Indigenous peoples -- Canada -- Government relations, Indigenous peoples -- Canada -- Social conditions, Indigenous peoples -- Canada -- Economic conditions, Indigenous Peoples -- Canada -- Ethnic Identity, Canada -- Ethnic relations -- History, Ethnic relations, Colonialism, Poverty 

"There should always be hope for a better future no matter who you are or what your station in life happens to be. No matter how complex and unsolvable a situation appears to be, there is always reason to hope. It is rare that something is written with the power to have a sweeping impact on seemingly intractable problems. Calvin Helin paints an impassioned and insightful portrait of the poverty and conditions of indigenous people. At the same time, he provides real, focused, strategic turnaround solutions on how to move constructively forward.

Dances with Dependency is beautifully written with a unique and intuitive analysis that should prove invaluable to indigenous people and developing nation populations. In describing an impending demographic tsunami that could threaten the prosperity of a country, it clearly describes why this question is in the interests of all to solve. The message of self-reliance is a universal message presented in a thoughtful and sensitive manner.

Real solutions are presented to a problem that has perplexed everyone for two hundred years—until now. There is a way forward, and there is hope to make the lives of ordinary indigenous people better. At the end of the day, the written word can change attitudes, but it will still take the action of people, working together with a common goal for a better future, to truly change lives."--Book jacket. 

313 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm 

Contents:
1. I had a dream ... --
2. The looming crisis no one knows about --
3. Implications of demographic trends --
4. The first wave : Indigenous development prior to contact --
5. The second wave : at sea in the Colonial storm --
6. Social impacts of the welfare trap --
7. External expressions of internalized dependency --
8. Economic impacts of the welfare trap --
9. The welfare trap and political pathologies --
10. From grievance to development mode : an agenda for action --
11. The opportunity --
12. Barriers to Aboriginal economic development ... and the way forward --
13. The role of education in building sustainable economies --
14. Economic models to build on --
15. The way forward for urban Aboriginals --
16. Making up for lost time.

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.