Wanda Wuttunee and Fred Wien (Eds.), (2024). Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous economic tenacity. University of Manitoba Press, Winnipeg, MB., 342 pages, ISBN: 978-1-77284-064-3 (soft cover)

I have been asked to review “Engraved on or Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity,” edited by Wanda Wuttunee and Fred Wien. I am pleased to do so because it is edited by two giants of the Indigenous development effort to overcome the impacts of colonialism and modernization, the very struggle this book celebrates. I first ‘met’ Wanda Wuttunee through her book “In Business on Our Own,” published in 1992. And that is not where she began her journey exploring Indigenous business and broader development issues. And this work has continued unabated. Fred Wein’s contributions are equally impressive, lighted by his service as the Deputy Director of Research at the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples from 1992 to 1996 where he led the research program on employment and economic development. I have listened and learned from both for many years and so have thousands of their students and fellow travellers on the tenacious struggle by Indigenous people for ‘development on their own terms.’ This open-access book makes it possible for many students and others to continue to do so as well, and not just from Fred and Wanda but from the wonderful group of stories and storytellers that they have brought together in this book. They then to say that In this book they describe and celebrate this ‘tenacity and innovativeness’ by curating an excellent collection of stories that the encouraging story about what has been done, what is being done and what can be accomplish going forward, because of heroic and tenacious struggle. The stories making up the collection begin with an introduction written by David Newhouse, another giant in the field. David’s work in communities, organizations, and with his students has played an immensely positive role advancing Indigenous development over the past four decades. In his introductory chapter, David provides an overview of economic history and some of the specific realities that Indigenous Canadians faced in different historical periods. Looking at Indigenous economic history through the lens of tenacity, he underlines the importance of adapting to change, seeking to regain control, and bringing Indigenous perspectives to economic development strategy. The remaining stories are presented in four sections, each with its own introduction that explains the theme of the section as well as how the included chapters elaborate on the theme. Part One focuses on strategic leadership, which is illustrated by Mary Beth Doucette and Fred Wien’s case study of Membertou First Nation and its impact well beyond reserve boundaries. Then there is Daniel Millette’s examination of the complexity of carrying out economic development involving multiple stakeholders, as in Tsawwassen First Nation, followed by Charlotte Bezamat-Mantes’s account of a First Nation pursuing Treaty Land Entitlements to develop an urban reserve in Saskatchewan. The chapters in Part Two examine cases that are “culturally on point.” In this section, Isobel Findlay describes a fur trappers’ organization seeking to maintain a traditional way of making a living. Clifford Atleo reflects on whether capitalism can be Indigenized, after which Judith Sayers discusses the debate around energy resource projects in the context of climate change and sustainable community development. In Part Three, the chapters illustrate the importance of family and community connections to the success of Indigenous economic development projects. Chris Googoo, Catherine Martin, and Fred Wien pay tribute to entrepreneurs in the Atlantic region who have been awarded lifetime achievement awards by the Ulnooweg Development Group, celebrating their vision and tenacity in sustaining their businesses at a time when there were few programs available to support them. It highlights that family and community support was vital to their success. Wanda Wuttunee describes a Métis electrical …