"In 1986, the Alberta government sparked widespread controversy when it began construction of a dam on the Oldman River in Southern Alberta to provide water for irrigation. The dispute pitted the provincial and federal governments and an irrigation lobby against local landowners, environmental groups, and the Peigan Indian Band along lines that have become familiar to Canadians in the past quarter century.

At its peak in the early 1990s, the controversy featured a minor uprising on the Peigan Reserve, an environmental review by the federal government, and rulings by the Supreme Court of Canada."--BOOK JACKET.

"In Once upon an Oldman, Jack Glenn offers a thorough account of the dispute from its beginnings in 1976 to the present day. He concludes that, despite claims to the contrary, the governments of Canada and Alberta are dedicated neither to protecting the environment nor to safeguarding the interests of Native people. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the often volatile interactions between Canadian governments, Native peoples, and environmental groups."--BOOK JACKET.