# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Walking in Two Worlds | CBC Books Loaded

Books · Canadian

A YA novel by Wab Kinew.

Wab Kinew

Bugz is caught between two worlds. In the real world, she's a shy and self-conscious Indigenous teen who faces the stresses of teenage angst and life on the Rez. But in the virtual world, her alter ego is not just confident but dominant in a massively multiplayer video game universe.

Feng is a teen boy who has been sent from China to live with his aunt, a doctor on the Rez, after his online activity suggests he may be developing extremist sympathies. Meeting each other in real life, as well as in the virtual world, Bugz and Feng immediately relate to each other as outsiders and as avid gamers. And as their connection is strengthened through their virtual adventures, they find that they have much in common in the real world, too: both must decide what to do in the face of temptations and pitfalls, and both must grapple with the impacts of family challenges and community trauma.

But betrayal threatens everything Bugz has built in the virtual world, as well as her relationships in the real world, and it will take all her newfound strength to restore her friendship with Feng and reconcile the parallel aspects of her life: the traditional and the mainstream, the east and the west, the real and the virtual. (From Penguin Teen Canada)

Wab Kinew is the leader of Manitoba's New Democratic Party. Prior to his career in politics, Kinew was a hip hop musician and broadcaster, hosting the CBC series 8th Fire and Canada Reads in 2015. As a panellist on CBC's battle of the books, Kinew won the 2014 edition for his defence of Joseph Boyden's The Orenda.

Kinew is the author of two books: The Reason You Walk, a memoir about mending his relationship with his father before his death, and Go Show the World, a children's picture book about Indigenous heroes throughout history.

Go Show the Worldis on the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award shortlist for young people's literature - illustrated books. Kinew lives in Winnipeg.

Interviews with Wab Kinew

Books by Wab Kinew

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Walking in Two Worlds | CBC Books Loaded Books · Canadian A YA novel by Wab Kinew. Bugz is caught between two worlds. In the real world, she's a shy and self-conscious Indigenous teen who faces the stresses of teenage angst and life on the Rez.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I think younger readers will love this YA fantasy novel from Wab Kinew, a well-known media and political figure in Canada.

Set in the near future, Bugz, an indigenous teen and infamous online gamer, struggles with her insecurities and life on the reservation. Online, she is a beautiful and powerful player, but in real life, Bugz battles constantly with her body image and self-confidence.

Meanwhile, Feng, a teen boy from China, has been sent to live with his aunt on Bugz's reservation. When the two meet they form an instant connection with each other and together they go on some wild adventures, both in real life and online in the Floraverse.

While embarking on these emotional journeys, both Bugz and Feng strive to connect their traditional cultures with the contemporary world they inhabit.

Although this is YA, the story does not flinch in exploring some very dark concepts, such as far right politics, the Uyghur genocide, and self-harm. It's a lot to pack into a single novel that's just under 300 pages.

This is a fast-paced action story that I could easily envision as a movie or TV show. Personally, I prefer character-driven novels with little plot, so I didn't completely fall in love with this one. The romance was very insta-lovey, which I am also not generally a fan of.

I'd recommend this to readers who love video games and learning about indigenous culture.

Overall, this is a solid debut fantasy novel and I will certainly read any future works by Wab Kinew.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jasmine's review of Walking in Two Worlds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
3/5: I think younger readers will love this YA fantasy novel from Wab Kinew, a well-known media and political figure in Canada. Set in the near future, Bugz, an indigenous teen and infamous online gamer, struggles with her insecurities and life on the reservation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Felt like they have always been there!!! #traditional #tattoo #tunniit #culture #womanhood #inuk thank you @heyzorgzilla !

