Episode description

Dr. Anton Treuer visits Google to discuss his book "Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask."

What have you always wanted to know about Indians? Do you think you should already know the answers—or suspect that your questions may be offensive? Is the term “Indians” even appropriate to use in the 21st century? In matter-of-fact responses to over 120 questions, both thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical, Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer gives a frank, funny, and sometimes personal tour of Native culture.

In the book, Treuer answers questions such as, "Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?”, or "What's it like for natives who don't look native?" or "Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?" “Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask” does exactly what its title says, in a style consistently thoughtful, personal, and engaging.

Relations between Native Americans and whites are often characterized by guilt and anger: this book attempts to cut through the emotion and build a foundation for true understanding and positive action.

Moderated by Cait Stevens.

Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.