Between Justice and Certainty: Treaty Making in British Columbia

Since the BC treaty process was established in 1992, two discourses have become prominent within the treaty negotiations. The first, a discourse of justice, asks how we can remedy the past injustices imposed on BC First Nations. The second, a discourse of certainty, asks whether historical repair can occur in a manner that provides a better future for all British Columbians. Andrew Woolford examines the interplay between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal visions of justice and certainty to determine whether there is a space between the two concepts in which modern treaties can be made. He suggests that greater attention to justice is necessary if we are to initiate a process of reconciliation.