Resources

Land Back: A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper (PDF/web) — Yellowhead Institute (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Academic policy paper on land back and Indigenous jurisdiction

Stolen Lands, Broken Promises (web page + PDF) — Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)
Research manual and practical guide for Indigenous land-related research in BC.

The Cowichan ruling isn’t a threat to private property (Policy Options / IRPP)
A plain-language overview that addresses common misconceptions and fear-based claims.

Cowichan decision is ‘rock solid law’, won’t affect private landowners (Allard School of Law, UBC)
A short legal explainer on what the Cowichan decision means—and what it does not mean for private property.

CBC On the Coast
Gloria Macarenko interviews Squamish Nation Chair Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams and District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford to learn more about the goals for the land back task force. (12 minutes) 

Declaration Act – Factsheet for Local Government (PDF) — Government of British Columbia
Short factsheet focused on implications for local governments.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) – Fact sheet (web) — Government of Canada (Department of Justice)
Plain-language overview of Canada’s UN Declaration Act.

Duty to Consult Indigenous Peoples (background paper, web) — Library of Parliament
Non-partisan explainer of the duty to consult (foundational for understanding how Crown decisions engage Indigenous rights).

A Primer on Aboriginal Title: How it is Defined, Proven and Protected (PDF) — British Columbia Law Institute
A legal primer on Aboriginal title (helpful for “what is title?” questions).

Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia, 2014 SCC 44 (court decision) — Supreme Court of Canada
A landmark Supreme Court decision on Aboriginal title.

Section 35 Pedia (web series) — Government of Canada (Department of Justice)
Plain-language explainer series on section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Aboriginal and treaty rights).

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) – main page — Government of British Columbia
Central hub for the legislation, background, and related documents.
Central hub for the legislation, background, and related documents.

Treaties, agreements and negotiations (web) — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Overview of treaty and agreement work, and links to related programs and information.

BC Treaty Commission – Negotiations overview (web) — BC Treaty Commission
Plain-language overview of the BC treaty negotiations framework and process.

BC Treaty Commission – Interactive map (web) — BC Treaty Commission
Interactive map showing Nations in the BC treaty negotiations process.

Treaty negotiations in British Columbia: map (PDF) — Government of Canada
Map showing locations of treaty negotiations in BC 

First Nations Summit (web) — First Nations Summit
BC First Nations organization focused on treaty negotiations and related issues.

Provincial First Nations negotiations (web) — Government of British Columbia
Explains provincial role in negotiating treaties and agreements (Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation).

Native-Land.ca (interactive map) — Native Land Digital
Interactive map of Indigenous territories. Use as a starting point (boundaries are approximate; confirm with Nations)

Why it matters (and data notes) – Native Land Digital (web) — Native Land Digital
Explains the purpose of the project and notes about accuracy/limitations.

Territorial acknowledgements – Editorial style guide (web) — Simon Fraser University
Guidance for respectful territorial acknowledgements 

X̱wi7x̱wa Library (UBC) – Research support (web) — University of British Columbia
Indigenous-focused academic library with research guides and collections related to BC First Nations.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (PDF) — Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (hosted by Government of British Columbia)
The full list of the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action.

Reports (TRC reports and more) (web) — National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
A curated collection of TRC reports and related publications

Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (web) — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Federal progress page related to the TRC Calls to Action.

Our History (web) — Squamish Nation
Overview of Squamish Nation history and connection to territory

Skwxwú7mesh – Squamish (Voices of the Canoe) (web) — Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia
Educational overview of Squamish canoe traditions and cultural context.

Conversations with Khahtsahlano, 1932-1954 — By August Jack Khahtsahlano & J.S. Matthews
A first-hand account of Indigenous life in early Vancouver, featuring dialogues between Squamish Chief X̱ats'alanexw (August Jack Khahtsahlano) and City Archivist Major J.S. Matthews.

District of Squamish – Squamish Nation (government page) (web) — District of Squamish
Local government page acknowledging Squamish Nation and providing background context.

Indigenous Canada (free online course) — University of Alberta (Faculty of Native Studies)
A free 12-lesson MOOC exploring Indigenous histories and contemporary perspectives in Canada.

Land Back Course (Yellowhead School Online) – self-paced modules

Where possible, prioritize reading Indigenous authors and Nation-led sources, and borrow locally through your public library.

Land Back and Indigenous land rights

• Land Back: A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper (report) — Yellowhead Institute
• Unstable Properties: Aboriginal Title and the Claim of British Columbia — Patricia K. Wood
• Inalienable Properties: The Political Economy of Indigenous Land Reform — Jamie Baxter

Local and place-based learning (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and neighbouring Nations)

• Tiná7 Cht Ti Temíxw (We Come From This Land): A Walk Through the History of the Squamish People — Squamish First Nation
• Lha Yudit'ih (We Always Find a Way): Bringing the Tsilhqot'in Title Case Home — Lorraine Weir
• Possessing Meares Island: A Historian's Journey Into the Past of Clayoquot Sound — Barry M. Gough

Truth and Reconciliation 

• Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future: Summary of the Final Report of the TRC — Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (reports and resources) — NCTR
• Beyond 94: Tracking the TRC Calls to Action — CBC project

Health, healing, and impacts of colonization 

• Legacy: Trauma, Story and Indigenous Healing — Suzanne Methot 
• Killing the Wittigo: Indigenous Culture-based Approaches to Healing (YA-friendly) — Suzanne Methot
• Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Wall Kimmerer 

Short, credible videos and webinars to support community learning. Many include captions and transcripts.

#LandBack: What does it mean & how do you enact it? (Yellowhead Institute)
Short explainer introducing Land Back and what it can look like in practice. 

BC Treaty Commission — “Treaty 101” (video)
 A brief introduction to treaty negotiations in British Columbia. 

BC Treaty Commission — Video channel
 Short explainers and public forums on treaties and negotiations in BC. 

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) — Dialogues playlist
Public webinars and learning sessions (some include difficult topics)

Truth and Reconciliation Week — “Lunch & Learn” playlist (NCTR) 
Recorded learning events (some include difficult topics). 

Note: Some Truth and Reconciliation resources include discussion of residential schools, racism, and violence. Please take care when choosing what to watch and when.