Book Reviews 

Shared by the Indigenous Allies Group

March 2025

THIS MONTH’S BOOK REVIEW comes from Roger Wells, PhD RMFT on 21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation With Indigenous Peoples A Reality, by Bob Joseph (ISBN: 978-0-9952665-2-0)

The Indian Act, first created in 1876, provides the defining legal context for relations between the Federal Government and its wards, Status Indians. This small book provides an excellent way to understand some of the impact of colonial thinking about Indigenous Peoples and its impact on the enduring stereotypes and constraints which they are called upon to endure. While it has been modified to some extent over the decades, the Indian Act still underpins the struggles for self-reliance, self-determination and the self-government which the Indigenous Peoples so clearly deserve.  Familiarization with the components of the Act will clarify for you some of the huge and necessary tasks involved in the process of Reconciliation. 

February 2025

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass, Milkweed Edition, 2015.

Robin is a Botanist and member of the Potawatomi Nation.  Reading Robin’s book was like sitting in a Lodge listening to a Wise Elder teach; loving, kind, knowledgeable as a storyteller, deeply knowledgeable of her subject, and skilled at teaching in two worlds as she braids them together.  Robin teaches about plants and the natural world; about human beings and plants and animals and our relationship with one another; how we mutually flourish together. I read this book for over a year. It took time to sit and digest its contents. I saved it to read when I needed to be uplifted, and to simply care for my world.  Its reverent tone, and loving words were soothing and calmed my thinking brain. I related to her stories as a mother of two daughters. I appreciated her realness and her humour.  I loved how she took risks and shared information with respect for her readers.  And I appreciated understanding more of the plant world.  Robin originally published this book in 2013, and it is still on the ‘must read’ booklist.  And it still sits beside my bed for further reading - Submitted by Jann Derrick, PhD. RMFT-SM