Hello,
I have written this book with the simple interest of seeking to make the lives of ordinary indigenous people better. The toll that the current system is taking on indigenous people (particularly children and youth) is horrendous and unacceptable. There is something that can be done about the current situation now. That is what Dances with Dependency is all about. The bottom line for Canada is that this is not an Aboriginal problem, it is a Canadian problem. The impending demographic tsunami will ensure the change of the status quo-rather than a crisis, this can be the biggest opportunity ever presented to move indigenous people forward. It will, however, take constructive action from Aboriginal people, government, industry and labour now. Please feel free to provide your views on this subject.
Calvin Helin
November 25, 2006 at 11:29 am
Congratulations to my friend and tsms’lmkdii (Tsimshian brother) Calvin Helin. You have masterfully described the profound truth of the Aboriginal human condition. It is an unprecedented account of history, current reality and prognosis with solutions.
This remarkable rendition of your journey, and compilation of statistics will rock the Canadian world view, particularly as it relates to Aboriginals, but also exposing how the current path (or pathologies) does affect every Canadian.
N’toyax’n (Thank you) for the honour you have given to our ancestors. Wai wah. Adzksa goodu nuun, aam dzabn.
November 29, 2006 at 11:45 am
” This book has an inherent wairua (spirit) that draws the reader into it and makes it difficult to put it down. There is no doubt in my mind that the Author’s hand has been guided by the spirit of his Ancestors. His incisive and forthright commentary based on his extensive research and own personal experiences provides a positive framework for healing and reconciliation of Aboriginal peoples and societies not only in the Americas but globally as well. For too long Aboriginal peoples who have become minorities in their own lands have been dispossessed and left isolated on the margins – a supposed “blight” on society. Calvin’s book speaks straight to the heart of the matter and essentially says “enough is enough.” The way forward as indicated in the book, is a 2 way street for Aboriginal peoples and society that acknowledges the past injustices, reconciles, heals and moves on. It is a journey that we all must take if the legacy we wish to leave for our children is one of dignity, respect and pride in the fact that we all can contribute to making a positive difference to this world in which we live. Calvin’s message of success through self reliance is the key and whether you live in the southern-most country of New Zealand as I do, or in the upermost northern regions of the globe, this book has direct relevance for you. Our Maori people of New Zealand know this journey well as it has and continues to impact on the negative socio-economic statistics of our people and society. We say “enough is enough” and as Calvin says in his book, self-reliance is the only way forward. So congratulations our Tsimshian brother. You have provided “mana from heaven” for those societies wishing to know more about the sad position of Aboriginal peples in society but may have been too afraid to ask or tell. Now is the time for all of us to stand tall (in my language Tu Tangata !). Your book has provided the pedestal for all of us to reach greater heights and to give hope for the future of our chldren to come.
Ka nui te mihi aroha kia koe e te rangatira mo tena. (heartfelt greetings to you for that)
Te Taru White
Kaihautu (Maori Leader)
Museum of New Zealand
Te Papa Tongarewa
January 9, 2007 at 5:43 am
I ordered a copy of Dance with Dependency and finished reading it last week. In my opinion Calvin Helin’s treatment of the issues was on the mark. As an Aboriginal person I could easily relate to the topics covered and believe Calvin is offering real answers for Aboriginal people. I personally agree that economic integration is the only path back to the true self reliance our people once had. I congratulate Calvin on his strength of character and boldness in shining a truthful light on the industry that is keeping Aboriginal people down. Calvin, I hope Aboriginal leadership, government and the general public embrace your book. However people choose to view your book, inspiration or heresy, it can not be ignored.
March 22, 2007 at 12:31 pm
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.
March 30, 2007 at 7:02 am
Ken Peterson is half on the mark…This books ID’s inequities, but seeks to find resolution in Whiteman’s greed, vs the spiritual greatness First Nation People have with sustaining the earth. He sells short the alternative, that the Whiteman should learn from the First Nations not visa versa. I give you my version of First Nation Progress towards Financial Freedom.
April 2, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I absolutely enjoyed reading “Dances with Dependency”. Thank goodness your Grandmother set you on that course. What you had to say in in this book probably should have been said years ago and now we finally have someone with the guts to write about it. I think that all our people should read this book. Even though I am now sixty four years old, reading Dances with Dependency was another eye-opening experience for me. (Still learning after all those years).
Again, thank you Mr. Helin for a very interesting book.
Alvin Sewid
April 13, 2007 at 11:02 am
I agree with the earlier comment that to seek a solution in adopting white man’s greed is to once again devalue indigenous people’s connection to the earth.
