Canada's First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from Earliest Times

by Olive Patricia Dickason

From the point of view of Canada's native peoples, this country has 57 founding nations, not just two. Canada's First Nations is an exploration of the experience of these peoples from their first appearance among the giant mammals that once roamed the land to their confrontations with contemporary Canada. Aboriginal peoples have displayed both ingenuity and flexibility in their survival techniques. Their achievements in technology (the toggling harpoon, the canoe), and in the plant sciences (the development of maize, their herbal lore), have come to benefit the world. Their cooperation and assistance was essential for the European exploration and settlement of what is now the value of this aid in economic terms alone has never been assessed. Relying on archaeological, artistic, and linguistic evidence, Dickason explores Amerindian cultural traditions and values that were influential in developing the country's national and international personality. The book speculates that the rapid spread of aboriginal settlement throughout North and South America and the richness of culture must have been the result of complex trade patterns which included the capability to cross oceans. In the historic period, it is evident that far from being simply overwhelmed, Amerindians often adapted to colonial pressures in their own ways, sometimes mustering for wars in which their guerilla-like tactics were both original and often ferociously effective, but more often diplomatically playing off opposing French, English or American forces. But this is not a history of impersonal forces. It is the record of such people as Pontiac, Joseph Brant, Tecumseh, Abe Okpik, Elijah Harper, Poundmaker, and Big Bear. While the history of Canada's native peoples is also the history of the exploitation of the North American continent, it also reveals the recreation of the native community in the fight for land claims, self-government, and recognition of aboriginal rights.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, Indigenous History, Indigenous

640 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olive Dickason’s Canada’s First Nations presents a thorough investigation into the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The book follows Indigenous peoples from their arrival 50 000 – 10 000 years ago up through the legal and constitutional battles of the late twentieth-century. She largely focuses on Canada, often breaking chapters up to focus on groups based on geography such as the Northwest Coast, Arctic, and the Maritimes. Although, the first part of the book, which concentrates on the pre-contact period, frequently refers to information on Indigenous groups in South America as well.
Through this work Dickason offers a picture of Indigenous peoples not as passive and inevitable victims of European colonialism but rather as resistant, adaptive, and active and involved participants of their history, who persisted and survived in spite of quickly changing circumstances. Indeed, Dickason centres Indigenous peoples rather than Europeans in this history of Canada. In addition, Dickason also argues that Canada possesses a long history and around 58 founding nations. She argues against the notion of Canada as a nation with “much geography and little history” that only the British and French founded (p. xi). By repositioning and refocusing Canada’s history to privilege long marginalized Indigenous narratives Dickason expands readers' understanding of what Canadian history can look like and how it can be studied.
Despite the in-depth research and important contribution to historiography, Dickason’s work contains two major limitations. Firstly, constrained by keeping the length of the book reasonable, some topics are not analyzed as in-depth as they ideally could have. For example, the description of the Indigenous situation in Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century receives a scant paragraph in contrast to the many paragraphs devoted to the maritime provinces, which also pales in comparison to the many pages provided to Upper and Lower Canada. However, Dickason alleviates this limitation through extensive notes that provide short explanations and options for further reading. Secondly, Dickason does not detail Indigenous women’s experiences and roles in as much detail as future works will.

[Travis Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly readable for a textbook, and very thorough. I am genuinely embarrassed at how much I learned.

[Jedediah Gorham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative review of the history and challenges facing the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Unfortunately, the last chapter came across as a bit of a partisan attack towards the government of the day. Hence only 4 stars.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well researched book and I learned so much more than we ever learned in school! It was truly eye-opening to read more about Indigenous experience's throughout time.

[Raymond-Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Brett Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olive Dickason provides an excellent summary of key aspects of Canadian Indigenous history that have been systematically overlooked by writers of European descent. I found her analysis of the political rivalry between the settled nations of Iroquoia and Huronia in the context of French, English and Dutch military, commercial and diplomatic pressures particularly interesting.

[Ian Martens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear, can bea bit boring at times but very comprehensive.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I didn't finish the text, but will always think of it as a great reference tool.

[Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and detailed look at the history of native peoples in Canada. Not too dry to read, but some sections assume prior knowledge and are hard to understand without it.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book from my university days. A well written, academic style book. A must have for any serious book collector that loves history or Indigenous studies.