The arrival of farmers and gold seekers to the Canadian West brought change and upheaval. To the Indian it meant adjustment to a new way of life often with disastrous results. To the fur trader it meant the loss of livelihood. To Alison Stewart, daughter of a chief trader and an Indian princess it brought grief and bitterness. To Ross MacNeil, the son of a chief trader and a Shuswap Indian it brought ignominy and revolt. To Megan Scully, newly come to the West and with the memory of an Indian massacre fresh in her mind, it meant fear and a chance for wealth. Through their eyes, the conflict of Indian and white settlers is portrayed with honesty and fairness [in Forbidden Frontier]….

In spite of real and vivid characters, the story often lacks cohesion and often becomes a mere recital of case histories. (p. 15)

Kathryn C. James...