Books
Experiencing the First Nations’ way of life first hand is the very best way to reach an understanding. Listening to the stories of the elders is not only educational, but a rewarding experience. Compared to this rich oral history and tradition of the First Nations, the written word comes second. However, there are several fine books available on Canadian history and the First Nations, many of which are written by First Nation people. Here are a few ideas:
- Georgian Bay Jewel, Margaret Derry
- Inconvenient Indian, Thomas King
- The Comeback, John Ralston Saul
- Price Paid, Bev Sellers
- A Fair Country, John Ralston Saul
- Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi Citizen Band)
- Dancing on Our Turtle’s Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-creation, Resurgence and a New Emergence, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg Nation)
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, Bob Joseph
- Three Fires unity : the Anishnaabeg of the Lake Huron borderlands, Phil Bellfy
- Unsettling Canada : a national wake-up call, Arthur Manuel and Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson Foreword by Naomi Klein
- Unsettling the settler within : Indian residential schools, truth telling, and reconciliation in Canada, By Paulette Regan; Foreword by Taiaiake Alfred
- Unlearning the Colonial Cultures of Planning, Libby Porter
- A Mind Spread Out On The Ground, Alicia Elliott
- Resolve: The Story of the Chelsea Family and a First Nation Community’s Will to Heal, Carolyn Parks Mintz
Also worth reviewing:
Ontario’s Health System: Key Insights for Engaged Citizens, Professionals and Policymakers, McMaster University (Six Nations scholar), Chapter 9: Read here…
For more information and book suggestions, see the article by Kaitlin Curtis, 25 Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Be Reading at:
If you have suggestions for other books to add to this list, please let us know
– Shannon Farquharson: sfarquharson@georgianbay.ca