Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips & Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality

by Bob Joseph

A timely sequel to the bestselling 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act —and an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to work more effectively with Indigenous Peoples.

We are all treaty people. But what are the everyday impacts of treaties, and how can we effectively work toward reconciliation if we’re worried our words and actions will unintentionally cause harm?

Hereditary chief and leading Indigenous relations trainer Bob Joseph is your guide to respecting cultural differences and improving your personal relationships and business interactions with Indigenous Peoples. Practical and inclusive, Indigenous Relations interprets the difference between hereditary and elected leadership, and why it matters; explains the intricacies of Aboriginal Rights and Title, and the treaty process; and demonstrates the lasting impact of the Indian Act, including the barriers that Indigenous communities face and the truth behind common myths and stereotypes perpetuated since Confederation.

Indigenous Relations equips you with the necessary knowledge to respectfully avoid missteps in your work and daily life, and offers an eight-part process to help business and government work more effectively with Indigenous Peoples—benefitting workplace culture as well as the bottom line. Indigenous Relations is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to improve their cultural competency and undo the legacy of the Indian Act.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Canada, History, Politics, Social Justice, Race

Audible Audio

First published May 9, 2019

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We must learn to live together...or perish together as fools."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For a book club challenge, I am supposed to read 21 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE INDIAN ACT by Bob Joseph, but that book is currently unavailable. So, I borrowed INDIGENOUS RELATIONS: INSIGHTS, TIPS & SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE RECONCILIATION A REALITY by Bob Joseph with Cynthia F. Joseph and dedicated to all those who want to change the world.

Although this book seems to be written as a guide for government and business leaders seeking to work with Indigenous Peoples I did find it interesting and educational.

The book suggested going to website www.ictinc.ca to download a free
ebook on myths: Dispelling Common Myths About Indigenous Peoples.
By reading this book I learned about the Indian Act, but I will search more libraries for a copy of 21 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE INDIAN ACT.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Indigenous read.

This was one of the best books on Indigenous relations that I've ever read.

I was absolutely amazed by this book.

This is an extremely important read for Canadians.

4.9/5

[Meaghan Recollet · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a practical book

[Emerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am thoroughly disappointed with this work... a more apt title would be “Working Effectively with Coast Salish First Nations.” Although Joseph makes some compelling arguments, these are undermined by glaring mistakes and misunderstandings that underpin his work.

Chief among these is his completely erroneous claim that Métis peoples are anyone of mixed Indigenous ancestry. It has been widely accepted, enshrined in the Canadian Constitution and recognized by the United Nations, that Métis peoples are a distinct Indigenous people in Canada, with their own culture, history, and traditions.

Throughout his text, Joseph also neglects to discuss the Métis (past this wrongful definition) and likewise does not discuss the Inuit (beyond proving a scant definition). As someone who has started an entire business and bases his livelihood on educating people in Indigenous relations, I’m surprised that Joseph does not have even a basic understanding as to who the Métis are. It is also appalling that he neglects to include Métis and Inuit in his work, granted that they make up two out of three of the Indigenous groups residing in what is now Canada, and he positions this book as a guide to working with *all* Indigenous people.

For readers keen to read better informed titles, I highly recommended reading Gregory Younging’s “Elements of Indigenous Style,” and the work of Chelsea Vowel, either on her blog, or in her book “Indigenous Writes.”

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow up to “21 Things You May Not Have a known About the Indian Act” for people — and businesses — looking for next steps. While the book is a worthy introductory guide, it is worthwhile to note that reconciliation is such a personal process that a book will never do the topic justice. However, Joseph gives some good advice to avoid major faux pas, but readers will need to remind themselves there’s more to reconciliation than simply reading this book and applying its tips.

[Jie Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a very very practical book. It covers the things someone should do if interacting with indigenous communities, mostly from a business angle. I learned a lot from it!

4 stars as I was hoping for a little more history/sociocultural information about indigenous communities in Canada.

[Lizinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandatory reading for Canadians

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rating) Bob Joseph breaks down crucial topics and processes to work with and within Indigenous communities, specifically in Canada. The suggestions and guidelines he outlines are primarily focused on a more corporate/ business perspective to working towards reconciliation, which is why I personally didn't find some suggestions to be as applicable to myself. The final chapter includes personal suggestions and further readings/references are also included which was one of the most valuable additions for me. I believe this book is an exceptionally valuable jumping-off point for someone professionally working with Indigenous communities and contains significant tips for any non-Indigenous person. It contains detailed outlines of important terms and ideals we should all work hard to get acquainted with and familiar with. I am excited to come back to this book and implement the knowledge into my life and interactions as I go along.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great addition to any Northern Studies, Indigenous Studies, or Social Studies class. The chapters are broken down into easy-to-digest and read chapters, the language is not terribly technical and very helpful to understand the topic of colonization and reconciliation. I would recommend this book to anyone, in particular, folks who live and work in North America or Canada. We are all treaty people, and if you are still challenging that notion, then you should probably read both this book and it's sibling book the 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act.

This book is a must-have and must-read book for people who are looking for the necessary knowledge to respectfully navigate these complex relationships.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I wished I read this book earlier and it’s a great follow-up book after reading 21 things you may not know about the Indian Act. It’s suited for those in a business or corporate setting. It’s super easy to read! 😊 Reconciliation is not about wearing an orange shirt or displaying social media posts but showing cultural safety, humility, respect, compassion and understanding. It’s gut wrenching work and changes you. This journey is only the very beginning make a world a better place. Change and action is needed. It’s time to debunk the terrible societal labels out there.🧡🧡🧡 🪶 🪶🪶

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in the gift shop of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler (which is well-worth a visit if you’re in the area). It’s a great practical guide to some foundational concepts around reconciliation. Easy read and something to keep nearby as a resource to refer back to. I appreciated the perspective on such basic concepts as: What is reconciliation? When is it appropriate to use Aboriginal vs Indigenous Peoples? And the different forms of Indigenous governance structures. After reading this book I feel a bit further along in my own personal reconciliation journey.

[Liz Mc2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I skimmed some of this little book, because it's really aimed at business and government leaders planning projects with Indigenous communities. I still found the questions/guidelines Joseph provides really helpful in thinking about my own unexamined assumptions about Indigenous people and cultures (or indeed anyone culturally different from me) and the identifying questions I wouldn't even think to ask.

[Gv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses almost exclusively on business/corporate relations, so large parts did not feel really relevant for a powerless nobody like me, which felt a bit disappointing (based on the title). Probably great for people who have any amount of power and can do any of the recommended things. This is a book for managers, not minimum wage workers.

My rating reflects the value this book had for me specifically (limited), not its Absolute Value or quality.

[Keri Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I wasn't the target audience for this book, it's geared more towards individuals entering into a business relationship with Indigenous Peoples, I still learned many tips to enhance my future relationships with First Nations. A comprehensive "How To" with regards to communication. Very educational.

[Mac Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical introduction. Primarily centred on those working with Indigenous (specifically First Nations) communities in a corporate setting. In this regard, it’s a bit narrow and shallow but I found it to be a helpful overview nonetheless. That said, I’ll be looking to other books for more nuance and depth (which the author also does suggest in the appendices alongside recommendations).

[Sarah Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. I was not expecting it to be so focused on how businesses can work with indigenous communities, and so I found that it was not as applicable for personal growth as much as for corporate/business purposes.
If you want a book that will help you learn more, gain deeper understanding and dispell myths regarding indigenous peoples in Canada, Chelsea Vowel's "Indigenous Writes" is a much better book.

[Tomiko Robson]

I received this from my school to read. It is very much a guide, mainly targeted to businesses but a useful guide, nonetheless, with some good reminders.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, easy to read, and important subject. However, it was very corporate focused!

[caleb gao]

not super for me (more for business owners/government workers) but still very good

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the basics well, but its business-focused lens felt a bit limiting. It's a solid intro, but I was hoping for deeper cultural insight beyond the corporate context.

[B.M. M. Polier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping there would be more individual insights and tips for reconciliation, but this book focuses all but 1 chapter on how organizations can reconcile.

Well written.

[Sidonie Wittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book! so specific and useful and clear

[Moe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is mainly aimed at businesses dealing with Indigenous peoples in Canada, which is not my main issue. The first few chapters are compelling: I learnt about what makes the Indian and Constitution Acts so problematic for reconciliation. However, the author's guidelines, which span the remainder of the book, are a little too obvious for anyone who already has a multicultural background (and specifically, a non Euro-Canadian one), and is already cognizant of the fact cultural norms are not universal. And some other insights are just common sense, like "don't assume that a meeting you planned months ago will still take place, but make sure to touch base with the attendees a few days beforehand".

