Surviving Canada: Indigenous Peoples Celebrate 150 Years of Betrayal

by Kiera L. Ladner (Editor), Myra Tait (Editor)

Surviving Canada: Indigenous Peoples Celebrate 150 Years of Betrayal is a collection of elegant, thoughtful, and powerful reflections about Indigenous Peoples’ complicated, and often frustrating, relationship with Canada, and how—even 150 years after Confederation—the fight for recognition of their treaty and Aboriginal rights continues.

Through essays, art, and literature, Surviving Canada examines the struggle for Indigenous Peoples’ to celebrate their cultures and exercise their right to control their own economic development, lands, water, and lives.

The Indian Act, Idle No More, and the legacy of residential schools are just a few of the topics covered by a wide range of elders, scholars, artists, and activists. Contributors include Mary Eberts, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Leroy Little Bear.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Canada, History, Essays, Social Justice, Indigenous History

462 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kind of book is difficult to provide a "review" for, so I'm just going to give some general thoughts. It's a series of essays, articles, and sometimes even tweets (really) relating Indigenous peoples' perspectives on Canada at the time of its 150th year of confederation. This reads mostly like a textbook, and is definitely not light reading. It's also not very happy reading, which is obviously the point for many of the essays contained within. I think that it would be very valuable for Canadians to read the thoughts in this book. It is impossible to truly support and reconcile our issues between settler and Indigenous people in this country unless we are willing to hear the other side. Unfortunately, as one line from the book explains (I'm paraphrasing here) "The people who are reading this probably aren't the people who need to read this".

One side note, I've noticed a lot of editing errors in this collection from simple typos to some sentences repeated wholesale. This is the second book I've read from this publisher that has the same issue. It is unfortunate as I want to support the ideas and voices they are publishing, but it takes away from their power when simple things like "Brian" are spelled "Brain". Hopefully they can remedy this issue in a future release.

[Maya Shalom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from reading this and some of the essays hit really close to home. However some sections were difficult for my simple brain to read and the content was a bit repetitive 🤷‍♀️

[mica · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is too much in this book to summarize, suffice to say that probably every non-Indigenous Canadian should probably read it, and thereafter sit through whatever discomfort they might feel at some of the essays. (Of course, those who should read it most of all would probably be those who would be the least willing to put the time and effort into reading it.)

This is a dense, challenging book, and it deals with important and serious issues that Canada needs to face immediately. Like many essay anthologies, (and not everything here is an essay) I found some essays more easily readable than others, but, ultimately, this is one of the most informative books I've ever read.

[Sinéad O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for all Canadians who wish to understand the realities of Indigenous life in this country. I loved the variety of different formats and the depth and quality of contributors is phenomenal.

Nations from coast to coast are represented in their own words and on their own terms. This book provides a lot of necessary discomfort in addressing our complicity as settlers - I wish it was mandatory reading.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this 5 stars.

Most of my learning came from post-secondary, i.e. University level courses, that I took during undergrad. I wish this type of reading was mandatory for all Canadians during early years of education to understand the realities of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Peoples across Canada are represented in their own words.

This is not a light read. Works, such as this, need to be on all of our shelves, we need to better understand the systemic oppression that exists in the here and now.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a varied collection of works related to Canada150 and Indigenous Peoples. Formats vary from standard essays and legal reviews to compilations of tweets to descriptions of art installations (one even included a link to a youtube video of the piece being performed) and screenplays. There was also great regional representation - I am from the east coast originally and it's rare to see our issues highlighted in volumes that cover the whole country.

It's always hard to give one comprehensive rating to an essay collection by various authors but I do feel like I learned a lot from it.

[Jayjay Colley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a large collection of essays about the state of Canada and it’s relationship with the First Nations at the time of the 150th anniversary. Such a broad and in-depth work should not be taken lightly - there are a wide variety of topics, opinions and speakers in this book.
I enjoyed especially the poetry pieces, and wish there were a few more of those in here, if only to break up the long essays

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide range of articles focused on government-indigenous relations, the spirit of the treaties and agreements signed before and after Confederation, and the frequent non-respect and betrayals after. An interesting essay on similar events in Australia, and the difficult ( or even impossible) reconciliation with our colonial origins.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many chapters/essays that are incredibly interesting and illuminating as to indigenous issues, positions, status, and struggles. Others are rants. Some are poetic and some tell critical stories. As a new Canadian, I feel much more conversant while left with more questions. An important read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays looking at Canadian betryal of Indigenous people. Beyond TRC recommendations - looking at more than just residential schools.