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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an anthropologist? There is a certain mystery about the profession, since anthropologists often travel to out-of-the-way parts of the world that might be considered exotic, dangerous, or otherwise mysterious to most people. Of course, there are many misconceptions, such as the view of the anthropologist in khaki-coloured shorts, wearing a pith hat and accompanied by a string of baggage carriers trailing behind him as depicted in a Far Side cartoon.
This book describes my own life in anthropology carried on over five decades. My career was not necessarily typical in terms of specific details, but it does involve extensive field research as well as various other activities, such as appearing as an expert witness in a Supreme Court land claims case, which were unique in certain ways.
About the author
Edward Hedican is a Professor Emeritus from the University of Guelph, Canada, whose primary field of study is cultural anthropology. For most of his career he has conducted research among the Indigenous peoples (Anishinaabe or Ojibway) of northern Ontario in the subarctic region around Lake Nipigon. He has also studied the history of Irish immigrants to Canada in the post-famine period which involved an in-depth analysis of various genealogical, census and demographic documents in both Ireland and Canada.
The following book is primarily a summary of the various aspects of his anthropological career extending over a fifty-year period and the significant lessons that he learned during the course of his professional field of study.
