Our Land

Native Rights in Canada

by Donald Purich

Our Land explains how Canada's aboriginal peoples were brought to their current state of deprevation, and what they propose to do about it.

Statistics speak all too eloquently of the plight of Canada's native people: unemployment runs as high as 90 per cent on some reserves; the school completion rate is less than 1/4 the national average; suicide rates are six times the national average. Canada has its own Third World of some 1 million people.
Our Land explains how Canada's aboriginal peoples were brought to this state of deprevation, and what they propose to do about it. Author Donald Purich begins by painting a quick, compelling portrait of the vibrant pre-contact Indian and Inuit cultures. He relates the effects of European colonisation and of "Indian policy" from Confederation on, including the legacy of treaty-making. The heart of the book concerns current native rights issues: land claims, economic development, self-government and constitutional protection. A separate chapter is devoted to the special case of the Métis.

About the Author

Donald Purich

DONALD PURICH is a former director of the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

Subjects (BISAC)

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