In the Words of Elders: Aboriginal Cultures in Transition ed. by Peter Kulchyski, Don McCaskill, David Newhouse (review)

Book Reviews 689 means that The Science ofWar provides little sense for how the money pushed towards scientists by the war spurred research and development at smaller institutions. Much of that could have been filled had Avery / been aware of - or had time to use - George Lindsay's recent edited collection, No Day Long Enough, which co.ntains essays. highlighting the contributions ofmost Canadian universities to war research. These caveats aside, Avery's book is the result ofprodigious research and scholarship, and it accomplishes what it set out to do. Readers looking for a comprehensive analysis of Canada's scientific war effort ought to look elsewhere. But ifthey want to know how Canadians fit into the larger scheme and the measure ofCanada's scientific contribution to the war against fascism, and to get some sense for what that effort meant to the development ofCanadian science, this is the place to start. MARC MILNER University ofNew Brunswick In the Words ofElders: Aboriginal Cultures in Transition. Edited by PETER KULCHYSKI, DON MCCASKILL, and DAVID NEWHOUSE. Toronto: University ofToronto Press 1999· Pp. 458, $70.00 For all the political strides that Canada's First Nations have made since the Second World War, particularly in the last couple of decades, the cultural gap from mainstream society remains wide. Most mainstream Canadians are only vaguely aware of how First Nations see their lives, their communities, and their place in the world. That situation challenged a faculty member in Trent University's Native Studies Department to launch a process in 1991 that eventually resulted in this compilation of interviews. Dr Emily Faries, of Cree descent from northern Ontario, was brought in to coordinate the interviews, most ofwhich she did herselfusing a prepared list ofquestions to ensure thematic continuity . The sixteen Elders from eight cultural areas who agreed to participate saw the transcribed texts oftheir interviews before publication to ensure accuracy. The result is an unprecedented 'look from the inside' at the Aboriginal cultural situation across Canada as it appears today to members ofits First Nations. As the introduction points out, the project was wide-ranging rather than comprehensive. It makes no pretence of being the last word; too much had to be left out for that to be possible. The interviews are personal, including as they do life stories ofthe interviewees, as well as individual experiences and interpretations of traditions. Several were conducted in the Elders' native tongue, a reflection ofthe widely shared resentment that is still felt against Canada's once-active campaign to 690 The Canadian Historical Review suppress Native languages. All the Elders agreed that language, culture, and identity are inseparable. The picture that emerges from this collection is ofa shared world view that has a high degree of consistency in its broader aspects, but which varies, sometimes widely, on specifics. There was general agreement that all life is related, and is interdependent in its various forms. The important thing for humans is to connect with Mother Earth and to live according to the principles ofnature, most satisfactorily done living on the land: 'It is a good life out in the bush.' Some saw basic similarities between traditional Aboriginal teachings and those ofChristianity, while others saw the missionaries spreading discord and disrespect for traditional values: 'What the missionaries had did not work for us.' Particularly contentious was the question ofhomosexuality. Where some said it never existed in their communities, others gave it a special significance, regarding the homosexual as a double personality and thus more empowered, particularly in the realm of healing. Unfortunately, one Elder remarked, today 'things have gone haywire.' In other ways, too, modem life was seen as having a negative effect on traditional ways, especially evident in the loss ofrituals and ceremonies. But, as several of the Elders observed, the Medicine Wheel oflife is turriing, and some of those lost celebrations are coming back. Much as everyone agreed that things were better for Indians in the old way, there was a general realization that 'culture should be combined with modem times.' In acknowledging the need for a good education, Elder after Elder said that its goals should include reinforcing Native cultures. In other words, Indians today, living as they do...