Book Review: The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious History Of Native People In North America by Thomas King - Page 4

As somebody else said earlier, that King is a good storyteller. But in The Inconvenient Indian he's not telling stories, he's telling history. A history that's not going to be everyone's liking as it runs contrary to many people's idea of Indians. Unfortunately it's far more accurate than any version Hollywood has told them, the one being sold in new age book stores or that which is offered in text books. While at first you might feel like King is softening the blow somewhat by injecting his dry humour into the proceedings, the more your read the more you realize it's the type of laughter that's closer to tears than anything else.

For as King points out, the war against Indians isn't over, only the battlefield has changed. Spin doctors have taken the place of generals and uranium tailings and tar sands' waste product the Gatling gun and cannon. As far as our governments and business leaders, the ones who see no problem with exploiting and raping the land for everything it's worth and not caring what condition they leave it in for those who come after them, Indians are every bit as inconvenient now as they ever were. For in spite of everything we've "done for them" they still insist on trying to retain their own belief systems and defending what few rights they have left to them. They just don't know when they're beaten.

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Article Author: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of the What Will Happen In Eragon IV? and The Unofficial Heroes Of Olympus Companion, both published and commissioned by Ulysses Press. He has had his work published in print and online all over the world including the …

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