The Great Peace ... The Gathering of Good Minds CD-ROM tells the story of the Iroquois Nations. It was inspired by Raymond Skye, a Tucarora Nation artist, who began the project with the creation of a visual panel depicting the images that came to him in a dream. Through the collaborative efforts of First Nations producers and researchers, the initial artist's vision has been worked into a stimulating and entirely authentic history of the Iroquois Nations. It is an inspiring account "created by Native people about Iroquois people for all people." The CD-ROM is a well suited technology for conveying an aboriginal perspective because it combines multimedia and multidimensional learning in a non-linear format. In this context, The Great Peace... The Gathering of Good Minds CD-ROM is unique in that it portrays the history of the Iroquois Nations from an entirely aboriginal point of view. Although it has obvious relevance to the Iroquois nation's community, it also has broader appeal and it should be an invaluable tool in teaching First Nations history and culture on the primary and secondary and post secondary levels. Indeed, given the aboriginal roots of our country, the CD-ROM should be an essential part of the social studies curriculum for native and non-native students alike.

The graphics and art work of The Great Peace ... The Gathering of Good Minds CD-ROM are visually stunning and they will help keep the interest of all learners.

Accompanying the CD-ROM is a comprehensive teacher's guide and resource book. This should be considered as an essential companion to the CD-ROM since it provides the rationale and background for all of the main sections. It also contains suggestions for lesson plans that explore a variety of related topics. The teacher's guide is an indispensable teaching aid and it directs the teacher in conveying the meaning of the legends and stories contained in the CD-ROM. The teacher's guide and resource book together with the interactive CD-ROM create a greater awareness of Iroquoian history and culture and they instil a more holistic understanding of cultural and environmental issues which is critical to our survival in the twenty-first century.

Graham Reynolds Ph.D.
Professor of History and coproducer of
"The Peopling of Atlantic Canada" and
"The Peopling of Canada" CD-ROMs
University College of Cape Breton
Syndney, Nova Scotia BIP 2L6