Alan C. Cairns is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia where he was a member of the Department of Political Science from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. He was awarded the 1982 Molson Prize and, in 1998, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles on federalism, the constitution, and the charter.

[This book] is an exciting and provocative investigation of the importance of citizenship in the modern age. Cairn's work deserves a broad and diverse audience. - Ken Coates (Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 26, No. 1) A remarkable and well-researched study  that adds a measure of sanity to the often histrionic debate over Aboriginal rights and redresses in Canada. ... a cogent and compelling argument for integration as the middle road. - Suzanne Methot (Quill & Quire) ... in his book, Citizens Plus, he's on to some wider possibilities that might bridge the dangerously widening divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians... It puts the emphasis on what we share in common the foundation of sensible mutual relations, rather than on the idea that we share next to nothing or that aboriginals' distinctiveness is of no value to them or us. - Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail) Citizens Plus is a wonderfully informed, well-documented and balanced analysis of the issues, and political and legal debates concerning the position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. More importantly, it's a refreshing work since it addresses in a positive and realistic manner the fatal flaws that surround much of the debate. - The Donner Prize Jury

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. EmpireThe Complex Problem of "Voice"History and HumilityEmpire at Home and AbroadThe Cultural Terrain over which the Battle Is FoughtHow Did We Get to Where We Are?Conclusion2. AssimilationBasic Assimilation PolicyThe 1969 White PaperAcademic and Political SupportAboriginal SupportPaternalism and the Culture of LeadershipSignificance of White Paper DefeatPreliminary RemarksCross-currentsConclusion3. ChoiceA Time of TransitionThe Influence of the PastThe Requirements of Good Aboriginal Constitutional PolicyAssimilation versus Parallelism: Warring ParadigmsHow We See Ourselves: The Discourse of ContrastAn Alternative Vision: A Modernizing AboriginalityA Basis for Living Apart and TogetherSelf-Government as an Exit OptionConclusion4. The Constitutional Vision of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal PeoplesA Many-Splendoured but Problematic ReportThe Constitutional Vision of RCAPRelative Neglect of the Urban DimensionAncestry versus IdentityCultural Survival versus Economic OpportunityThe Centrality of NationThe Nation-to-Nation ApproachA Third Order of Aboriginal GovernmentLaw, Not PoliticsRepresentation at the CentreConclusion5. The Choice RevisitedAn Early Vision: Citizens PlusAboriginal Rights and Aboriginal NationsThe Opening Up of the DebateAcademic Activism and Legal ScholarshipLand Claims, Treaty Negotiations, Self-Government, and CitizenshipPolitical Science and "What Will Hold Us Together?"Interdependence and Other RealitiesAn Outward-Looking AboriginalityEmpathy and CitizenshipConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

Alan C. Cairns is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia where he was a member of the Department of Political Science from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. He was awarded the 1982 Molson Prize and, in 1998, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles on federalism, the constitution, and the charter.

[This book] is an exciting and provocative investigation of the importance of citizenship in the modern age. Cairn's work deserves a broad and diverse audience. - Ken Coates (Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 26, No. 1) A remarkable and well-researched study  that adds a measure of sanity to the often histrionic debate over Aboriginal rights and redresses in Canada. ... a cogent and compelling argument for integration as the middle road. - Suzanne Methot (Quill & Quire) ... in his book, Citizens Plus, he's on to some wider possibilities that might bridge the dangerously widening divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians... It puts the emphasis on what we share in common the foundation of sensible mutual relations, rather than on the idea that we share next to nothing or that aboriginals' distinctiveness is of no value to them or us. - Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail) Citizens Plus is a wonderfully informed, well-documented and balanced analysis of the issues, and political and legal debates concerning the position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. More importantly, it's a refreshing work since it addresses in a positive and realistic manner the fatal flaws that surround much of the debate. - The Donner Prize Jury

