First Nations 101

First Nations 101: Tons of Stuff You Need to Know (2nd edition) by Lynda Gray, member of the Gisbutwada (killer whale) Clan of the Ts'msyen Nation and the community of Lax Kw'alaams, is a comprehensive, accessible overview of the real history of Canada as it relates to Indigenous people.

First Nations 101 sheds light on a wide range of topics, from cultural practices and societal structures, and holistic health and wellness to the lasting effects of the Indian Act, which legislated mandatory attendance at residential schools, among other detrimental policies. This expanded second edition with 16 new chapters delves into traditional Indigenous communities, the colonial interventions aimed at assimilating Indigenous people into mainstream society, and the profound impact of these interventionson Indigenous communities.

Designed for Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers, First Nations 101 is a valuable tool for educators, students, and anyone interested in making meaningful change.

Lynda Gray is a member of the Gisbutwada (killer whale) Clan of the Ts'msyen Nation and the community of Lax Kw'alaams on the Northwest Coast of BC. She was born in Prince Rupert but spent most of her life in East Vancouver until she bought a home in Prince Rupert in 2013 so that she and her children could return home more often to (re)connect to their Nation, family, friends, land, language, and culture. Gray is the proud mother of two adult children: Northwest Coast artist Phil Gray and professor Dr. Robin Gray. She and her children have learned much about their Ts'msyen culture and community from their participation in the Vancouver-based Lax Kxeen Ts'msyen Dance Group, from attending traditional feasts in their home community of Lax Kw'alaams, and from active learning of their ancestral language, Sm'algya̱x. In 2023, they founded the Ts'msyen Revolution Fund to provide small grants to help strengthen Ts'msyen culture and language in their home territory. Recent investments includehelping youth to create traditional regalia and a scholarship for a graduating student taking Sm'algya̱x classes.

Measures 8.5 X 5.5 / Paperback

Distributed by Raincoast Books from Richmond, British Columbia.