Hunger, Horses, And Government Men : Criminal Law On The Aboriginal Plains, 1870-1905

A study of the operation of criminal law on the Canadian Plains between 1870 and 1905, with particular attention to the experiences of First Nations and Métis peoples in the Saskatchewan region of the former North-West Territories. Drawing on lower court records, police and penitentiary files, and contemporary newspaper accounts, the author examines how Indigenous individuals appeared in the courts as defendants, witnesses, informants, and claimants. The work explores the relationship between criminal law, the Indian Act, and the processes of state formation, emphasizing the varied and often complex roles played by Indigenous participants within the legal system during this period.

Notes adapted from the publisher's information.