Barman, Jean. The Edge of Law's Empire: Aboriginal Interraciality, Citizenship and the Law in British Columbia
Document Type: Journal Article
Date of Document(s): 2006
Date Range Start : 1778
Date Range End: 2005
Source: HeinOnline
Indexing Progress: Relationship Indexed
Date Range Start : 1778
Date Range End: 2005
Source: HeinOnline
Indexing Progress: Relationship Indexed
Primary or Secondary Source: Secondary Source
Author: Barman, Jean
Title: At the Edge of Law's Empire: Aboriginal Interraciality, Citizenship and the Law in British Columbia
Journal Title: From Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice
Date of Publication: 2006
Volume ID: 3
Issue ID: 22
Location in Work: Pg 3-22
Abstract: Aboriginal interraciality has had a distinctive history in British Columbia. The descendants of fur trade and gold rush unions between newcomer men and Aboriginal women have experienced much the same prejudice and discrimination as have members of other groups whose skin tones similarly differ from those of the dominant society. Interracial British Columbians have not, however, been recongized in law as have other groups defined by physical appearance. Unlike their counterparts east of the Rocky Mountains, families originating in fur trade unions did not become legally constituted as Métis. And, unlike Indians across Canada, interracial British Columbians were not reduced through federal statutes to a dependency status. Nor were they deprived of the rights of citizenship, as were members of the principal monoracial minorities in British Columbia. Aboriginal interraciality has, rather, occupied an in between, or liminal, space at the edge of law's empire in which descendants have enjoyed the forms but not the substance of citizenship. Because Aboriginal interraciality has had no legal status, descendants in British Columbia have so far had no access to expanding rights for Métis people or to justice to call attention to, or remedy, past wrongs.
Title: At the Edge of Law's Empire: Aboriginal Interraciality, Citizenship and the Law in British Columbia
Journal Title: From Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice
Date of Publication: 2006
Volume ID: 3
Issue ID: 22
Location in Work: Pg 3-22
Abstract: Aboriginal interraciality has had a distinctive history in British Columbia. The descendants of fur trade and gold rush unions between newcomer men and Aboriginal women have experienced much the same prejudice and discrimination as have members of other groups whose skin tones similarly differ from those of the dominant society. Interracial British Columbians have not, however, been recongized in law as have other groups defined by physical appearance. Unlike their counterparts east of the Rocky Mountains, families originating in fur trade unions did not become legally constituted as Métis. And, unlike Indians across Canada, interracial British Columbians were not reduced through federal statutes to a dependency status. Nor were they deprived of the rights of citizenship, as were members of the principal monoracial minorities in British Columbia. Aboriginal interraciality has, rather, occupied an in between, or liminal, space at the edge of law's empire in which descendants have enjoyed the forms but not the substance of citizenship. Because Aboriginal interraciality has had no legal status, descendants in British Columbia have so far had no access to expanding rights for Métis people or to justice to call attention to, or remedy, past wrongs.