The Rise of Aboriginal Forestry in Canada

In the last three decades, forestry has emerged as anew practice among Aboriginal communities in Canadato provide them with economic development. Without ahistorical perspective of the interrelatednessbetween Aboriginal communities and mainstreamCanadian society, the implications of Aboriginalforestry cannot be analyzed. This book, therefore,examines changes in mainstream society that haveimpacted Aboriginal communities, such as Canadianresource-dependent economy, Aboriginal and treatyrights, and environmentalism. Also, burning practicesin Canada, sacred groves of India, and Japanesemountain landscapes are reviewed to show how peoplewith close connection to their environment havedeveloped a unique perspective of forests. The latterpart of this book analyzes how the Little Red RiverCree Nation in Alberta has developed forestry inco-operation with governments and forest companies inorder to advance their interests and assert theircultural values. The analysis should be useful forscholars in the field of forest management involvingAboriginal communities, for First Nations policyanalysis, and for anyone who has an interest in thehuman-environment relationship.