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lithograph2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
This would be best read with at least a baseline understanding of the history of colonisation in Canada and the US- as an Australian, the assumed knowledge was a bit high at times. Still, it was informative, engaging and left me wanting to know more! Highly recommend.
kimcheel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
beautyflora's review against another edition
Returned to the library. This book is slow paced, although interesting. I plan to pick it back up after I’m finished with my other books
babybijou's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
I really enjoyed this book, especially the tone of sarcasm the author used. I read it in audiobook format and the VA was amazing, however I had a bit of a hard time following the timeline. Overall, an excellent book.
paulsnelling's review against another edition
3.0
Some interesting facts which should shame American and Canadian government. The book is written in chatty and in places humorous style which grated, but nevertheless I’m glad I read it. It will inspire me to learn more about the fate of indigenous peoples around the world.
gemasinrock's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.75
“In order to maintain the cult and sanctity of the Dead Indian, North America has decided that Live Indians living today cannot be genuine Indians.”
“Dead Indians are dignified, noble, silent, suitably garbed. And dead. Live Indians are invisible, unruly, disappointing. And breathing. One is a romantic reminder of a heroic but fictional past. The other is simply an unpleasant, contemporary surprise.”
“Missionary work in the New World was war. Christianity, in all its varieties, has always been a stakeholder in the business of assimilation, and, in the sixteenth century, it was the initial wound in the side of Native culture. Or, if you want the positive but somewhat callous view, you might wish to describe Christianity as the gateway drug to supply-side capitalism.”
“Teach Indians to fish, but teach them to be Christian fishers. And then you can sell them fishing gear.”
“Racism is endemic in North America. And it’s also systemic. While it affects the general population at large, it’s also buried in the institutions that are supposed to protect us from such abuses.”
“Ignorance has never been the problem. The problem was and continues to be unexamined confidence in western civilization and the unwarranted certainty of Christianity. And arrogance. Perhaps it is unfair to judge the past by the present, but it is also necessary.”
“Dead Indians are dignified, noble, silent, suitably garbed. And dead. Live Indians are invisible, unruly, disappointing. And breathing. One is a romantic reminder of a heroic but fictional past. The other is simply an unpleasant, contemporary surprise.”
“Missionary work in the New World was war. Christianity, in all its varieties, has always been a stakeholder in the business of assimilation, and, in the sixteenth century, it was the initial wound in the side of Native culture. Or, if you want the positive but somewhat callous view, you might wish to describe Christianity as the gateway drug to supply-side capitalism.”
“Teach Indians to fish, but teach them to be Christian fishers. And then you can sell them fishing gear.”
“Racism is endemic in North America. And it’s also systemic. While it affects the general population at large, it’s also buried in the institutions that are supposed to protect us from such abuses.”
“Ignorance has never been the problem. The problem was and continues to be unexamined confidence in western civilization and the unwarranted certainty of Christianity. And arrogance. Perhaps it is unfair to judge the past by the present, but it is also necessary.”
valj's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
smittenforfiction's review against another edition
5.0
Listening on Hoopla.
“You know what they say. If at first you don't succeed, try the same thing again. Sometimes the effort is called persistence and is the mark of a strong will. Sometimes it's called perseveration and is a sign of immaturity. For an individual, one of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again in the same way and expecting different results. For a government, such behavior is called... policy.”
“A great many people in North America believe that Canada and the United States, in a moment of inexplicable generosity, gave treaty rights to Native people as a gift. Of course, anyone familiar with the history of Indians in North America knows that Native people paid for every treaty right, and in some cases, paid more than once. The idea that either country gave First Nations something for free is horseshit.”
“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.”
“You know what they say. If at first you don't succeed, try the same thing again. Sometimes the effort is called persistence and is the mark of a strong will. Sometimes it's called perseveration and is a sign of immaturity. For an individual, one of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again in the same way and expecting different results. For a government, such behavior is called... policy.”
“A great many people in North America believe that Canada and the United States, in a moment of inexplicable generosity, gave treaty rights to Native people as a gift. Of course, anyone familiar with the history of Indians in North America knows that Native people paid for every treaty right, and in some cases, paid more than once. The idea that either country gave First Nations something for free is horseshit.”
“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.”