Our society is about to fully experience the consequences of our greed and consumerism. Now more than ever we need to humble ourselves as the “colonizers” and admit that our way did not and does not work. It works only for the wealthy that can work the system.
Peak oil, the scenario where we have hit the peak of oil production in the world and where prices are going to go through the roof will mean that we have to live on less, consume less, grow our own food and travel much shorter distances. It will be an amazing leveler no longer will we be able to operate from the hubris position that cheap oil has afforded us.
Our native people have survived against all odds, despite us and what we have cost the health and well being of their communities. Their time has indeed come, not a time where they sell out to our ways of competion, hoarding and self interest, but where we learn the native ways of co-operation sharing and community. Our very lives will depend on it and my guess is the native people who have retained their traditions will be gracious enough to take us by the hand and show us despite all we have done to them.
Vivienne
May 28, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I haven’t even read your book and i am inspired by the ideas i keep hearing about.
As a young, up and coming Indigenous woman i get inspiration from many and you are one of them.
Funny i hear about this book when myself i am looking for government money to continue my legal education at UBC law!
So i am really putting self-reliance to the test-paying my way through law school is a tough one.
There is a lot of stress, financial and academic but the tears of my ancestors will keep me going in the face of adversity anytime!
thank you Calvin for your words and courage!
June 17, 2007 at 2:50 am
Thank you Mr. Helin for your vision and message of hope. Whether you are First Nations(like myself) or not, your book offers a way out of the storm for all Canadians to build a new relationship beneficial to us all. We can do it!
June 20, 2007 at 7:15 pm
thanks for writing this book,of great insight truth and pure and clear message.it is very insightful,i’ve read this book and its clear to me that your book is important to all nations.to start this move to be a nation with a life of hope and trust,in them selves and the first nations leadership.
allso to break new ground for young creating a new vision for next generations.in working for common goal with one heart one mind ,unity and all this gives them hope to strive for better and financial stability.the welfare should not be an option if leadership knew about what to do with economic development ,like some great person said you may recall,said we have all this resources here surronded by wealth and we can not touch it.thats the old system,and even today natives have a hard time bringing business to operation standards.however since your book points to even deeper wake up call to natives to keep striving for economic freedom,and at all levels from breaking free from old instilled and false information about the state of natives.your book has cleared the trail which was there all the time, our way is clear.we do need to act to better ourselves[myself]in order to be self sufficient.even if it means never give up being clean sober in mind body and spirit. listen to the elders who say we should not partake in what was not from table of nature.
thanks again for your great book
mike guno
July 17, 2007 at 12:44 am
Mr. Helin, thank you for Dances With Dependency and the many other visionary and practical works you have undertaken to better the lives of the aboriginal community, especially children and youth. Six of our twelve beloved grandchildren have aboriginal ancestry and you have added much to my knowledge and understanding. I hope to meet you one day.
Kind regards,
L. Bouchard
July 26, 2007 at 10:42 am
Achieve Leadership
Achieve Leadership
September 9, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I found this book extremely helpful in understanding our history to provide a better future for aboriginals and the country as a whole. The information was clearly stated and does provide solutions to some of the issues. I whole-heartedly believe in self reliance for everyone and the “Just do it” attitute. No more waiting. The youth of these communities will provide services and leadership to my young children one day. Therefore, hopefully with inspiration from this book, the youth can maintain strong ties with their communities while pursuing whatever their heart desires out in the mainstream and keep that balance in their lives.
The artwork and quotes used were beautifully selected as well.
Thank you for an inspiring journey through our own backyard.
L. Johner
October 12, 2007 at 8:52 am
Dear Calvin,
I bought your book in Ottawa a couple days ago. I’m half way through, and I love it. Its given me an important introduction to the history of exactly how aboriginal people in Canada have been oppressed. I just read ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’ (Paulo Freire), and I see some parallels in theory here.
I’m the executive director of Ontario’s first not-for-profit organization on a First Nation – Anishinabek of the Gitchi Gami (www.gitchigami.org). Our goal is to empower our reserve’s citizens as stewards of the environment. Your book resonates in my work now, as one of our core goals is to help our community members rediscover the power of change they have within them, and thus dependence on the Band or INAC isn’t the only way to improve oneself our one’s community.
Thanks for the great book! I cant put it down.
Damien Lee
November 29, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Hello, I am so looking forword to reading your book,will see you at the signing.
