The Inconvenient Indian cover art

The Inconvenient Indian

A Curious Account of Native People in North America

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The Inconvenient Indian

By: Thomas King
Narrated by: Lorne Cardinal
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About this listen

The Inconvenient Indian is at once a “history” and the complete subversion of a history - in short, a critical and personal meditation that the remarkable Thomas King has conducted over the past 50 years about what it means to be “Indian” in North America. Rich with dark and light, pain and magic, this book distills the insights gleaned from that meditation, weaving the curiously circular tale of the relationship between non-Natives and Natives in the centuries since the two first encountered each other. In the process, King refashions old stories about historical events and figures, takes a sideways look at film and pop culture, relates his own complex experiences with activism, and articulates a deep and revolutionary understanding of the cumulative effects of ever-shifting laws and treaties on Native peoples and lands.

This is a book both timeless and timely, burnished with anger but tempered by wit, and ultimately a hard-won offering of hope - a sometimes inconvenient but nonetheless indispensable account for all of us, Indian and non-Indian alike, seeking to understand how we might tell a new story for the future.

©2012 Thomas King (P)2018 Novel Audio Inc.
Americas Essays Indigenous Peoples Social Sciences United States World Native American Nonfiction Meditation Law

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Critic reviews

"[The Inconvenient Indian is] essential reading for everyone who cares about Canada and who seeks to understand native people, their issues and their dreams.... Thomas King is beyond being a great writer and storyteller, a lauded academic and educator. He is a towering intellectual. For native people in Canada, he is our Twain; wise, hilarious, incorrigible, with a keen eye for the inconsistencies that make us and our society flawed, enigmatic, but ultimately powerful symbols of freedom. The Inconvenient Indian is less an indictment than a reassurance that we can create equality and harmony. A powerful, important book." (Richard Wagamese, The Globe and Mail)

"King is a Canadian icon.... The Inconvenient Indian is labelled a history book but it is about Canada today. I suggest teachers include a copy in every school classroom. It made me a better Canadian and more compassionate person." (Craig Kielburger, cofounder of Free the Children)

"Every Canadian should read Thomas King’s new book, The Inconvenient Indian.... It's funny, it’s readable, and it makes you think. If you have any kind of a social conscience, The Inconvenient Indian will also make you angry." (Toronto Star)

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it should be part of the school curriculum! great account of events. really interesting, highly recommended

great!

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"The inconvenient Indian..."
The persistent gentle irony is excellent and given the density of "facts" Mr King outputs, it is well written and yet skips you through them. The Indian future looks bleak but for their burgeoning gambling industry...that may be a salvation but then so sad.
Now I see the behaviours of the American white folk had to be the inspiration for the "Borg" in Star trek.
Me UK citizen. Me Anglo french caucasian. Me very sorry.

Such inconveniences on all fronts. My apologies.

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