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
1.1M Likes, 8.8K Comments. TikTok video from Shina Nova (@shinanova): “Felt like they have always been there!!! #traditional #tattoo #tunniit #culture #womanhood #inuk thank you @heyzorgzilla !”. 4 | days | until I get my face tattooed | .... original sound - TikTok Philippines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
My two most favorite food #traditional #inuit #culture #arcticchar #beluga #belugawhale #indigneous #nativetiktoks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
912.9K Likes, 7.3K Comments. TikTok video from Shina Nova (@shinanova): “My two most favorite food #traditional #inuit #culture #arcticchar #beluga #belugawhale #indigneous #nativetiktoks”. Raw Beluga & dried fish. Savage Daughter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
281.1K Likes, 1.4K Comments. TikTok video from Shina Nova (@shinanova): ”👊🏼🙌🏼 @notoriouscree #indigenous #indigenoustiktok #nativetiktok”. original sound.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Art Canada Institute - Institut de l'art canadien

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Androgyny 1983

Norval Morrisseau, Androgyny, 1983
Acrylic on canvas, 366 x 610 cm
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Aboriginal Art Collection, Gatineau, QC

Androgyny is breathtaking not only because of its intense colours and sheer size but also because of its intent and its complex imagery. The monumental canvas expresses Norval Morrisseau's personal understanding of life's interconnectedness and explores his notions of gender identity. At the centre of this painted cosmic universe is a dome enclosed by the outstretched wings of Thunderbird. The spirit figure is accompanied at the core of this world by other spirit-beings, or , that represent the life force of all living things, including the snake that reaches from the underworld to the spirit world. Surrounding this centre are the turtles, muskrats, frogs, fish, birds, butterflies, trees, and men, women, and children that appear in many of Morrisseau's works.

In Anishinaabe tradition, an offering or a gift is often given to create ties, to honour, or to ask for assistance. Morrisseau may have painted this mural to articulate his vision of a united Canada, and he offered it to the people of Canada as a decolonizing gesture of reconciliation, supporting artist and curator Gerald McMaster's characterization that Morrisseau's "greatest contribution to the art world was giving voice to Anishinaabe art and culture." In a letter to the office of then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau explaining his planned gift, Morrisseau wrote: "The theme of the mural is A [ sic] shaman that is Androgyne in four directions, filled with all parts of nature in Canada, thunderbeings, sacred serpents and turtles, flowers, animals, and we children of Mother Earth. PS. Butterflies and Bumble Bees, too!" Morrisseau hoped the acceptance of this offering signalled the government's dedication to making Canada a welcoming and supportive place for all its peoples.

The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, twenty-seventh Governor General of Canada (2005-10), flanked by Norval Morrisseau's daughters Lisa and Victoria at the installation of Androgyny, 1983, at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, 2008.

Androgyny was installed in the vast lobby of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada headquarters in Gatineau, Quebec, in April 1983, where it hung, largely forgotten, until 2006, when the National Gallery of Canada chose to include it in a retrospective exhibition of Morrisseau's work. In the retrospective, Androgyny dominated an entire wall, drawing viewers to it and making it a favourite of visitors to the exhibition.

Because of the exposure the painting received during the retrospective, then-Governor General Michaëlle Jean arranged for it to be installed in the ballroom at her official residence, Rideau Hall. While it hung there, Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose the painting as the backdrop for the unveiling of his 2008 Cabinet. The press photos of that event show the prime minister and his Cabinet standing before Morrisseau's offering to the Canadian people. Androgyny, now recognized by critics and art historians as a significant work of Canadian art, reminds Canadians of the enduring bond formed by this important gift exchange.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Androgyny 1983 Androgyny is breathtaking not only because of its intense colours and sheer size but also because of its intent and its complex imagery. The monumental canvas expresses Norval Morrisseau's personal understanding of life's interconnectedness and explores his notions of gender identity.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose to include the art piece, Androgyny, by Norval Morrisseau from the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation because it explores the idea of gender identity, and it brings peace to the relationship between Canada and the Indigenous community. During our course, I have learned so much about the history between FNMI folks and Canadians. They didn't have the greatest relationship and with this painting, Morriseau wanted to spread the message of reconciliation and address issues like gender equality, non-binary gender identity, environmental concerns, and climate change. For example, in his painting, he included heavy black outlines, intense colors, and all of Earth’s creatures - birds, butterflies, fish, frogs, turtles, muskrats, people - co-existing in harmony, overseen by the central figure of the Thunderbird. The Native thunderbird is a sacred symbol and it represents power, protection, and strength. It produces thunder and lightning, and it tends to the health and well-being of the Earth. Norval made the painting as a peace offering to Canada, and I believe this gesture is very strong. Reconciliation between Indigenous folks and Canadians is important and we should understand each other's point of view. Living in harmony is the best way to move forward and I really understood that through the symbols Morriseau included in this painting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kahn-Tineta Horn has always told great stories about her life as a model in the 1960s, and as a fierce advocate for Mohawk rights. Now her daughter, actress Kaniehtiio Horn, wants the world to hear them on her podcast, Coffee with my Ma.

The stories Kahn-Tineta Horn tells in the podcast are full of adventure, bravery, and lots of laughter.

As she recounts saving a Cree baby from being taken during the Sixties Scoop, to getting arrested for punching a journalist from the Toronto Telegram who wrote an unflattering article about her - it's clear Horn has lived a more colourful life than the average person.

"My mom would just sit there and she's full of all these stories, and I'd be like, 'Oh my god that would be such a good movie, that would be such a good TV show, that would be such a good short film,'" said Kaniehtiio Horn.

But Kaniehtiio Horn went against her instincts, and instead of creating a film, she started recording the conversations she had with her mom over coffee.

The first time she pulled out her microphone was when her mom told her a story about Mohawk activist Richard Oakes, who was part of the occupation of Alcatraz in 1969.

"She just started telling me this story of him, and I was like, 'Can I record it?' And she was like, 'Yeah alright, why?'" said Horn.

"I was like, 'I don't know I might do something with it,' so I was just following her around recording."

Horn said the podcast is a great outlet for her mom to set the record straight. Primarily known for her work as an outspoken Mohawk activist, Kaniehtiio Horn said the media's portrayal of her mom has been fairly one-sided.

"The reputation my mom has, and the way people have portrayed her in the media ... has been sort of demonizing. I feel like this project is a way for her to tell her side [of the story], and to humanize her," said Horn.

"Me and my sisters have been asking her forever to write her autobiography, because we grew up with these stories, and we're like, you have to write this down. Like you went to Robert Kennedy's funeral ... you knew Marlon Brando ... [that] is insane."

Found her voice through podcasting

Not only has the podcast served as the perfect venue to share her mom's stories, Horn said she's found a passion and her voice through podcasting.

"I was really happy with the way my career has been going as an actor, but there were still those times between auditions and between jobs that I was just empty," said Horn.

"I feel like [the podcast] has really fulfilled me ... it's something that I love to do."

Horn said she's "obsessed" with podcasts, and she isn't surprised by the number of Indigenous people creating them.

"[Indigenous people] love a good story. We're storytellers, we like to share stories," said Horn. "It's how [Indigenous people] shared knowledge ... pass knowledge down, how we learn, how we grow."

Horn hopes her podcast inspires other Indigenous creators to start their own podcasts.

"I want to encourage people to take out their iPhone ... and record the next time your aunty, uncle, grandpa, grandma, sister, cousin, whoever is telling one of those stories," said Horn. "I want to celebrate elders basically, I think they're awesome."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'I want to celebrate elders': Kaniehtiio Horn on her podcast, Coffee with my Ma | CBC Radio

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kahn-Tineta Horn has always told great stories about her life as a model in the 1960s, and as a fierce advocate for Mohawk rights. Now her daughter, actress Kaniehtiio Horn, wants the world to hear them on her podcast, Coffee with my Ma.

