Revisiting the political activism of WIC Wuttunee
William (Bill) Wuttunee was a trailblazing lawyer, a courageous native rights activist; and one of the architects of the process for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His 1971 book, Ruffled Feathers: Indians in Canadian Society, decried conditions on reserves and pressed for integration—on Indigenous peoples’ own terms—supporting many of the aims of the Trudeau government’s 1969 “White Paper.” Though controversial at the time, Wuttunee's arguments were rooted in a foundational belief in the strengths of his people and a steadfast rejection of victimhood. In the fifty years that have followed its publication, Ruffled Feathers has been largely forgotten, though ideas that Wuttunee put forth—ending the Indian Act and the reserve system—continue to find space within contemporary Canadian political discourse.
In this volume, editor Wanda Wuttunee gathers a diverse cohort of scholars to engage with her father’s ideas and offer their own perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous peoples in Canada, then and now. Favouring discourse over conclusions, Still Ruffling Feathers leads the reader to a nuanced understanding of the ongoing conversations and unresolved issues stemming from the Indian Act and invites us to envision miyo-pimâtisiwin, “the good life.”
Edited by:
Wanda Wuttunee
Imprint: University of Manitoba Press
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9781772841190
ISBN 10: 1772841196
Pages: 204
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Brotherhood by William I.C. Wuttunee Acknowledgements Contributors Introduction by Wakchan (Wanda Wuttunee), Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Saskatchewan Chapter 1. Reflections on a Legacy--An Eagle Eye Perspective by Wakchan (Wanda Wuttunee), Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Saskatchewan Chapter 2. Still Ruffling Feathers Too--More than 50 Years Later by Makookins (Xakiji (Chief) Lee Crowchild), Tsuut'ina Nation, Alberta Chapter 3. William Wuttunee--Ruffling Feathers in ""Indian"" Time and Space by Thohahoken (Michael Doxtater), Mohawk Turtle Clan Family of Satekariwate, Ontario Chapter 4. Learning to Straighten Our Ruffled Feathers: An Education by Askîy Pihêsiw (Robert Falcon Ouelette), Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Saskatchewan Chapter 5. Ruffled Feathers: A Critical Assessment by Bush Doctor (Peter Kulchyski), Bissett, Manitoba Chapter 6. Final Thoughts--Debating Our Future, Coming to One Mind by David Newhouse, Onandaga, Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario. Appendix A: Excerpts from Ruffled Feathers (1971) by William I.C. Wuttunee Appendix B. Selected Poetry of William I. C. Wuttunee Appendix C. Discussion Questions Bibliography
