Prison of Grass: Canada from a Native Point of View

by Howard Adams

Originally published in 1975, this important book is now back in print in a revised and updated edition.  Since its first publication it has become a classic of revisionist history.  Bringing a Native viewpoint to the settlement of the West, Howard Adam's book shook its readers.  What Native people had to say for themselves was quite different from the convenient picture of history that even the most sympathetic books by white authors had presented.  Until Adams's book, the cultural, historical, and psychological aspects of colonialism for Native people had not been explored in depth.

In Prison of Grass Adams objects to the popular historical notion that Natives were warring savages, without government, seeking to be civilized.  He contrasts the official history found in the federal government's documents with the unpublished history of the Indian and Métis people.   In this new edition Howard Adams brings the latest statistics to bear on his arguments and provides a new Preface.

Genres: History, Indigenous, Canada, Nonfiction, Indigenous History, Politics, Theory

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[MasterSal]

Cited in “An Indigenous People’s History of the United States “

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this very insightful. I hope it'll see a reprint soon so it can be more widely read in the current context.

4.5

[Kirk Astroth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was slow going until Chapter 12. The last four chapters are well done and engaging. His observations about the schools, the police and military, cultural programs and systemic racism echo what is going on now with Black Lives Matter. Yet I still wonder is small local change and local efforts can lead or grow into larger, broader change that is truly revolutionary in his description of it. Illicit and Alder had some great points about educational reform. Canada as a colony of the US—right on.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Socialism as the only way to liberation. Yes please. "Red Nationalism" in the mean time, no thanks.

I don't agree with his revolutionary strategy either. He advises taking advantage of moments of weakness in the colonial state. I think such weakness ought to be exploited, but it does not provide an alternative to the mass action of the working class for the assumption of state power, and the consequent growth of socialism. The example he provides of a school that burnt down in 1973, in Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan, and a provincial government caught with its legislative pants down, hasn't really worked. Stuying revolution (and the Bolivarian revolution is instructive here) these elements of local control provide easy means for the ruling class to use it's favourite tactic of "divide and conquer". Nor has it led to the extension, like stepping stones over a stream, to increasingly large geographic areas of autonomy. At least from the vantage point of 2024 it hasn't. Honestly, such a strategy seems only to have reinforced the colonial state.

Nor do I agree with the advice on strategy about not participating in parliamentary democracy because it's not led to liberation. I do agree, however, that participating in such democratic institutions can have an important educational effect, but do not, and cannot, lead to liberation. I also agree that, while the colonizer depended on First Nations labour to get off the ground, I don't agree that this means indigenous people are, in part, responsible for colonialism. But, finally, I do agree that it is through an alliance with the settler working class that liberation will occur.

Some good, but the influence of what has been referred to as "identity politics" also means lots bad. Probably resulting from the influence of Franz Fanon and his re-interpretation of Hegel's "Master/ Slave Dialectic" and the concept of "recognition".

Still, the best understanding and analysis of the significance and continued relevance of the Northwest Resistance of 1885 (aka, and commonly distorted as, the 2nd Riel Rebellion) to Canadian history in my opinion.

[dimwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

more an excavation of colonized psychology than a history proper, the two grafted together not quite convincingly (it jumps from the 1870 and 85 rebellions straight to 1950 or so). the engagements with malcolm x, freire, and fanon are productive, particularly in the realm of education. (somewhat less so in revolutionary theory tho still interesting.) should be read in high school alongside those 3 + frederick douglass etc.

[Comrade Zupa Ogórkowa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book by Howard Adams and always exciting to be introduced to Indigenous communist theorists in Canada. Adams covers instances of Métis resistance before diving into the psychological impact of colonization on colonized people in an analysis with parallels to Fanon and Friere. He finishes with a clear strategy for liberation focusing on revolutionary nationalism and being clear about your enemies- noting in particular the compradors within his nation and the white working class.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will write later.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anybody interested in the history of western canada and gives a good insight into the plight of modern metis and Indigenous people in the west.

[Ed]

Adams' use of statistics, a historical retelling of the 1885 War, and memoir of the psychological violence of colonization is a depressing look into how the logics of settler-colonial accumulation affects Canadian historiography.

The ending isn't any less depressing as Adams tries his best to think through different modes of liberation of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Ends up in a very limp-fish reformist attitude focused on organizing along local issues (same as David Harvey's thesis) while the long-awaited revolution of settler workers gets perpetually delayed.

[Scott Neigh]

Reviewed here.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is serious about Canadian history should read this book !

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit cursory and has some Eldridge Cleaver-style male chauvinism but an amazing and important book on Indigenous oppression in Canada that every person living in Canada should read