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. EmpireThe Complex Problem of "Voice"History and HumilityEmpire at Home and AbroadThe Cultural Terrain over which the Battle Is FoughtHow Did We Get to Where We Are?Conclusion2. AssimilationBasic Assimilation PolicyThe 1969 White PaperAcademic and Political SupportAboriginal SupportPaternalism and the Culture of LeadershipSignificance of White Paper DefeatPreliminary RemarksCross-currentsConclusion3. ChoiceA Time of TransitionThe Influence of the PastThe Requirements of Good Aboriginal Constitutional PolicyAssimilation versus Parallelism: Warring ParadigmsHow We See Ourselves: The Discourse of ContrastAn Alternative Vision: A Modernizing AboriginalityA Basis for Living Apart and TogetherSelf-Government as an Exit OptionConclusion4. The Constitutional Vision of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal PeoplesA Many-Splendoured but Problematic ReportThe Constitutional Vision of RCAPRelative Neglect of the Urban DimensionAncestry versus IdentityCultural Survival versus Economic OpportunityThe Centrality of NationThe Nation-to-Nation ApproachA Third Order of Aboriginal GovernmentLaw, Not PoliticsRepresentation at the CentreConclusion5. The Choice RevisitedAn Early Vision: Citizens PlusAboriginal Rights and Aboriginal NationsThe Opening Up of the DebateAcademic Activism and Legal ScholarshipLand Claims, Treaty Negotiations, Self-Government, and CitizenshipPolitical Science and "What Will Hold Us Together?"Interdependence and Other RealitiesAn Outward-Looking AboriginalityEmpathy and CitizenshipConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

Alan C. Cairns is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia where he was a member of the Department of Political Science from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. He was awarded the 1982 Molson Prize and, in 1998, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles on federalism, the constitution, and the charter.

[This book] is an exciting and provocative investigation of the importance of citizenship in the modern age. Cairn's work deserves a broad and diverse audience. - Ken Coates (Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 26, No. 1) A remarkable and well-researched study  that adds a measure of sanity to the often histrionic debate over Aboriginal rights and redresses in Canada. ... a cogent and compelling argument for integration as the middle road. - Suzanne Methot (Quill & Quire) ... in his book, Citizens Plus, he's on to some wider possibilities that might bridge the dangerously widening divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians... It puts the emphasis on what we share in common the foundation of sensible mutual relations, rather than on the idea that we share next to nothing or that aboriginals' distinctiveness is of no value to them or us. - Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail) Citizens Plus is a wonderfully informed, well-documented and balanced analysis of the issues, and political and legal debates concerning the position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. More importantly, it's a refreshing work since it addresses in a positive and realistic manner the fatal flaws that surround much of the debate. - The Donner Prize Jury

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. EmpireThe Complex Problem of "Voice"History and HumilityEmpire at Home and AbroadThe Cultural Terrain over which the Battle Is FoughtHow Did We Get to Where We Are?Conclusion2. AssimilationBasic Assimilation PolicyThe 1969 White PaperAcademic and Political SupportAboriginal SupportPaternalism and the Culture of LeadershipSignificance of White Paper DefeatPreliminary RemarksCross-currentsConclusion3. ChoiceA Time of TransitionThe Influence of the PastThe Requirements of Good Aboriginal Constitutional PolicyAssimilation versus Parallelism: Warring ParadigmsHow We See Ourselves: The Discourse of ContrastAn Alternative Vision: A Modernizing AboriginalityA Basis for Living Apart and TogetherSelf-Government as an Exit OptionConclusion4. The Constitutional Vision of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal PeoplesA Many-Splendoured but Problematic ReportThe Constitutional Vision of RCAPRelative Neglect of the Urban DimensionAncestry versus IdentityCultural Survival versus Economic OpportunityThe Centrality of NationThe Nation-to-Nation ApproachA Third Order of Aboriginal GovernmentLaw, Not PoliticsRepresentation at the CentreConclusion5. The Choice RevisitedAn Early Vision: Citizens PlusAboriginal Rights and Aboriginal NationsThe Opening Up of the DebateAcademic Activism and Legal ScholarshipLand Claims, Treaty Negotiations, Self-Government, and CitizenshipPolitical Science and "What Will Hold Us Together?"Interdependence and Other RealitiesAn Outward-Looking AboriginalityEmpathy and CitizenshipConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex