Aboriginal people in Canada have long struggled to regain control over their traditional forest lands. A history of alienation, marginalization, and social inequality has made this an uphill battle, but the past few decades have seen significant gains in the quest for Aboriginal self-determination. The historic signing of the Nisga'a Treaty in 1998 paved the way for other agreements forged through the BC Treaty process, and Aboriginal participation in resource management is on the rise in both British Columbia and other Canadian provinces. Some Aboriginal communities have started their own forestry companies, and many are starting to benefit more directly from forest resources.
Aboriginal Peoples and Forest Lands in Canada brings together the diverse perspectives of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal scholars to address the political, cultural, environmental, and economic implications of forest use. Aboriginal Peoples and Forest Lands in Canada discusses the need for professionals working in forestry and conservation to understand the context of Aboriginal participation in resource management, including the history of both co-operation and confrontations such as blockades. It also addresses the importance of considering traditional knowledge and traditional land use and examines the development of co-management initiatives and joint ventures between government, forestry companies, and native communities
D.B. Tindall is Associate Professor with joint-appointments in the Department of Forest Resources Management and the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Ronald L. Trosper is Head, American Indian Studies, University of Arizona. Pamela Perreault is a member of Garden River First Nation in Ontario and currently works as an independent consultant for First Nation communities and organizations.