This book is an account of the personal and collective struggles of First Nations people and how the principles which held traditional societies together can be used to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships by both aboriginals and non-aboriginals. Calvin Morrisseau outlines in it the fundamentals for healing that he has learned over twenty years through his training in counselling and addiction studies; his education in traditional practices by aboriginal elders, healers, and teachers; and his personal recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse, and the effects of assimilation, racism, and poverty. While the book was written for those who work with aboriginal people, the wholistic approach Morrisseau uses can benefit anyone. The healing model can be used by an individual seeking to heal himself, by a professional as a tool for assessment and treatment, and by a community in crisis.