Out of the Background

The second edition of Out of the Background is a survey of the history of aboriginal cultural groups from the various geographic regions in Canada. Focussing on the impacts of European contact and colonization, this collection of essays explores topics such as the fur trade, disease, missionary activity, the effects of Canadian government policies such as welfare and family allowance, and the origins of contemporary aboriginal land claims. The selections reflect new methodological approaches to the study of Canadian aboriginal history-most significantly, the inclusion of the oral and written testimony of First Nations peoples.