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Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation

Today, we were fortunate to welcome Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman to AGB for an eye-opening and meaningful discussion about their multiple award-winning, critically-acclaimed book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation.

Valley of the Birdtail follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. Through a compelling and page-turning narrative, the book tells the story of a dimension of Canadian history that too often goes untold. It explores how two neighboring communities, on either side of a river, became separate and unequal, and what it means for the rest of us.

All of our firm members were provided with a copy of the book a few months back, and then invited to join this discussion, at which we explored the role of law in creating this inequality, the role the law might play in reconciliation, and how each of us can contribute to that effort. 

With June being National Indigenous History Month, and National Indigenous Peoples Day approaching on June 21, there is no better time to for us all - in the legal profession and beyond - to review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, and to consider the steps each of us can take. Education is essential and fundamental to any meaningful progress towards truth and reconciliation, and Valley of the Birdtail is a phenomenal, engaging resource. You can get yourself a copy (print, eBook, and audiobook versions all available) here.

More About the Authors

ANDREW STOBO SNIDERMAN is a writer, lawyer, and Rhodes Scholar from Montreal. He has written for the New York Times, the Globe and Mail, and Maclean’s. He has also argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, served as the human rights policy advisor to the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, and worked for a judge of South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

DOUGLAS SANDERSON (AMO BINASHII) is Beaver Clan, from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He is a Fulbright Scholar and holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Professor Sanderson has served as senior Advisor to the government of Ontario, in the offices of the Attorney General and Aboriginal Affairs.