The Inconvenient Indian, by Thomas King is about the original inhabitants of North America which is now known as Canada and USA. There are three Aboriginal (Indigenous) groups in Canada – First Nations (Indians), Metis, Inuit. This book is primarily about Indians – called First Nations in Canada and Native American or American Indian in the US. It tells us the story/history of North America from the perspective of the Indigenous people of the land.

The story of colonialism and capitalism is same everywhere around the world – the relentless pursuit of land, power, and profit accompanied by the forced assimilation and transformation of the Indigenous peoples against their will. In the old days it was the countries and the trading companies that used to colonize far way lands and subjugated their people. In the present day the role is played by corporations with the help of governments. What remains constant, however, is the displacement of Indigenous people from their ancestral lands in the name of natural resources and “development”, leaving them marginalized in their own home.

Thomas King offers a brief history of how Europeans arrived in North America and how the original inhabitant of this continent came to be labelled as “Indians” – because the explorers thought that they have reached India. From this point begins a compelling journey that takes the readers through the story of Indigenous people of North America, through their own perspective. We learn how the British and French expanded their ‘empire’ through brutal force, deceptive treaties and strategic use of religion. The treaties, in effect, were instruments to seize land, while religion was employed as a tool to “civilize” Indigenous peoples and force their assimilation to avoid wars, wherever possible.

While I was broadly aware of the history of North America, I lacked a detailed understanding of the experiences of its Indigenous peoples. This book serves as an eye-opening overview of their lives, their systematic marginalization, and the ways in which successive governments have treated them. It also sheds light on the enduring perceptions and prejudices held by white society, many of which continue to shape public attitudes even today. The author pointed out how movies, arts and popular culture have also shaped up the perception and created an image of the Indigenous people among the general population of North America.

We often bracket Indigenous peoples into a single, homogeneous group, when in reality their identities are far more complex and nuanced. As mentioned earlier, in Canada alone Indigenous peoples are broadly categorized as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, but even within these groups there exist further layers of differentiation—legal, cultural, and linguistic. These distinctions are not merely academic; they shape lived realities, rights, and access to resources.

What is particularly baffling is the extent to which these identities have been defined and regulated by the state. Under the Indian Act, for instance, First Nations peoples are officially classified as “Status Indians” and “Non-Status Indians” based on whether they are registered with the government. This bureaucratic categorization determines who is legally recognized as Indian and who is not, reducing complex identities and histories to administrative labels. Such classifications reveal how colonial power extended beyond land and governance, reaching into the very definition of identity itself.

In this system, the “inconvenient Indian” is the one who refuses to let the state decide their identity.

The book is a portal that takes readers into the making of Canada and the United States, revealing the heavy price paid by Indigenous peoples. It exposes the historical injustices endured by the original inhabitants of the continent—how they were systematically confined to reserves, had their lands seized by governments and corporations, and how many continue to fight for their land, rights, and identity to this day. It is a sad reality that behind all North America’s development and progress lies the oppression and suffering of its Indigenous peoples.

What makes The Inconvenient Indian particularly compelling is Thomas King’s voice. Drawing on deep knowledge, careful research, and a sharp sense of humour, he tells a story that could easily have been relentlessly grim. Instead, his wit and irony soften the weight of history without diluting its seriousness, allowing the reader to confront uncomfortable truths without being overwhelmed. It is this balance—between anger and humour, pain and perspective—that makes the book both accessible and deeply unsettling.

An insightful, engaging, and informative book that reveals the history of Canada and the USA through the eyes of Indigenous peoples. A must-read for anyone with a curiosity and interest in history.