John Lutz

John Lutz is a historian and professor at the University of Victoria, best known for his landmark book *Makúk: A New History of Indigenous-White Relations*. His academic work has reshaped how scholars understand early interactions between Indigenous peoples and European settlers on the Northwest Coast, challenging conventional narratives of contact and exchange.

Lutz earned his PhD from the University of Ottawa and has spent much of his career at the University of Victoria, where he teaches Canadian and Indigenous history. His research centers on the concept of “makúk,” a Chinook Jargon term meaning “to trade,” which he uses to reframe Indigenous-white relations as dynamic, reciprocal, and deeply economic—rather than simply a story of domination and loss. The book won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Prize for the best book on British Columbia history.

Beyond *Makúk*, Lutz has contributed to public history projects, including digital archives and collaborative research with Indigenous communities. His work emphasizes the agency of Indigenous peoples in shaping colonial encounters and continues to influence contemporary debates about land, resources, and reconciliation in Canada.