Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips & Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality

Publisher's description (Indigenous Relations Press, 2019):
Indigenous Relations: Your Guide to Working Effectively with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. A timely sequel to the bestselling 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act - and an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to work more effectively with Indigenous Peoples. We are all treaty people. But what are the everyday impacts of treaties, and how can we effectively work toward reconciliation if we're worried our words and actions will unintentionally cause harm?

Hereditary chief and leading Indigenous relations trainer Bob Joseph is your guide to respecting cultural differences and improving your personal relationships and business interactions with Indigenous Peoples. Practical and inclusive, Indigenous Relations interprets the difference between hereditary and elected leadership, and why it matters; explains the intricacies of Aboriginal Rights and Title, and the treaty process; and demonstrates the lasting impact of the Indian Act, including the barriers that Indigenous communities face and the truth behind common myths and stereotypes perpetuated since Confederation.

Indigenous Relations equips you with the necessary knowledge to respectfully avoid missteps in your work and daily life, and offers an eight-part process to help business and government work more effectively with Indigenous Peoples - benefitting workplace culture as well as the bottom line. Indigenous Relations is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to improve their cultural competency and undo the legacy of the Indian Act.

Author Biography (Indigenous Relations Press):
Bob Joseph, founder and President of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., has provided training on Indigenous relations since 1994. Each year he assists thousands of individuals and organizations in building Indigenous relations. His Canadian clients include all levels of government, Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, including the World Bank, small and medium-sized corporate enterprises, and Indigenous Peoples. He has worked internationally for clients in the United States, Guatemala, Peru, and New Caledonia in the South Pacific. In 2006, Bob facilitated a worldwide Indigenous People’s round table in Switzerland which included participants from the United Nations, Australia, New Zealand, North, Central and South America, Africa, and the Philippines. Bob has worked as an associate professor at Royal Roads University and has routinely been a guest lecturer at other academic institutions. He has an educational background in Business Administration and International Trade and is a certified Master Trainer who in May of 2001 was profiled in an annual feature called, “Training: the New Guard 2001” by the American Society of Training and Development. Bob was one of nine trainers selected for the feature from over 70,000 members who come from more than 100 countries and 15,000 organizations.

Bob is an Indigenous person, or more specifically a status Indian. He is an initiated member of the Hamatsa Society and has inherited a chief’s seat in the Gayaxala (Thunderbird) clan, the first clan of the Gwawa’enuxw one of the 18 tribes that make up the Kwakwaka'wakw. Bob is anticipating holding his first potlatch as a chief once it is safe to host a large gathering. His chief name is K’axwsumala’galis, which, loosely translated, means "whale who emerges itself from the water and presents itself to the world."

Resource type: Book (non-fiction)

Age recommendation: Grades 10-12, post-secondary

Keywords: Partnerships, relationships, ally, reconciliation, leadership, rights, myths, stereotypes, truth, terms, terminology, worldview, traditions, treaty process

Year of publication: 2019

Publisher information: Indigenous Relations Press