Scholarly depictions of the history of Aboriginal people in Canada have changed dramatically since the 1970s when Arthur J. (“Skip”) Ray entered the field. New Histories for Old examines this transformation while extending the scholarship on Canada’s Aboriginal history in new directions.
The collection combines essays by prominent senior historians, geographers, and anthropologists with contributions by new voices in these fields. The chapters reflect the core themes studied by Ray himself, including Native struggles for land and resources under colonialism, the fur trade, “Indian” policy and treaties, mobility and migration, disease and well-being, and Native-newcomer relations.
This book sheds new light on the history of scholarship on Canada’s Aboriginal past and the leading role played by one of Canada’s foremost historians. It also provides a fascinating snapshot of the lines of inquiry pursued by emerging scholars in the field.
New Histories for Old is a major contribution to understanding Native-newcomerrelations, Native struggles for land and resources under colonialism, “Indian” policy and treaties, mobility and migration, disease and well-being, and questions about “doing” Native history. It will appeal to scholars and students in history, Native studies, geography, anthropology, and related fields.
