their treaty rights to hunt and fish for food. No other First Nations in Canada have ever been found to have willingly surrendered similar rights. Blair argues that the Canadian courts caused a serious injustice by applying erroneous cultural assumptions in their interpretation of the evidence. In particular, they confused provincial government policy, which has historically favoured public over special rights, with the understanding of the parties at the time.

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sherry Lajoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed argument of the systematic forced assimilation of Indians. It's a wonder that so many First Nations have survived. Such resilience and tenacity.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for work a few years ago. Excellent