This book is designed as a thematically organized text for students in introductory courses in Native Studies who are being introduced to Native issues for the first time. It is framed from an academic perspective and addresses Native intellectual tradition and the academic study of Native peoples. Taking a historically grounded approach and writing in a narrative style that largely avoids technical language, Belanger includes unique chapters on Native philosophy, Native peoples’ relationship with the land and indigenous political economy, and the arts (language, art, and literature). It also highlights the sociopolitical and socioeconomic challenges currently facing Canada’s Native leaders and their communities nationally.

Part One: Philosophy and Ways of Knowing
Chapter 1: Ways of Knowing
Chapter 2: The Land and Indigenous Political Economy
Chapter 3: The Arts
Part Two: History
Chapter 4: Treaties
Chapter 5: The Indian Act and Indian Affairs in Canada
Chapter 6: The Métis
Chapter 7: The Inuit and Nunavut
Chapter 8: Native Military Traditions and the Canadian Forces
Part Three: Political Economy
Chapter 9: Political Organizing in Canada
Chapter 10: Native People and the Canadian Justice System
Chapter 11: Self-Government
Chapter 12: Economic Development
Part Four: Contemporary Issues
Chapter 13: Health and Well-Being in Canada
Chapter 14: Communications
Chapter 15: Urban Issues

This book is designed as a thematically organized text for students in introductory courses in Native Studies who are being introduced to Native issues for the first time. It is framed from an academic perspective and addresses Native intellectual tradition and the academic study of Native peoples. Taking a historically grounded approach and writing in a narrative style that largely avoids technical language, Belanger includes unique chapters on Native philosophy, Native peoples’ relationship with the land and indigenous political economy, and the arts (language, art, and literature). It also highlights the sociopolitical and socioeconomic challenges currently facing Canada’s Native leaders and their communities nationally. Chapter 5: a new introduction which touches on government attitudes toward upholding the Indian Act, infrastructure spending on reserves, and recent issues such as murdered and missing women, as well as a new section on the legacy of the residential school system and the results of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee Report Chapter 6: updates regarding the recent developments to the legal status of Métis as Aboriginal people in the eyes of the Federal government; a new discussion about Métis rights (land claims, hunting) in Western provinces, which includes Harry Daniels, a plaintiff in the 2016 case which sought to resolve which level of government bears responsibility for Métis and non-status Indians Chapter 9: revised section on the fourth wave of political organizing, including funding cutbacks, changes in the Assembly of First Nations, and challenges to government policy; revisions to a section on alternative organizing models Chapter 10: updated coverage of trends in overrepresentation of Native people in the Canadian prison population, government inquiries into the increase of Native suicides (especially among youth), and the abuse of Native women by police; updated discussion about Aboriginal Justice Strategy (renewal of program through 2017) and a description of the approaches it uses in contrast to the traditional justice system Chapter 11: new section at the end of the chapter, “Reflections: Self-Government in the 21st Century,” regarding Native groups who are currently pushing for self-government and greater control in areas such as education, housing, access to financial and natural resources Chapter 12: Revised discussion about “contemporary Native economies”; a new discussion about the success of First Nations casino operations and the effect on local economies; a new table showing First Nations casino employees/wages (native vs. non-native employees); a new section entitled “Native Economic Development: Innovative Approaches” Chapter 13: updates on poverty rates among Native children vs. non-native population and lack of government response; a discussion regarding the lack of infrastructure spending on Native reserves to ensure adequate housing, health care, and other social services, and results of this in recent years Chapter 14: updated discussions regarding myths about Native issues and pervasiveness in the media and APTN’s announcement in 2016 of new partnerships that will provide more coverage across North America; a new section on the Idle No More movement and its impact on our perception of Aboriginal people and their concerns Chapter 15: updated coverage of the reaction of municipal governments to having responsibility for urban Aboriginal populations transferred to them instead of remaining a Federal government responsibility; updated discussion about Urban Economic Development Zones and Satellite Reserves