On April 20, 1863 the British naval gunboat Forward attacked a Native village on Kuper Island. The naval officers believed that the village harboured individuals involved in two recent assaults against European transients in the Gulf Islands. The gunboat fired on the village and was repulsed with casualties after a fierce battle with a handful of warriors. Following this defeat, the colonial government responded with one of the largest military operations in British Columbia's history which took place on the east coast of Vancouver Island and extended throughout the waters and islands of Active Pass, Trincomalee Channel and Stuart Channel, from Saturna Island north to Comox. Previously ignored or misunderstood by historians, the war between the Hwulmuhw or "People of the Land "and the colonial Government of Vancouver Island remains of utmost significance in today's world of unsettled First Nations' land claims. Arnett reconstructs the fascinating account of the events of 1863 using First Nations' oral history; newspaper editorials, letters and articles; government and police correspondence; naval ships' logs; and "Letters of Proceedings. "He demonstrates how the first treaty process initiated by the colonial government ended in military action. After the war of 1863 aboriginal land continued to be alienated and native jurisdiction eroded throughout British Columbia leaving an inequity which remains unresolved almost a century and a half later.

" Chris Arnett is co-author of They Write Their Dreams on the Rock Forever. Winner of a BC 2000 Book Award.AKAKAK--------------------------------------------------------------------------------AKAKISBN 0-88922-318-1; $24.95 Canada / $19.95 U.S.A.AK?1999; 384 pp; 1st printingAKAKAK--------------------------------------------------------------------------------AKAKTo order Talonbooks.