His Majesty's Indian allies :

"Today the First Nations are demanding a new recognition of their place in Canada. For them this demand is a renewal of the historical relationship between themselves and the European newcomers, based on mutual respect and a separate but equal status in which neither side would interfere with the integrity of the other's culture, language, law, or religious and political systems.

'His Majesty's Indian Allies' is a study of the roots of this relationship and an examination of British Indian policy in North America from the time of the American Revolution to the end of the War of 1812, with particular focus on Canada. Remarkably little recognition has been given to the vital military role of native people in the defense of Canada. More precisely, the long relationship between native people and the crown in Canada, based on formal alliances, was instrumental in preserving and protecting the integrity of the territories that became Canada. The cohesive vehicle for implementing policy directives was the British Indian Department, the forerunner of the present Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Although plagued by a continuous struggle over land issues and native sovereignty, an enduring and symbiotic relationship evolved between the native people and the British Crown in Canada that was rooted in the mutual need and desire for protection and survival. In his conclusion, Allen argues that the historic chain of friendship between native people and the crown has been recast, but not particularly altered, in the contemporary world of government-native relations.

In detailing and assessing these military alliances during the formative and critical years in the development of the nations in North America, Robert Allen has brought refreshing new insights into the field of native history." -- Provided by Publisher