February 21, 2008 at 11:02 am
I purchased the book, and looking forward to reading it. I would like to see more people interested in education. An education they want to do. I do wish more leaders would read it to. I do not support people that pursue leadership positions to enhance their own quality of life, or mistake the position for a chance at abusing power. I do believe in working together,however people need to realize theres not time to wait. Another concern is the people that have personal social issues, yet hold traditional chief names how can we trust them? Theres more to holding the name it encompasses holding the nation together & bringing up the children in a safe, healthy environment. When we achieve such condition there will be more people with the ambition such as Helin’s.
April 10, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Calvin,
This is a great read. For me the most vivid impression from the book relates directly to people who I know who have regrettably fallen into difficult patterns of dependency and an entitlement mindset out of a situation (albeit highly unfortunate) through which they came into $$ without having to earn it. It has left them devoid of a willingness and ability to chart a course and work toward their goals. They’ve needed the swift report from the working end of a boot like the one you wrote of from your own father.
Anyway, for me a book that holds value is one which offers ideas and themes that can be applied across a range of contexts, and DWD did just that for me. Your economic comments also rang true with what us education types are discussing more and more, as the graying populace will clearly pose such demands that we’ll have to be ever-more resourceful to maintain and access funding amidst a growing demand for health-care $$.
Thanks and best of luck.
April 29, 2008 at 10:18 am
This book is neo-assimilation and it should not be suggested as being truly Aboriginal and it should never be supported by any Aboriginal person. This book is truly Milton Friedman and private business oriented. The privitization of all Aboriginal lands and resources therein would be tantamount to suicide not mutual success or benefit. What we have here is failure to grip reality and the failure to engage unique Indigenous perpectives. This book engages the mainstream perspective; that all Indians are fat, lazy, stupid, and on welfare. This is certainly not the truth and Helin has done a huge disservice to his community and to all Aboriginal peoples in Canada by writing this book and suggesting that free market economics is the saviour. Throwing some nice pictures and nice language quotes does not make a book uniquely Aboriginal. Mr. Helin should be ashamed to call himself an Aboriginal person because he obviously hates that part of himself and this book makes that abundantly clear.
April 29, 2008 at 1:31 pm
If I understand the position correctly, the Maoris, the Choctaws, Alaskan Native Americans, the Osoyoos and Membertou First Nations are wrong in engaging in the mainstream economy to make a better future for the children. All the available statistics indicate that the current system is literally killing Aboriginal children and women–doing virtually anything else but staying on the current self-destructive path might be better. Fancy ideological labels like “neo-assimilation” do little to make a difference to those children that are suffering dearly under this system. What solutions are put forward besides negative criticism? I advocate economic integration (not assimilation) as a way for indigenous people to gain greater control of their lives. As long as someone is controlling your purse strings they control you. This should be a self-evident truth. It is something that Tribes, that have decided to move forward with economics, have also decided is in their best interests to avoid. Economic integration does not mean the privatization of lands and resources–Native Americans from Alaska, Maoris, and Canadian First Nations own their lands and resources and are using the revenues generated from their businesses to provide their members with opportunities and a future. The most gratifying aspect about writing the book is that grassroots indigenous people are the largest category of purchasers of the book–many elders and youth have written to say that it resonates with the entire experience of their lives under the Indain Act system.
As well, discussing only the economic side of DWD says nothing about the value of education and the other important matters reviewed in DWD as critical pillars to moving forward.
Also, engaging is personal insults serves no useful end. I love who I am and my culture–the reason I have written the book. I am Tsimshian through and through. In the world of Tsimshian, reasonable people can disagree without being abusive. There are four hereditary Chiefs in my father’s family alone, and the would all agree with what I have written. They taught our family to be self-reliant, and to be respectful of other people’s opinions without engaging in personal attacks. I would never pretend to judge what is “Aboriginal” for another indigenous person, but to speak the truth as I have been taught by my family to see it.
