ABORIGINAL PEOPLES – FACT AND FICTION

The second edition of this book reviews the history of Québec from 1760 to the present, with the objective of demystifying commonly-held ideas about Aboriginal people. It is also intended to promote better relations between Quebecers and Aboriginals.

The book, written by Pierre Lepage of the Commission’s Educational and Cooperation Service, answers many of the questions that underlie old and new prejudice about Aboriginal people.

Are Aboriginal societies primitive? Could white people have survived in Canada without their help? Were they really conquered? Did they sign treaties and alliances with the European nations? Today, are they better treated by the system, with more rights than Quebecers? Do they have separate rights that can be reconciled with the right to equal treatment? Is it true that they claim possession of almost all of Québec’s territory?

The complete book is available below in a single PDF file, or in individual chapters for smaller files.

Aboriginal Peoples – Fact and Fiction (Complete book: 3,4 Mb) Chapter 1 - Enduring Myth (632 Kb) Chapter 2 - Discovering Ancestral Rights (364 Kb) Chapter 3 - Assimilation: Not a Hidden Objective (512 Kb) Chapter 4 - Dealing with Different Rights (484 Kb) Chapter 5 - Sharing Territory (540 Kb) Chapter 6 - Overcoming Prejudice (504 Kb) Chapter 7 - Learning about Nations (508 Kb) Chapter 8 - Common Interests (364 Kb)

The on-line diffusion of this book has been made possible with the financial assistance of the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Quebec Region. The ideas expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of either Commission or of the partners that helped make this publication possible.

To obtain a copy of the book, please contact:

Monique Soulard
Documentation centre at the Commission
Phone : (514) 873.5146 or 1 800 361-6477, extension 249
Fax : (514) 873-6032
Email : monique.soulard@cdpdj.qc.ca