(Re)Landscaping Sovereignty in British Columbia, Canada

Many forms of sovereignty are still, albeit not exclusively, anchored in claims on territory and are asserted through the productive exercise of control over people, resources, and habitats located within the spaces of territory. In British Columbia, Canada, First Nations' assertions of sovereign control over their territories and resources are reconfiguring resource planning, development, and management, even as the provincial and federal governments seek to maintain their own control over the same territory. While the courts have been the primary avenue for protecting Aboriginal Title and rights, First Nations are also turning to the use of mass media and other public forums. This essay examines the assertions of sovereignty made by coastal First Nations through the venues of public forums.