Sask Books: The Duty to Consult: New Relationships with Aboriginal Peoples

“The Duty to Consult: New Relationships with Aboriginal Peoples”

By Dwight G. Newman

Published by Purich Publishing

Review by Shanna Mann

$30 ISBN 978-1895830-378

While this is, first and foremost, a scholarly work, the author makes an earnest attempt to present the information in a clear manner. There is no doubt that a layperson would likely benefit from a point-by-point chapter summary, but the absence of Latin terminology and self-referential citations makes it understandable—though it will never be a beach read.

The book explores the legal ramifications and implicit necessities of the so-called “duty to consult,” the duty of the crown to notify, consult, or if necessary include First Nations people in any licensing, sale, or use of land or waters that may affect the rights of Aboriginals.

If you’ve been paying attention to the news over the past decade of Aboriginal rights litigation, many of the cited court cases will be familiar to you—Taku River Tlingit First Nation v. British Columbia, Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Canada, and so on.

It explores the ramifications for First Nation’s bands and organizations as well as for the crown and interested third parties. It notes that many First Nations bands lack resources to properly examine and decide upon their rights in a “consultation situation” and further notes that, in keeping with upholding the honour of the crown, several provinces, including Saskatchewan, have made funds available to bands in order to assist them in the consultation process.

Anticipating further noteworthy changes to Aboriginal case law, the author has stated that “updates on important developments on the duty to consult” will be posted on the publisher’s website.

This book is a readable, understandable, reasonably exhaustive exploration into the rights and implications of the crown’s “New Relationship” with First Nations people.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR VISIT WWW.SKBOOKS.COM

 

Sask Books: The Way It Was: A Story of My Life

“The Way It Was A Story of My Life”

By Leola Edna May Harron

Self-Published

Reviewed by Gail Jansen
Price

$12.95

Anyone who’s ever felt over-worked and underpaid should take a moment to live life in the past lane, through Leola Edna May Harron’s book “The Way it Was A Story of My Life.”

Writing about the joys and hardships faced growing up as a prairie pioneer in the early 1900’s Harron’s simple style at times seems overwrought with seemingly inconsequential detail, yet as the book unfolds, each detail works to paint for the reader, a realistic portrait of what life on the prairies truly was about.

Instead of a glorified portrait of a life with daring adventures, Harron’s clear and vivid memories paint quite a different picture full of hard work, tragedy and a certain dogged determinism needed to survive the harsh Saskatchewan landscape. Any simple pleasures that Harron did experience were remembered as sweet moments that needed to be savoured and treasured for the brief respite from real life that they gave.

Raised by her maternal grandparents after the death of her parents before she was barely four years old, Harron grew up impoverished yet loved by her stoic and hard working grandparents and a ragtag assortment of extended family.

After spending the majority of her youth working alongside her sister and grandmother running a Regina boarding house, her grandmother’s poor health and even poorer finances,required a move that started Harron on a path that took her across the province working from farm to farm as a cook, cleaner, and menial labourer.

With descriptions of what are now historic buildings, events and locations it is a story that laid the foundation for Harron’s own life enabling her to not only overcome the many obstacles that were laid before her, but to grow, thrive and persevere as she married, had children and later was widowed at total of five times.

For older readers of Harron’s tale this memoir will spark some memories of their own lives lived, and take them back to a day when the world was simpler, yet not easier than it is today. For the younger reader it is a chance to glimpse a world that will seem like fiction. Far beyond the usual “I walked five miles to school up hill each way,” tales drummed into them by well-meaning elders, Harron’s story will give youth a true glimpse into the lives led by their ancestors and may even act as a wake-up call to appreciate all it is that they have today.

Originally written simply as a story for her descendants “so that they might know a little of my background and what life was like for me,” Harron’s tale of “joy and contentment” and “sorrow and despair” can teach those who read it to appreciate their lives, and to savour those small moments of pleasure, however fleeting they may be.

While the story of her life may not have boasted world-renowned accomplishments, or award winning moments, her life was and continues to be lived to the fullest, appreciating a common theme that can be seen throughout the story: family, home, love and friendships.
THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR VISIT WWW.SKBOOKS.COM.