June 2, 2008 at 10:58 am
Although I have not had opportunity to purchase the book yet; which I intend to soon! The reviews, reponse are absolutly encouraging and confirms all that I have questioned and believed in regarding indigenous nations of Canada. I truly believe that “it is time” for all aborginals and general mainstream to cooperate with good reports; including this book. After all our ancestors hepled the colonizers and settlers when they came and our culture learned of the white mans ways. Now the tables are turned and its time time to reverse this and embrace and learn of our ways and apply indigenous cultures, values and relationship and apply to personal, professional and mainstream Canadian lifestyle. I see society to much based on individulism and materialism as opposed to fundamental relationship values. I intend to read the book and educate and hopefully network to my family and friends too. Much Love in Jesus the Lord and the Creator, SW
July 21, 2008 at 8:01 pm
This book was not my first choice but leafing through it I seen he was a karate student with a Black belt. I am a first nation person and a student of the martial arts. I finally found the answer to many questions and how it all fits into a dysuncional puzzel it makes sense now Mahsi Cho Calvin
My brother in martial arts and striving for a trully better future Charles Martin Eshleman
Dawson city Yukon
October 8, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I apologize for the long, long comment but when I tried to email you from the site it told me it was under construction so…
The other day a plump sparrow sat on my feeder, not eating but staring at me. I particularly noticed as sparrows are very shy & I’ve never had one try to communicate with me before. (Yes, this comment does relate to Calvin’s book – patience is a virtue!) I have had a unique relationship with birds in recent years & was amazed to see the Western Meadow Lark follow me to Nova Scotia from Saskatchewan. Although at one point, and perhaps still, 34 American States chose this bird as their state bird, a local NS bird expert (ex: an unknown quantity; spert/spurt: a drip under pressure.) here this spring, in response to reported citings of this rare occurence, referred to the Western Meadowlark as a vagrant that had no right to be here. I’ve more or less gotten the same treatment. I digress: The sparrow continued to stare, not moving when I got closer to my window. I didn’t know what to think until a few minutes later I exerted my will over that of my 3 yr. old grandson, finally turned off the cartoons & tuned into APTN. Gail SPARROW was on. I knew nothing about her, had never seen her face before but wondered because of the unusual behavior of the sparrow if somehow she was to be one of my angels,as I presume she has been to many, guiding me closer to fulfilling more totally my life’s purpose.
Today I googled her, by the by, I ended up at OrcaSpirit.
I have not gotten to read your book, Calvin. But believe me, I will. Let me apologize for Mr. Bird – he is likely from Saskatchewan (many of us are reasonable!). Clearly he hadn’t taken the time to read the book and was speaking out of the side of his mouth of what he knew not.
Several years ago I foretold to my own rather incredulous son the fantastic forecoming economic rise of Aborignal people, having no knowledge of what Chief Dan George spoke of concerning such, and long before you so graciously took the time to articulate the likelihood to the world. Bless you, Mr.Helin, for helping to keep the wheels in motion, for the clarity you have given to those with too little hope. For enabling them to fight the good fight better.
Having always been good at basic math, well aware of the aboriginal population explosion, certain of just how intrinsically “knowing” (a kind of wisdom greater than intelligence)aboriginal people are, predicting this was not necessarily foreseeing, but perhaps a simple educated deduction or “good guess”. Yet, it came upon me suddenly & very certainly, so, in view of other fantastical/metaphysical experiences I have been privy too, I tend to think it Divine foreknowlege. And yes, as a number of your readers have stated their belief that our “time has come” the phenomena of “An idea whose time has come” is playing out here, with people all over the globe, all in one & the same moment, realizing that we, on this continent, cannot be kept down for much longer (but boy, it seems as if the ruling, monied class is trying their level best to stop it, like the Nazis’ who stepped up the gassing when they saw the writing on the wall,that their time was coming to an end – take care, all). Chief George’s vision was true & come hell or high water (not!) this shall come to pass in the near future & all the pain, all the hurt, all the tears, all the shame shall finally be put to rest. As you note, it will not come to pass without hard work & a general recognition of its absolute necessity for the well being of all.
As a Metisse with a vested interest in this future where our current “betters” (better at taking care of themselves?) become the equals & mates of our children,there will be a whole lot more of my kind: Hybrids. Not mongrels, half-breeds, mixed bloods, with its negative connotation, nobodies in no man’s land belonging to neither as many from each culture would still have us believe, but hybrids: Healthier, stronger, smarter, generally, even. All our ancestors will have won. They will all be there together in us. They do call to me, the honorable, my kings & queens, from both lines. Do they call to you who hate us, your brothers, your sisters, because we are too Indian or not Indian enough? We embody the best, the strength, the soul of both worlds. Johnny Depp, highest paid actor in the world, with his Metisse mother, Betty, (half Cherokee); Angelina Jolie’s mother descending from Iroquois; Elvis Presley, both Jewish & Cherokee through his mother; Cher; Robbie; too many to name: Mixed aboriginal blood, it would seem, has become a prerequisite to greatness in this pre-dawn of our assuming our place of honor once again. God loves the Mixed Bloods! We will walk proudly with our kinmen, be they aboriginal or white and will not be pushed out by either of them. We will be judged on our own merit, first among equals. We shall not go hungry & our lamps shall stay lit.
