It's All about the Land: Collected Talks and Interviews on Indigenous Resurgence

by Taiaiake Alfred

Illuminating the First Nations struggles against the Canadian state, It’s All about the Land exposes how racism underpins and shapes Indigenous-settler relationships. Renowned Kahnawà:ke Mohawk activist and scholar Taiaiake Alfred explains how the Canadian government’s reconciliation agenda is a new form of colonization that is also guaranteed to fail. Bringing together Alfred’s speeches and interviews from over the past two decades, the book shows that Indigenous peoples across the world face a stark reconnect with their authentic cultures and values or continue following a slow road to annihilation. Alfred proposes a radical vision for contesting and confronting the ongoing genocide of the original peoples of this Indigenous Resurgence. This way of thinking, being, and practising represents an authentic politics that roots resistance in the spirit, knowledge, and laws of the ancestors. Set against the historic arc of Indigenous-settler relations in Canada and drawing on the rich heritage of First Nations resistance movements, It’s All about the Land traces the evolution of Indigenous struggle and liberation through the dynamic processes of oratory, dialogue, action, and reflection.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction

344 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Taiaiake Alfred is a Kahnawà:ke Mohawk philosopher, writer, and political strategist with more than three decades of experience in First Nations governance, politics and cultural restoration and environmental impact assessment. After a 25 year academic career during which he founded Concordia University’s Centre for Native Education and the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Governance Program, and originated and developed Indigenous Resurgence as an intellectual paradigm, he left academia to devote himself to working directly with his own and other Indigenous people at the community level to breathe life into ancestral visions of nationhood. Taiaiake holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and is the author of three books: Heeding the Voices of Our Ancestors and Peace, Power, Righteousness from Oxford University Press, and Wasáse: Indigenous Pathways of Action and Freedom, and IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND from the University of Toronto Press.

Reviews

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be read by any and everyone who feels they have an opinion on the rights and responsibilities of the indigenous peoples, no matter where they are located. It's valuable information that can inform and educate readers.

[Kristine Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's All About the Land: Collected Talks and Interviews on Indigenous Resurgence is a persuasive series of discussions and speeches on the need for resurgence over reconciliation. Taiaiake Alfred stresses the necessity for Nations to return to traditional ways of being in the world not only to improve physical and mental health, but also to reach 'sennen,' a state of peace. He argues in paradoxically conversational, yet academic, language, that reconciliation is a colonial construct itself, and can therefore not bring about improvements in the lives of Canada's Indigenous peoples. Rather, resurgence, which he outlines as a kind of awareness rising from the 60s, 70s and onwards is needed for First Nations to genuinely take back the land and restore traditional ways in order to lead healthier lives. He discusses the way forward as embracing traditional ways of living and working as communities to become free of the colonizing structures and strategies that have been so (tragically) effective in isolating First Nations. In brutally honest terms, he repeatedly states the elephant in the room: that the land has been stolen and this needs to change. Reconciliation does not address this essential step because it dances around what is truly essential: that white people honour treaties that were only ever compromises on the part of First Nations to begin with. This is the voice of a passionate revolutionary and a wake up call for those of us who had hoped that the path forward was through the insufficient calls to action of 'Truth and Reconciliation.'
It may be uncomfortable reading for some, but every word rings true.

[A Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is a collection of essays from activist and scholar Taiaiake Alfred whose main thesis is that the Canadian government's reconciliation/reparations agenda is in itself a form of colonization and going to fail. With a thesis like that it's hard to not want more information on the topic. The book is set up as a series of excerpts from conferences, interviews, etc. given over the last couple decades. This approach is well organized and engaging, making for an enjoyable reading experience.

There were many topics and ideas presented by the author that I've never considered before, or were discussed in a way that was new to me. These include the idea of cultural regeneration in a way that is a conscious engagement of older traditions but approachable for larger society; reclaiming traditional cultural values that honor the culture, land, and others; how reconciliation should be reconciling with the ancestral vision/culture rather than with colonialism; and that there are many facets of life that are products of colonialism that aren't often recognized (e.g., talking about Indigenous peoples as one entity and so assuming we only need a one-size-fits-all solution). These are honestly just a few of the takeaways as each essay was packed with insightful and thought-provoking topics.

I highly recommend this work to everyone, but especially those interested in hearing about modern issues from an Indigenous point of view. I hope that anthropologists and educators all over North America give this a read. Many thanks to NetGalley and University of Toronto Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taiaiak Alfred is an advocate for indigenous Canadian people of the first nation he has many opinions and in the book It’s All About The Land it’s full of many different essays television interviews speechless he gave at colleges about how he sees himself and other indigenous people should and how he feels about how the first nation is going about reclaiming their land what he considers redemption for his people and much much more it really gave great insight to the true thoughts of a victim of colonization something he speaks about in the book and although I am not a big fan of calling people colonizers because anyone who truly fits that description is now deceased I also totally get where he’s coming from. I really found his stance on those who sue for land and when not being a plus to his people due to the fact they’re suing essentially the ones who stole it from them quite valid but as it’s 200 years later and many other people live on that land what really is the compromise? He brings up great questions and great defenses I found this book totally interesting in a definite educator when it comes to seeing indigenous peoples point of view and although he lives in Canada I am sure this book entrance into American indigenous people and those in Australia and New Zealand. It really is sad what happened to their ancestors. Not to mention the racism they face today. I want to thank the publisher end NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book! It's a compilation of interviews and speeches. Taiaiake really has a gift. In these writings, he expresses the relationship between the Canadian government and the Indigenous people. He discusses the physical, psychological, and emotional challenges that his people face on a daily basis. I agree with most of what he says. The government's of Canada and the USA should make good on their promises. The Indigenous people's heritage is important and relevant to both countries.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Aiden Mauti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mandatory book for anyone wanting to build meaningful change between an occupied people and settler state, or working within two different knowledge systems. Especially one that uses the concept of Reconciliation to drive policy, funding, and action - challenging this concept to not be glossed over as “rebuilding friendships” but rather empowering cultural resurgence.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The author has some great answers to questions that are getting asked. This book delves into colonization and decolonization, among the various topics.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. Definitely a dense read, but really important for understanding the indigenous experience. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC giveaway.