Making Native Space

Making Native Space examines the history of Indian reserves and land policy in British Columbia from the colonial period through the 20th century. Through extensive archival research, Cole Harris documents how government officials, settlers, and Indigenous peoples negotiated and contested the allocation of land. The book traces key periods including early colonial settlement, the work of Indian Reserve Commissioners, and major legal battles over Indigenous territory. Harris analyzes official correspondence, maps, and records to reconstruct the decision-making processes that shaped reserve boundaries and displaced First Nations communities. Primary sources and detailed case studies demonstrate how colonialism operated through bureaucratic systems and spatial reorganization in British Columbia. The narrative connects local histories of specific reserves and regions to broader patterns of dispossession across the province. This historical geography reveals fundamental links between colonial land policies and ongoing questions of Indigenous rights and title in British Columbia. Harris's analysis connects past spatial practices to contemporary debates about reconciliation and territorial justice.

Readers value Harris's detailed research and documentation of how colonial powers displaced Indigenous peoples in British Columbia through maps, surveys, and reserve policies. Many cite the book's effectiveness in connecting historical events to present-day land claims and treaty negotiations. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex legal/political processes - Extensive use of primary sources and archival materials - Analysis of specific cases and geographical areas - Maps and visual elements that support the text Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be challenging - Some sections become repetitive - Limited discussion of Indigenous perspectives - Focus on government documents over oral histories Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) Notable reader comment: "While academically rigorous, Harris manages to construct a readable narrative of how BC's reserve system came to be." - Goodreads reviewer No ratings available on Google Books or other major review sites.

Where the Lightning Strikes by ::Philip Steele:: A historical examination of Native American sacred places and the conflicts over land rights between indigenous peoples and colonial powers.

Indigenous Peoples and the State by ::Paul Tennant:: An analysis of the political relationship between First Nations and government authorities in British Columbia from the 1800s to present day.

The West Beyond the West by ::Jean Barman:: A comprehensive history of British Columbia focusing on indigenous territorial displacement and the creation of colonial boundaries.

Conquest by Law by ::Lindsay G. Robertson:: A study of the legal precedents that stripped Native Americans of land rights through the examination of the 1823 Supreme Court case Johnson v. M'Intosh.

Home Is the Hunter by Hugh Brody An anthropological investigation of hunter-gatherer societies in British Columbia and their relationship to land, resources, and colonial mapping practices.

🔖 Author Cole Harris spent over 15 years researching and writing Making Native Space, examining thousands of historical documents and maps. 🏛️ The book extensively covers the McKenna-McBride Commission (1912-1916), which drastically reshaped BC's reserve system and reduced many existing reserves without Indigenous consent. 🗺️ Harris incorporates over 40 historical maps and spatial analyses to demonstrate how colonial powers systematically confined Indigenous peoples to increasingly smaller territories. 🏆 Making Native Space won the 2003 K.D. Srivastava Prize for Excellence in Scholarly Publishing and became a cornerstone text in Canadian indigenous studies. 📚 The research presented in this book helped inform several modern land claim cases in British Columbia, including materials used in the landmark Delgamuukw v. British Columbia case.