Beyond Blood; Rethinking Indigenous Identity

Palmater, Pamela D.

ISBN 10: 1895830605 / ISBN 13: 9781895830606

Published by Purich Publishing 978-1-895830-60-6, Saskatoon

About this Item

[978-1-895830-60-6] 2011. (Trade paperback) Fine. 279pp. Appendix, notes, index. (Indians of North America, Indians of N.A., Indigenous Peoples--Canada--Band Membership, Indigenous Peoples--Canada--Legal Status).

Seller Inventory # 157199

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Beyond Blood; Rethinking Indigenous Identity
• Publisher: Purich Publishing 978-1-895830-60-6, Saskatoon
• ISBN 10: 1895830605
• ISBN 13: 9781895830606
• Binding: Soft cover
• Seller catalogs:
  • Ethnic Studies

About this title

Synopsis

The current Status criteria of theIndian Act contains descent-based rules akin to blood quantum that are particularly discriminatory against women and their descendants, which author Pamela Palmater argues will lead to the extinguishment of First Nations as legal and constitutional entities. Beginning with an historic overview of legislative enactments defining Indian status and their impact on First Nations, the author examines contemporary court rulings dealing with Indigenous identity, Aboriginal rights, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Palmater also examines band membership codes to determine if their reliance on status criteria perpetuates discrimination. She offers changes for determining Indigenous identity and citizenship and argues that First Nations must determine citizenship themselves.

About the Author

Pamela Palmater is a member of the River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. Currently, she holds the position of associate professor and chair in Indigenous governance in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University.