"Canyon War covers the tumultuous events of 1858 in British Columbia-events which led to a little-known war that could have escalated, had it not been for the persuasive diplomacy of Chief Spintlum of the Nlaka'pamux First Nation. 2008 marked the 150th anniversary of the Fraser River Gold Rush, which saw some 30 to 40 thousand [mostly American] gold seekers flood into the Fraser Valley, culminating in the Fraser River War in August of that year. Many lives were lost, both Native and non-Native, until peace was finally concluded in Lytton by Chief Spintlum and Henry Snyder [of the American militia forces]."--Distributor.