Great Lakes/Great Books discussion group

Great Lakes/Great Books is a monthly discussion group of books that have a focus on the Great Lakes or on water in general. Works of fiction, nonfiction, and more are discussed both in-person and virtually. This month’s selection is Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life by David Treur.

About the book

A member of the Ojibwe of northern Minnesota, David Treuer grew up on Leech Lake Reservation but was educated in mainstream Minnesota. Exploring crime and poverty, casinos and wealth, and the preservation of native language and culture, Rez Life is a strikingly original blend of history, memoir, and journalism. With authoritative research and reportage, Treuer illuminates issues of sovereignty, treaty rights, and natural-resource conservation. He traces the policies that have disenfranchised and exploited Native Americans, exposing the tension that marks the historical relationship between the US government and the Native American population.