Dances With Dependency: Out Of Poverty Through Self-reliance

Calvin Helin's recently published Dances with Dependency is an important contribution towards understanding the past, present, and future challenges facing Canada's Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. In a fair and balanced exposition the author traces an historical canoe journey of Aboriginal peoples through the centuries, first prior to the arrival of Europeans, then during the European expansion occupation of the Americas, and finally to modern day Canada where explosive Aboriginal demographics lie in wait to bankrupt the country if problems are not resolved.

Author Helin demonstrates serious concern for the future while articulating the collective pride and pain of the past, he does not view Canada and the Aboriginal story through diatribe nor rose coloured glasses. Nobody escapes his critical analysis in which he never shies away from calling it as he sees it. The sting of some of his more acerbic comments is reserved for those professional self-servers within the circle of "Indian Politics," both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. His verbal whip is certainly not spared those who usurp and betray the trust of the people for their own petty and selfish interests.

Calvin Helin clearly subscribes to Thomas Hardy's "If a way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst." and nobody escapes the sharp focus of his insightful observations. However, he describes a potential path to the future that avoids the catastrophe impending demographic tsunami and offers recognition, dignity, and self-confidence to those who have the courage to claim their voice through hard work, enterprise, and self-reliance. He demands transparency and accountability in the use of financial, natural, and human resources and warns that a failure to heed the impending tidal wave of Aboriginal youth will result in pain, sorrow, and poverty for all.

Anyone who has watched the Byzantine federal bureaucracy bumble its way in circles while self-interested chiefs on expense accounts dance to the tune of the federal fiddler, will appreciate the clarity of vision, the passion, and sardonic humour of the author. Dances with Dependency is a milestone book that every Canadian should read because it is about us and about our future. It's a wake-up call for all Canadians to rise to the challenge of a better tomorrow through enterprise building and creating sustainable communities. The author describes some very successful Aboriginal communities that have met the task head-on and through planning their work and working their plan are now thriving. Calvin Helin has given us a powerful book of history and hope that uplifts the spirit and calls us all to create a better future.