BooksCanadian

The Inconvenient Indian

Thomas Kings distills his critical and personal meditation on what it means to be "Indian" in North America.

Thomas King

CBC Books Posted: Feb 08, 2017 11:03 AM EST | Last Updated: February 17, 2021

Neither a traditional nor all-encompassing history of First Nations people in North America,The Inconvenient Indianis a personal meditation on what it means to be "Indian." Thomas King explores the relationship between Natives and non-Natives since the fifteenth century and examines the way that popular culture has shaped our notion of Indigenous identity, while also reflecting on his own complicated relationship with activism.

CraigKielburgerdefendedThe Inconvenient Indianon Canada Reads 2015.

From the book

What do Indians want?

Great question. The problem is, it's the wrong question to ask. While there are certainly Indians in North America, the Indians of this particular question don't exist. The Indians of this question are "the Indian" that Canada and the United States have created for themselves. And as long as the question is asked in that way, there will never be the possibility of an answer. Better to ask what the Lubicon Cree of Alberta want or the Brantford Mohawk of Ontario or the Zuni of New Mexico or the Hupa of northern California or the Tlingit of Alaska.

Interviews with Thomas King

The Next Chapter48:17"The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America" author Thomas King (Extended interview)

Shelagh's extended conversation.

0:01Thomas King on Q

Author and humorist Thomas King talks to Q guest host Brent Bambury about his book, The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America.

The Next Chapter53:59Thomas King, new feminist fiction (February 16, 2015)

Thomas King on "The Inconvenient Indian" - Jeremy Fisher on "The Life of Hope" by Paul Quarrington - Jen Sookfong-Lee on new feminist fiction - How I Wrote It: Carrie Snyder on "Girl Runner" - Rob Winger on "Old Hat"

Superior Morning4:06Judy Roche reviews The Inconvenient Indian

Thunder Bay reader Judy Roche shares her thoughts on one of this year's Canada Reads titles.

More about The Inconvenient Indian

Up North6:53Canada Reads 2015: The Inconvenient Indian

All this week, we've been hearing reviews of the Canada Reads five finalists from Sudbury librarians.

Breakaway11:09"The Inconvenient Indian" wins Lennoxville's Canada Reads

Last night, Thomas King's "The Inconvenient Indian" won Lennoxville's foreshadow version of Canada Reads. The CBC's Rachelle Solomon spoke with the panelist who championed the book, Tim Belford.

The Inconvenient Indian

Thomas King

From the book

Interviews with Thomas King

More about The Inconvenient Indian

Other books by Thomas King