I am still happy I read this book because it was a quick read, taught me about the Indian Act, and piqued my interest to go find better books on the history of Canada and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. However, I feel like it would've been more effective to start my research on these topics somewhere else.

[Ancilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Harder #3: Read a book about activism

[Signey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this follow-up to 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. However, the discussions of the book were a bit limited. I really wish that there had been more insights around the Métis Peoples and Inuit. Also, this book was mostly focused on developing professional relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Otherwise this was an educational read that I learned a lot from. Happy that I picked this one up on Truth and Reconciliation Day.

[Chantal (atozbookaholic) de Rocquigny · Rating 4 out of 5]

WARNING - SENSITIVE REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book because it helped me open up my eyes. I grew up in a white, privilege home. I grew up that when we drove downtown Winnipeg, we were told to lock our vehicle doors immediately. I grew up fearing the Indigenous! I grew up being prejudice towards Indigenous Peoples. This book is just the start of my personal side of reconciliation. This book is intended more for workplace/professional reconciliation. I didn't know that when I purchased this book.

[Caitlin Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So accessible!

[Chels Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous Relations Insignts, Tips, and Suggedtions to make reconciliation a reality by Bob Joseph & Cynthia F Joseph is the much needed sequel or companion piece to the formative 21 Things you didn’t know about the Indian act.

Right away the authors let the reader know this book is largely for the business community. Or at least many of the tips for how to create successful business relations are for the business community, but that is mostly just chapter 8.

The rest of the book however is really for anyone that wishes to commit to reconciliation either on a personal or community based relations. It’s very good for religious communities, schools, governments and even for personal understanding and overview of indigenous societies.

The book is well written and clear enough that one can read it in a sitting but in-depth and complete that one can refer to it often as a resource. The appendix alone is a fount of knowledge, with not only definitions but also reason to use other words or why certain context words are poorly used.

I appreciated the examples given and the scripts that they have played out for the reader to understand. There is a well needed section on interactions with residence school survivors. Given that such interactions can be difficult for some to know what to say beyond the simple “I’m sorry” or the worse “that wasn’t me/this company” the scripted response is open, compassionate and a good tool for all of us to learn when confronted by someone else trauma.

The book is well balanced with levity and knowledge and could be good as a resource to show why good relations lead to better business outcomes for all. It’s very focused on the ounce of prevention/ pound of cure ideology of communication and relations.

If you were to read a book about how China does business when going to them for business relations as a Canadian, then why not do the same to the Nations in Canada. This is that book it gives one a base, a tool to find resources and approaches. To know what questions to ask. Research into the individual communities is required to full fulfill the dream of reconciliation.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a excellent resource for learning how to have respectful and successful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities. Although a majority of the book was about business dealings, it still had a lot of useful information for understanding and respecting the need for reconcilation on a personal level.

"Reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. In order for that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that had been inflicted, atonement for the causes and action to change behavior." ~ Truth and Reconciliation Commision of Canada

"I want you to dream and imagine with me what reconciliation could look like in twenty, thirty, forty years from now. When we are reconciled we will live together in harmony, be gentle with one another, we will be caring and compassionate. When we are reconciled, every person living here will live with dignity, purpose, and value." ~ Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O B.C., O.C., Reconciliation Canada Ambassador

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very straight-forward look at practical ways to include reconciliation in your daily life. The majority of the book dealt with reconciliation and Indigenous relations in a business and workplace setting, with a small section at the end dealing with it in a personal context. For me, the business and workplace settings weren't what I was looking for (only because they don't fit my lifestyle) but it was interesting still to read.

I wish that this book was perhaps a combination of the author's previous book that details the Indian Act, maybe to add some more context as to why certain actions are helpful and others are harmful within that context.

I really enjoyed the section about myths, which was the most practical for myself given that these topics and myths often come up in conversation with family, and it is good to have the proper knowledge to dispel them. I think this book should be required reading for all Canadians (and even Americans) to better understand small changes they can make to work for reconciliation.