This book explores the intriguing question of what might have happened if the invading Europeans of the 15th and 16th centuries had arrived with a more appreciative stance towards the ways of the First Nations. Careful note is made of cultural features, inventions and creative adaptations that could have benefited the European newcomers had they taken the time to discover and learn instead of seeking to subjugate and conquer.

John Friesen offers an insightful overview of Aboriginal cultures across the country in terms of their history, lifestyle, specialties and spirituality. The tour begins with the Beothuk and Micmac on the east coast, swings through the woodland territories of the Huron, Ojibway and Iroquois, explores the cultural milieu of the Plains Indians, then journeys west to the Plateau Region and the Pacific west coast where the Bella Coola, Haida, Kwakiutl, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and more, are visited. A final northern lap includes visits to Dene and Inuit country. Each cultural configuration is introduced by a local tribal legend to demonstrate the teaching/learning impact and efficacy of the oral tradition.