Prairie Forum, vol. 11, no. 1, Spring, 1986, pp. 115-120
Description
Book reviews of: The Myth of the Savage: And the Beginnings of French Colonialism in the Americas by Olive Patricia Dickason and First People, First Voices by Penny Petrone.
Discussion by Elders who express regrets at loss of traditional customs and values and desire a return of schools on reserves ; a need to preserve Indian ceremonies and Indian medicines ; concerns about problems with alcohol recur throughout.
Elders discuss contemporary problems. Recurring themes are: problems with alcohol; education by whites from an early age; need to return to traditional teaching by elders in combination with white education.
John Breretton describes what he knows of the history of some Alberta reserves including Saddle Lake, Washatanow, and Blue Quills. He talks about conflicts resulting from amalgamation.
Sixty-three elders' interviews from the Treaty 8 area were reviewed for references to land, and of these, all but fourteen contain some sort of statement about land.
Author uses various anthropological and historical sources to throw some light on the way in which the Indians of the Treaty 6 and 7 regions might have interpreted the treaty promises.