Indigenous Healing: Exploring Traditional Paths

by Rupert Ross

Ross’s first book, Dancing with a Ghost, began his exploration of aboriginal approaches to justice and the visions of life that shape them. In his second book, Returning to the Teachings, Ross went on to examine the aboriginal preference for “peacemaker justice.”

In Indigenous Healing, the former crown prosecutor Rupert Ross shares the lessons and insight acquired from years of working with, and learning from, aboriginal communities across Canada. He shares a vision of justice and healing—a way of seeing that existed long before Europeans came to this continent—that persists today, albeit often in conflict with western culture. He examines the effects of colonization and assimilation and how social trauma is in fact magnified over the years, passed down to new generations.

Perhaps most difficult for Ross was accepting the aboriginal view that justice is about healing, not punishment. With the lessons here, Ross looks to the future to how health and happiness can be created.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction, Canada, History, Psychology

344 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2014

Reviews

[Franny Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book

[Vito · Rating 5 out of 5]

My awakening to the history, abuses and culture of our Indigenous population started my first year as chaplain.

It was a crash course in ignorance.

I discovered how very little I knew. My perceived knowledge was only a sterile drop of water in an ocean. My eyes were opened in a wide way.

Ross has expanded my horizons further and opened my eyes wider. Even though I was taking notes along the way, I feel this book needs to be read a few times.

In addition to the broad range of issues the indigenous people face, there's a historical account of why and many gems of healing. Although you read this through a historical account, it's easy to place yourself in the healing process.

The writing is also accessible and feels like someone having a conversation with you, rather than the usual rigid writing found in texts dealing with historical accounts. It's a story wrapped around a story, but you feel connected the entire time.

An important book dealing with critical subject matter on the truth and reconciliation of the first peoples of our country.

[Maureen Mclelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for every Canadian. Written from the perspective of "awakening" of a person of privilege recounting his years of bearing witness to and being humbled by the systemic racism against our Indigenous people. We have much to learn from the Indigenous Elders and the communities in which they live.

[ArtemisKate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book for people to read in order to gain a better understanding of how colonization has crippled the Indigenous peoples of North America - and how through their traditional culture they are attempting to heal themselves. Colonization is one of the most horrific things if not the most horrific thing that "white man" ever did to this planet. This book is so very necessary to start the healing from colonization - to begin reconciliation in a meaningful way.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of good stuff, and when there were times I was worried that it was heading off in a wrong direction, it ended up surprising me.

There are questions it doesn't fully answer, but it starts out by asking better questions and does find a lot that is powerful and can do a lot of good.

Not what I expected but really glad I read it.

[Pamela Dobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and eye opening. Learn some truths about the past as well as the now about 1st nations and how their lives have been changed and how and why things still continue. Well written a must read to open you mind and learn about the world you think you live in. It will change you.

[Hana Cohen]

CULTURAL DIVERSITY class

[Jordain Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible lessons to be learned in this book. Everyone should read.

[Julia Wabie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I carry the flower in the field analogy and the perspective of the homeowners/thief in the B&E analogy with me.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful examination of the interface between cultures and the continued negative influence of colonialism on all of us in the western hemisphere. Denial aint just a river in Egypt.

[Malerie Champoux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely eye opening. I don’t have the words to describe the depth that this book has. So thought provoking!

[Kiesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a requirement for an indigenous course I was taking, only various excerpts of the book were required reading for the course.
Great book for anyone looking to learn more about life for Indigenous peoples in Canada. A good insight for anyone looking to become an ally for Indigenous issues.

Once the course was finished and I had the time I re read the whole book from start to finish.
The book explains intergenerational trauma, and gives a good description of residential schools and how they came to be - the real purpose. How detrimental they were then, and how they continue to effect Indigenous peoples today.
It also demonstrates how drastically different Aboriginal views and Western views are. The idea of embeddedness, I had to read a few sections twice as it is - refreshingly - so different from Western thinking.

Cons:
-The author states the closing of residential schools much earlier than what I had learned. Suggesting that the last residential school closed in the 80's but it was actually in 1996.
-Basically the last quarter of the book felt very repetitive.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this book needs to be read more than once. So many important lessons and teaching and so much information on the impact of colonization on indigenous folks in canada.

Ross makes the subjects accessible. A man talking more than writing.

[Myriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far so good - I haven't finished this book yet but I am finding it extremely absorbing. The author, a former judge working in Native Affairs in Canada, delves into the need for "decolonizing" the Canadian judicial system as it pertains to its relationship with First Nations people and Canada's history of colonization. Particular attention is paid to the abuses suffered by First Nations people over the 150 year duration of the notorious 'residential schools' to which native children, often forcibly removed from their families, were relegated, often for their entire childhoods. Ross shows the relationship between structural violence, systemic, generational abuse, and dependency issues & criminal behaviors and how healing can be restored to First Nations people, communities, and Canadian society as a whole (even non-First Nations in denial of Canada's history and the abuses perpetrated against First Nations people). The text is conversational and sometimes fails to be as critically engaged as one might expect from a justice but is utterly engaging.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the approach the book took to look at the real issues crippling Indigenous Peoples and how it also discussed options for healing etc. However, the statement Ross made on page 274, "...trusting that the use of taxpayers' money will, ultimately, lead injured people back to health..." was uncalled for and inappropriate as this leads to assume he needs to be enlightened on Indian Trust Funds & whose money actually funds the state of Canada through treaties etc. he might want to look into this truth. Let's really get to the truth as this book suggests.