Indigenous Research: Land Claims

"The eagle flies the highest in the sky, and in a Coast Salish legend people would seek guidance from the eagle to gain knowledge of faraway places. This representational eagle wing relief was created to bring the knowledge to students as they seek guidance in their studies." By Marissa Nahanee - Maykw Cha7em Squamish & Nisga’a Nations, Eagle Clan.

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If you need help, please contact Jenna Walsh, Indigenous Initiatives Librarian & Librarian for Indigenous Studies, Archaeology, Environmental Science, and Resource & Environmental Management at or jmwalsh@sfu.ca or Ask a librarian

Resources in the Library

Locate additional materials in the Library Catalogue.

Research guides

Stolen Lands Broken Promises: Researching the Indian Land Question in B.C [online or print]

A Short Commentary on Land Claims in BC, Dr. Bruce Miller (2003), (from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs site)
11th Annual National Land Claims Workshop, October 2003, speaking notes. Dr. Bruce Granville Miller, is Professor, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of British Columbia

Journal article databases

Political science and legal databases

LawSource 
A legal database that contains journal articles, law reports, case law, and Canadian Legislation

Northern Justice Society Native Crime Bibliography
This resource contains research, policy, and program materials on Indigenous involvement with the criminal justice system in Canada, U.S.A., and Greenland.

Other databases with useful information

CBCA Complete
Comprehensive Canadian periodical collection for reference and current events, including newspapers and magazines.

America History and Life
Covers North American History

Background information

Canadian Encyclopedia -- search for Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Brief descriptive entries for milestones in Canadian aboriginal land claims and treaties.  Covers the period 1763 to 2016, including links to full text of treaties and related documents, where available.

Government websites

British Columbia

BC Treaty Commission
​Extensive information on the treaty process in British Columbia, including status of negotiations by region, nation, and stage level; contact information for commissioners and negotiators in each claim; full text of policies and procedures; an online newsletter; educational resources; and electronic publications.

BC Treaty Commission: Negotiations
Detailed and current information on the status of the treaty process by nation can be found here. Links to agreements in principle between the Crown and Indigenous nations can be found here. Description of the policies and procedures for stages 1-4 can be found here.

Canada

Treaties, agreements and negotiations  
Links to full text of treaties and other information sources. A few links you might be interested are:

Indian Claims Commission proceedings
Contains the proceedings of the Indian Claims Commission, an independent advisory body that holds public inquiries into specific claims the government has rejected. The Commission also provides mediation to help First Nations and government reach claim settlements

National Aboriginal Document Database
Has links to many fulltext resources including treaties and statutes, as wells as links to land claims-related issues. (Court Decisions, Statutes/Acts, Treaties)

United States

Government Information - Native American Treaties and Information
A lengthy bibliography of American government publications, both print and electronic, with brief annotations. Links include American Memory Project sites, full-text treaties and legislation, census data, government agencies, and court decisions. ​