Includes bibliographical references (p. 298-303).

Introduction: Great Events, Small Stories -- 1. The Slocan: a state of mind -- 2. Lines Across the Mountains: the Oregon Treaty -- 3. The Key in the Lock: building the path to the Slocan -- 4. The Paris of the West: the boom years -- 5. Silver and Steel: the coming of the railroads -- 6. Fool's Gold: fragile fortunes -- 7. The Glorious Kootenay: fruit, farms, forests, and families -- 8. Rushing Towards a Ghost: aboriginal people of the valley -- 9. Bread, Salt, and Water: the Doukhobors -- 10. War, Land and Children: the seeds of alienation -- 11. A Good place in Hard Times: the depression years -- 12. Shikata-Ga-Nai: the internment of Japanese Canadians -- 13. The Times They are a'Changin': after the war -- 14. Svobodniki: when freedom turned to tears -- 15. Harmony and Understanding: the seventies -- 16. Healing and Conflict: the end of the millennium -- 17. The Slocan: portrait of a valley.