Fascinating, often hilarious, always devastatingly truthful, The Inconvenient Indian is destined to become a classic of historical narrative. For those who wish to better understand Native peoples, it is a must read. For those who don't wish to understand, it is even more so.
Joseph BoydenAs a fiction writer, of course, you need to take some leeway with certain aspects of history to make the story work.
Joseph BoydenCompared to Americans, Canadians are often more gentle in their approach to things. They're much more apologetic. There's less room for conflict.
Joseph BoydenDuring World War I the Canadians were the shock troops. In many historical cases, Canadians have been very proficient at killing, and doing what we have to in order to survive. But no one wants to acknowledge that fact.
Joseph BoydenThere's a few scholars that object to how the italicized sections suggest that Native people are to take some part in the blame for how colonization occurred. But I say, "Yes they are." Not nearly as much blame as the colonizers, of course. But we are not just victims. I hate this idea that we are all just victimized and oppressed and etcetera etcetera. It's dehumanizing in its own way.
Joseph Boyden