Hidden in Plain Sight: Contributions of Aboriginal Peoples to Canadian Identity and Culture, Vol. 1

Kerry Abel is a professor of history at Carleton University. She is the author of Drum Songs: Glimpses of Dene History, co-editor of Aboriginal Resource Use in Canada: Historical and Legal Aspects, and co-editor of Northern Visions: New Perspectives on the North in Canadian History.

In recent years, both the popular press and scholarly publishing
industry have devoted considerable attention to First Nations issues in
Canada. Unfortunately, the emphasis has been on the negative: Canada’s
“Indian problem” with its alcohol abuse, domestic violence, poverty,
and unresolved legal issues. Even the most sympathetic see Aboriginal
peoples as victims of colonial forces.

In this collection of 22 essays, contributors emphasize a refreshingly
positive perspective, outlining the many contributions of Aboriginal
peoples to Canadian politics, literature, visual art, sports, and
national identity. Others consider ways in which they have resisted
attempts to impose European ways. Interspersed among the essays are
short profiles of Aboriginal individuals who have made important,
positive contributions to the country. Most of the contributors to the
collection are Aboriginal themselves, and the fact that they come from
scholarly, literary, artistic, governmental, and other vocations adds
emphasis to the central premise of the book. Students in an
undergraduate sociology class at the University of Calgary prepared the
profiles of individual Aboriginal people; these too represent an
interesting range of people and achievements from Tom Longboat to John
Kim Bell, Billy Diamond, and Phil Fontaine.

As with all essay collections, some contributions are more effective
than others, but overall the book is a valuable tool and resource. The
essays are written to introduce topics to those who know little about
the subject, so there are some excellent overviews of contemporary
issues, activities, and achievements. There is a good range of topics,
good regional representation, and good gender balance. Many essays have
helpful bibliographies for further reading and there are both colour and
black-and-white illustrations.

The book is ideally suited for introductory First Nations studies
courses at the senior high-school or junior undergraduate level, but it
can also be read profitably by others who would like to know more about
some of the many fascinating recent developments in Aboriginal
communities across Canada. The publisher identifies it as the first of
two volumes; I look forward to reading its companion.