# data[].attributes.body
The artifacts I included in this mixtape are all inspiring and significant in the understanding of Indigenous storytelling. Indigenous peoples have so much history and culture, and my goal with this mixtape was to include artifacts that represent that. In the art piece, Androgyny, Norval Morrisseau explores the concept of reconciliation and highlighted the importance of repairing the relationship between the FMNI community and Canadians. The documentary, We Will Stand Up, is included in my mixtape because it explores the murder of Colten Boushie, which depicts the dangers of police brutality and unfair violations in UNDRIP. I decided to add the podcast, Coffee with my Ma because it clearly and thoroughly explains the importance of storytelling, and how we should stop the idea of a "single story". The book, Walking in Two Worlds, is in my mixtape because it exposes us to many postcolonial cultural practices and it addresses the issues of self-identity. Finally, I added several TikToks from the creator, @shinanova, because she greatly informs us on the Indigenous community and she shows meaningful traditional practices. In conclusion, these artifacts helped me understand and summarize the ideas we learned in this course effectively, and I hope we all continue to explore and educate ourselves more about Indigenous communities.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose to include the podcast, Coffee with my Ma, by Kaniehtiio Horn from the Kahnawake Mohawk Nation to include in my mixtape because it explains the idea of a single story, and why that can be troublesome. The single-story concept is the overly simple and usual false perception we have about someone or something. We learned about them during our class when we watched the Serain Fox TedTalk. It is harmful because stereotypes can be formed and spread, and it can place those people in an inferior and uncomfortable situation. In this podcast, Horn sits with her mother in their kitchen and they tell stories while drinking coffee. More specifically, those stories contain the adventures and hardships her mom went through. From job interviews to drunken fistfights, her mom tells these stories to spread awareness about the discrimination Indigenous peoples face and to advocate for Mohawk's rights. For example, in episode 9, Ma tells the story about a time she went to the grocery store and got beat up by the police for doing nothing. In her episode, she claims they pulled open the door and dragged her out of her car, while almost breaking her wrist. Again, I'd like to emphasize on the fact that she did nothing. This ties to the idea of a single story because obviously, the cops' intentions were racist and they were focused on the single projected story about Indigenous peoples. Horn's intention with this podcast is to help Indigenous peoples gain a voice and continue to tell their stories. Story-telling is one of the most important concepts I learned during this class. It builds familiarity and trust and it is something I will definitely do more often.

# data[].attributes.body
Robertson, C. (n.d.). Norval Morrisseau, Androgyny, 1983. Art Canada Institute - Institut de l'art canadien. Accessed January 13, 2022, from https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/key-works/androgyny/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On August 9, 2016, a young Cree man named Colten Boushie died from a gunshot to the back of his head after entering Gerald Stanley's rural property with ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
User-submitted review of “nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out gbill-74877’s 9/10 review of “nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up”

# data[].attributes.body
I chose to include the documentary, We Will Stand Up, by the Boushie family, from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, to include in my mixtape because it informs us of police brutality and unfair violations in UNDRIP. Colton Boushie was a young 20-year-old male who was unfairly shot by a police officer after he and his friends drove onto private property. The documentary is based on those tragic events and the family's search for justice. In the documentary, something that is unsettling is how the police handled the case after Colton's death. They were very sketched out about the family's house, because of racist stereotypes, and treated the family horribly for no apparent reason. I was angered to see this because, with the fairly recent BLM protests, we can see how damaging the police system can be. Seeing the unfair treatment that the Indigenous community is facing is heartbreaking and this documentary helped me learn that. UNDRIP stands for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It respects and protects the human rights of the Indigenous community, and in the documentary, we can see multiple violations of that taking place. For example, during the investigation, the police violated the rights of Colten's family by conducting an unannounced and unauthorized house raid. This relates to Article 26 of UNDRIP, which states Indigenous peoples have the right to control the lands, territories, and resources that they possess. By conducting the house raid, the police didn't allow the family to control what goes on in their own home, which is extremely unfair. This documentary gave me a better insight on the negative treatment Indigenous peoples face and hopefully, more people can be aware of these issues so we can come up with a solution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story | TED

