First Voices: An Aboriginal Women's Reader

by Patricia Monture-Angus (Editor), Patricia McGuire (Editor)

Understanding the ways, experiences, and voices of Indigenous women requires the reader to start with the self. Who are you and where do you fit into an Indigenous world? In many Indigenous traditions, governance starts with the self. We then fit into clans, families, communities and nations. Understanding yourself is always balanced by understanding your relationships. Primary among Indigenous relationships is our relations to the natural world. Territory is equally an important concept. This Aboriginal women's studies reader is organized under the above themes. It is intended to assist readers in learning about the great diversity across Aboriginal nations in Canada, but also the diversity of women within those nations. The articles chosen represent many of the struggles that Aboriginal women have faced in Canada. These include struggles with the Canadian criminal justice system, with inclusion in self-government and constitutional reform, issues of membership in bands and matrimonial real property. Many of the articles are framed around the quest for equality.

Genres: Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Haliation · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really needed this book in my life. It is one of the required texts for my Indigenous Feminisms class (yeah, I know, you didn't see that coming, right?). This is probably the best "textbook" I've ever had to buy. PLUS! it didn't completely drain my bank account - thank you, Bridget! Honestly, this is the kind of book I'd buy regardless of whether or not I was in a class. I just had a better excuse than "I want it" this time around.

The articles span too many subjects to list. I particularly liked the ones that related to Two-Spirited/GLBTQ identity, environment, and internalized colonialism. I've already used it as a source for three of my other classes. It's one I will definitely keep forever.