Indigenous peoples -- Canada -- Government relations, Indigenous self-government -- Canada, Indigenous peoples -- Legal status laws etc. -- Canada, Indian Act (Canada), Indigenous peoples -- Government relations 

"The tragedy of Davis Inlet, the demise of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, the Oka crisis - these and other events have thrust First Nations concerns into the forefront of Canadian news. The rapidly growing profile of First Nations peoples and perspectives is leading Canadians from across the political spectrum to ask, "What do native people want?"

In the Rapids is a powerful answer to this momentous question. Exploding the myth of two founding nations and setting the historical record straight, National Chief Ovide Mercredi and aboriginal rights advocate Mary Ellen Turpel offer readers a uniquely personal view of broken treaty promises, the divisive and racist Indian Act, and the profound failure of Canada's justice and education systems. They look at the volatile situation in Quebec, where distinct cultures struggle for self-determination, and at the role of traditional values in finding new paths for change.

From substance abuse and suicide to environmental degradation, unresolved land and resource claims, and the continuing assault on native cultures, languages and spirituality, the challenges confronting native people are staggering. And yet First Nations communities across the country retain a remarkable vision of hope and resilience that transcends a legacy of suffering.

By building bridges of understanding and respect, In the Rapids invites us to celebrate our diversity and help heal the wounds of the past. According to Mecredi and Turpel, a better future is waiting - not just for First Nations, but for Canada as well."--Book jacket.