I’ve read on your site that the Raven guided your writing, as the Meadowlark guided my predecessor, Tantanka Iyotanka. Both guide me, as does the lowly sparrow & others so I live though I am little & lowly. Yet I am Teutonic, as well, as my name confers (“So shall your seed & your name remain.” Isa.66:22), descending from Odin, the Raven God, even!
October 23, 2008 at 4:40 am
I really appreciate everybody comment on Dance with Dependence.Though i have not read the book i think i know little about the character and behaviour of the poor because i leave among them infact i am part of them. But there is a great challenge among the poor. The poor people dont read and hardly do they normally realise that they are poor and even if they do they do not believe that it is withing thier control to change thier own lot through personal effort. They hardly take responsibility for thierr life they often depend on government for thier living. They lack ambition,drive and motivation.
Above all most poor are only poor in term of material wealth often time they are rich spiritually. Or how do you reconcile sucide rate in western world compared to Africa. While the former with a lot and abundant of things are committing sucide the latter still have a heart of gratitude despite her poverty.
January 19, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Hey, can you please email me.
April 17, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Fantastic book. It is powerfully honest in its portrayal of the history of
aboriginal peoples in Canada, and the suffering which they have gone
through and continue to experience. Yet it exudes an optimism that is very
encouraging. I despise what has happened to them in this country through
European colonization. I despise how the Canadian government in the past
has contributed significantly to oppressing these people. And I agree with
the author that our current political structures are in large measure
archaic and only contributing to the ongoing misery. I love how the author
poignantly seeks to get Aboriginal people to take responsibility for their
own situation and future. I love the pursuit of economic independence for
these people. And I don’t mind the idea at all that one day they will own
maybe 1/3 of Canada’s present land mass. I think this will be important
for them as they strive to regain their lost independence. What Canadian
could possibly be happy with the facts presented by Helin regarding the
Aboriginal condition in our society at this time in history? The numbers
don’t lie. It is time for the Aboriginal community to grow up and cease
its dance with dependency, and time for the Canadian people and government
to work with them toward this noble end. And I despise the idea that more
governement money is the answer. It is not. Surely there are people out
there from the Aboriginal community and the Canadian mainstream, and maybe
even within the Canadian governement itself, who have come to realize this.
And Mr. Helin has certainly done a great service toward this end. Thank
you. When Egypt of old was made to realize the coming economic dearth
(famine) in their country by the wise Joseph, a man who could interpret
dreams, son of the patriach Jacob, they knew something had to be done to
make preparation for it – and so the Pharoah put Joseph in charge of the
country and things worked out pretty well. Maybe Mr. Helin is destined for
a similar influence in our society.
May 10, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Calvin:
Thank you for writing your book – something that I feel was a courageous act, as I am sure I can only imagine the negativity and criticisms that you have encountered.
A philosopher stated years ago that: “Truth is severe.” It seems there is hardly anyone in Canada that wants to hear about any aspect of the ‘severe truth’ you documented in your book.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been ‘hammering away’ at many of these issues for years. Tanis Fiss, former director of the CTF’s Centre for Aboriginal Policy did a white paper titled: ‘The Lost Century: Moving Aboriginal Policy from the 19th Century to the 21st Century’ (You may or may not be aware of this excellent paper concerning Aboriginal policies in Canada which brings up many of the issues you talk about. I encourage you to read this document if you haven’t already done so).
Canadians need to be aware of the demographic (and economic) tsunami that is coming their way. You are helping them get their collective heads out of their asses.
Most of all, we need great leadership with vision to affect this type of change – something that is poorly lacking in this country and – something that will not happen until Canadians ‘snap out’ of their ‘willful ignorance.’
Gwyn Morgan (former CEO of Encana) addressed our lack of leadership in a Time Magazine essay (November 2004.) titled ‘Looking Critically at Leadership.’ In this essay he states how Canada has ‘institutionalized discrimination and dependency.’ An excerpt is below (Note: If you cannot source this essay I can sent you a copy in Microsoft Word if you are interested):
“The second deadly error, however, is to embrace knowledge without action. The prime corporate example here is the misleading bookkeeping and unethical behavior of a few business leaders who have compromised the integrity of the securities-market system. In these cases, many people knew what was going on or were highly suspicious, yet took no action. In national politics, institutionalized discrimination and dependency has failed our aboriginal people and robbed them of pride and initiative. This sad reality has been known for decades, but there has been no action to reverse the tragedy.”
Please keep up the good work.
James H, Calgary, AB