A review by kurtwombat
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King

emotional funny informative sad medium-paced

4.25

There have been roughly 450 treaties between the governments of the US & Canada and the various Native American tribes of North America. Virtually every single one was broken by the white governments of US & Canada. This sets the tone for an unfriendly relationship. And an imbalance of power. That’s where this book steps in. Most of what I’ve read by or about Native Americans was either biographical or event driven (or a history of events). This book is different. While balancing humor and pathos with undercurrents of pain & rage, the author provides a template showing the systemic dismantling of Native American (US & Canada) lands & cultures. Approaching a tough subject with some levity, the author being Native American himself, makes the subject more personal…more approachable for the reader.  Considering much of the book is about self-justified & self-satisfied legislation aimed like cannons at Native Americans over and over again—this book remains incredibly readable. Just like the civil rights battles waged by African Americans didn’t stop in the 1960s, so Native Americans struggles didn’t end with the “winning of the west” by white folks. For both groups it was only a beginning. Well worth a look. If you are not interested in the topic when you start, you will be by the time you finish.