Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
499 global ratings
5 star
83%
4 star
12%
3 star
4%
2 star
1%
1 star
1%
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Review this product

Reviews with images

Customer image
Customer image
Customer image
Customer image
See all customer images

Read reviews that mention

indian act every canadian must read well written bob joseph required reading indigenous people easy to read canadian should read things you may truth and reconciliation may not know read and very informative relations in canada canadians to know canadian history book should be required lot about the indian book breaks easy to understand
Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars 21+ reasons to read this
Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Good literature can confirm pre-existing beliefs, can help to arm you and your best arguments, can be sanctimonious; it can also do none of these things.

This was a superb book for reminding me how little I know, even as one who worked in politics and took several courses on the constitution and on Indigenous law, about the Indian Act and the ongoing legacy of colonialism.

I wish there were less racism in Canada, but there’s not. Among those who are *not* racist, this book can serve as a huge wake-up call about the shameless policies perpetrated by Canadian governments, their continuing negative effects in society, and what we can do about it.

Give this book a read. Learn a thing or two. Question your beliefs. Read the TRC Calls to Action. And consider how you, an individual, whether powerful or small, can advance reconciliation.
Read more
Nick and Nak
TOP 500 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars Every Canadian should read this book
Reviewed in Canada on July 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
This small, easy to read book is a great starting point for canadians in understanding how the Indian act has been implemented for the past 150+ years. I especially recommend it to people who think "all indians get tax exemption" and "all Indians get free stuff".
Read more
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A wake-up call
Reviewed in Canada on November 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
This should be a must read for all the nay Sayers who have so many negative things to say about our first Nations.it brings to ones attention all the ways the government has set out to destroy what was once a proud and culturally rich people's. who had a functioning government, where women were respected and honoured.as mother earth.it also showed us how through the us of Christian doctorine we destryoed what was once a proud people's,how even today the government has a policy of dare I say it genocide when it comes to our first Nations here and around the world
Read more
James Wassenas
5.0 out of 5 stars Guaranteed you will refer back to this book time and time again.
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book captures the essence of the impact the Indian Act has made on Canadians. It’s easy to read, engaging, super informative and doesn’t use the ‘blame and shame’ approach. I’ve bought it for teams that I work with as an introductory book.
I read it in two days. Hard to put down.
Read more
unicorngirl
5.0 out of 5 stars Now i understand
Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
A huge thank you to Bob Joseph for creating such a easy to understand book about an Outdated act that continues to impose inequity on our indigenous peoples. I’m glad I bought the book on a whim when I saw it written up in the Vancouver Sun. Thank you.
Read more
Jeanne Chabot
5.0 out of 5 stars Important things to know if you want true reconciliation
Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
Well-balanced book that takes apart the "Indian Act." The Indian Act is at the base of many discriminatory efforts to assimilate First Nations in to European culture and thinking. Prior to the Indian Act, relations between Europeans and First Nations were mostly Nation to Nation. The thinking behind the Indian Act was a view of First Nations as a "problem to be gotten rid of." The Indian Act, although amended and re-amended multiple times through the years is STILL in place, and therefore is still representative of the relationship of much of the government and much of "white" society in Canada today with First Nations. Before we can have true reconciliation, this thinking needs to be abolished. The whole act probably needs to be gotten rid of and something else put in its place that returns to a nation-to-nation realtionship.
Read more
Paula
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Canadians
Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
The 21 components of the Indian act highlighted in this book make it clear that Canada carried out a mass cultural genocide against indigenous people. The policies are debilitating, cruel, heartbreaking and set indigenous people up to fail within the western economic system that they were forced to adopt. If Canadians understood what the Indian act meant for indigenous people, there would be a lot more compassion and respect for the ongoing struggles and ownership that current struggles were created by the legacy of deeply disturbing governmental policies.
This book was easy to read, well written, clearly sourced and is so important for Canadians to know about.
Read more
MM
5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive introduction to the Indian Act and how it came to be.
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
The title makes this sound like a "Treaties For Dummies" book. It is anything but. It is a brilliant, easy to comprehend tour of how Euro Canadians tried to annihilate the First Peoples of this country, where it is all going now and what has to be done to correct the mess. Cogently written with extended appendices help you to understand why the Indian Act, although despised, cannot easily be replaced. It also contains the Calls To Action from the TRC.
Read more
See all reviews

Top reviews from other countries

terri Johnston
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended to every Canadian
Reviewed in Japan on September 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
The 2.5 hours I spent reading this book have really been an education. I was aware of some of the “21 things” from previous reading, but not always their consequences. I am stunned to realize that during all those hours I spent playing darts at the Legion as a 14-15 year old, First Nations veterans were not legally allowed to be there. (Thing 9).

I am still stunned by Thing 17.

Great value for money and time spent reading.
I will recommend, and likely gift copies of this in future.
Read more
Bryan G
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to years of learning and healing
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Every Canadian needs to read this book. The Indian Act, an unbelievably racist law that is still in force, has destroyed lives, shattered generations, and is a 300-foot high roadblock standing in the way of any meaningful reconciliation. My only gripe is that this book was too short - there was so much more to say. But it serves as an excellent introduction to many more years of learning, action and healing.
Read more
mardi Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars Racist to the Core
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent book .Should be required reading for all settlers. Discover why First Nations have struggled so much for generatioms. Why suicides ,addiction , incarceration . This book explains why.
Reconciliation is a Canadisn job . Start here
Read more
rick humphreys
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2020
Verified Purchase
Excellent book, well written and easily understood. Bob has done a good job informing we settler folk of our shameful treatment of Indigenous people and how we need to listen, learn and allow them to heal.
Read more
Pet Mum
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and important
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a book that everyone should read.
Read more
See all reviews