The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process

by Lynn Gehl

From the Foreword, by Heather Majaury: I am prone to think that when Creator lowered Lynn to Mother Earth it was for her to complete this difficult task of bravery. Indeed we can all learn from her, as she has fulfilled her responsibility. In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Treaty at Niagara, The Truth that Wampum Tells offers readers a first-ever insider analysis of the contemporary land claims and self-government process in Canada. Incorporating an analysis of traditional symbolic literacy known as wampum diplomacy, Lynn Gehl argues that despite Canada s constitutional beginnings first codified in the 1763 Royal Proclamation and ratified during the 1764 Treaty at Niagara, Canada continues to deny the Algonquin Anishinaabeg their right to land and resources, their right to live as a sovereign nation, and consequently their ability to live mino-pimadiziwin (the good life). Gehl moves beyond Western scholarly approaches rooted in the historical archives, academic literature and the interview method. She also moves beyond discussions of Indigenous methodologies, offering an analysis through her debwewin journey: a wholistic Anishinaabeg way of knowing that incorporates both mind knowledge

Genres: Indigenous, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Lynn is an author, advocate, artist, and public speaker. Her work encompasses both anti-colonial work and the celebration of Indigenous knowledge. She challenges Canada’s practices, policies, and laws of colonial genocide such as the land claims and self-government process, sex-discrimination in the Indian Act, the continued destruction of Akikpautik / Chaudière Falls–an Anishinaabeg sacred place, and Canada’s lack of policy addressing Indigenous women and girls with disabilities who are bigger targets of sexual violence. She weaves wampum belts, builds petro-forms, and paints. She also has several professionally published peer reviewed books: “Gehl v Canada: Challenging Sex Discrimination in the Indian Act” (2021), “Claiming Anishinaabe: Decolonizing the Human Spirit” (2017), “The Truth that Wampum Tells: My Debwewin on the Algonquin Land Claims Process” (2014), and “Anishinaabeg Stories: Featuring Petroglyphs, Petrographs, and Wampum Belts” (2012). She has several academic contributions in journals and chapters in books; 140 community contributions in magazines, websites, news papers, and op-eds; as well as 150 personal blogs. Lynn is frequently called upon as an expert by various media outlets to offer commentary on Indigenous issues.

Reviews

[Pamela Schreiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells us about the history of the Algonquin people that we've not learned about in school --Very informative!
I especially love the way that Lynn introduces and speaks about both head and heart knowledge. It introduces us to a new and upcoming way of thinking about knowledge. I was intrigued with her comment that knowledge starts in the heart and then we expand on that knowledge with our minds.......... and when I thought about that, I realized that it applies to my own life and learning.

[Patricia L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn Gehl delivers a truthful compelling woman's story with land claims within Canada.
She is able to explain the many layered issues brought to land claims in Canada.

[Luce Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is work full of details re Algonquin peoples of Ontario and Quebec, especially regarding the sex discrimination as regards legal status of women from this nation. I learned so much from this one , short document. It is truly a book of which i can say that it is a great learning tool, and i definitely think that we would be well served to have this book, or at least sections of it used in high school history classes.