Lynda Gray is a member of the Tsimshian Nation from Lax Kw'alaams, on the northwest coast of B.C., an Indigenous village near Prince Rupert that was previously known as Port Simpson. It is located on Port Simpson Indian Reserve No. 1. Lax-Kw'alaams derives its name from Laxłgu'alaams, also formerly spelled Lach Goo Alams, which means "place of the wild roses." There are nine allied Tsimshian Tribes: Giluts'aawGinadoiksGinaxangiikGispaxlo'otsGitandoGitlaanGits'iisGitwilgyoots, and Gitzaxłaał. Gray is the mother of two adult children and is the Executive Director of the Urban Native Youth Association.

First Nations 101 is her primer on First Nations issues (First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Aboriginal) which provides readers with a broad overview of the diverse and complex lives of First Nations people. It has info on more than 70 subjects including veterans, youth, child welfare, urbanization, appropriate questions to ask a First Nations person, feminism, the medicine wheel, Two-spirit (LGBTQ), residential schools, the land bridge theory, language preservation, and National Aboriginal History Month. Lynda Gray intends to leave readers with a better understanding of the shared history of First Nations and non-First Nations people. She calls upon all of us - individuals, communities, and governments - to play active roles in bringing about true reconciliation between First Nations and non-First Nations people.

First Nations 101 was officially released on June 1, 2011 to celebrate National Aboriginal History Month. One dollar from the sale of each copy of First Nations 101 was to be donated to the Urban Native Youth Association's capital campaign to build a Native Youth Centre in Vancouver, BC.

BOOKS:

First Nations 101 ($20) 2011

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Lax Kw'alaams backdropped by Mount McNeil of the Kitimat Ranges