# data[].attributes.body
I chose the book "Walking in Two Worlds" by Wab Kinew from the Onigaming First Nation to include in my mixtape because it shows many cultural practices and it addresses the issues of self-identity. In the book, Kinew includes many scenes to show off Bugz's Anishinaabe culture and the challenges she has to face with them. For example, at the beginning of the book, there is a pow wow and Bugz is performing. She is very nervous and isn't confident in her dancing abilities; however, once she gets off stage, she realized she had a great time. Bugz struggled with her cultural identity at first, but once she overcame her self-consciousness, she became more in touch with herself. Just a little note, the pow wow isn't the only cultural practice Kinew included. There was a very great sweat lodge scene (a place for praying and promoting healthy living) and prayers. Furthermore, Kinew portrays Bugz as a self-conscious girl in real-life, but confident in the virtual reality world. As she navigates her way through life, she needs to learn to stand up for herself and stop hiding behind a mask. Being someone who is a part of a less dominant culture is difficult, and finding your voice can be a struggle. To stand up against racism is important and throughout the book, we can see Bugz do that. Throughout our course time, I learned about the difficulties in standing up for yourself and how Indigenous peoples have found it hard to find a voice as we saw in Chimamanda's TedTalk, which I included a link to. This book is a great example of that as we follow Bugz's journey to work past her silence. Encouragement is key, and we need to be more aware of Indigenous voices and stories.

# data[].attributes.body
Kinew, Wab. Walking in Two Worlds. Tundra Book Group, 2022.

# data[].attributes.body
CBC Radio. (2018, September 28). 'I want to celebrate elders': Kaniehtiio Horn on her podcast, coffee with my ma | CBC Radio. CBCnews. Accessed January 13, 2022, from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/on-the-mic-indigenous-podcasters-taking-space-and-sharing-stories-1.4841296/i-want-to-celebrate-elders-kaniehtiio-horn-on-her-podcast-coffee-with-my-ma-1.4841876

# data[].attributes.body
I chose TikToks, created by Shina Nova, a proud Inuit, to include in my mixtape because they inform us about Indigenous peoples and they show different parts of her culture's traditional practices. For example, she created a video showing her experience getting face tattoos, which we learned about while watching The Grizzlies, more specifically when Spring received her face tattoos. All shapes have different meanings and in Shina Nova's video, she declared she wasn't ready to reveal the meaning of hers; however, it probably has a personal meaning to it. This helped me realize that face tattoos are sacred and very important for personal identity. They represent a part of you and your story, which is why we need to respect them. Furthermore, I included a video of her eating raw beluga and dried fish. She mentions in her comments that it is her favorite food and her ancestors have been eating it for a very long time, which is why she enjoys it so much. Part of culture is honouring the food we eat, and sharing it with others is one of the bests gifts of all. Finally, I included a TikTok of her dancing with @notoriouscree. They both wore beautiful cultural clothing and they showed off their dancing skills. Dancing is important in Indigenous culture because it represents emotion. Different dances have different meanings and it is a great way to reflect how you're feeling. I loved learning about Inuit culture through Shina Nova's TikToks and I hope to come across other Indigenous creators in the future to learn even more.

# data[].attributes.body
@shinanova. "Felt like they have always been there!!!" TikTok, 29 Nov. 2021, https://www.tiktok.com/@shinanova/video/7036190631743540485

# data[].attributes.body
@shinanova. "My two most favorite food" TikTok, 28 May. 2020, https://www.tiktok.com/@shinanova/video/6967500569292393734

# data[].attributes.body
@shinanova. "👊🏼🙌🏼 @notoriouscree" TikTok, 7 Apr. 2021, https://www.tiktok.com/@shinanova/video/6948501939155930374

# data[].attributes.body
Hubbard, T. (2019, May 16). Nîpawistamâsowin: We will stand up. National Film Board of Canada. Accessed January 13, 2022, from https://www.nfb.ca/film/nipawistamasowin-we-will-stand-up/

# data[].attributes.body
Morrisseau, Norval. Androgyny. 1983, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Art Canada Institute, https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/key-works/androgyny/

# data[].attributes.body
nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up. Directed by Tasha Hubbard, performance by Tasha Hubbard. National Film Board of Canada, 2019. nfb.com, https://www.nfb.ca/film/nipawistamasowin-we-will-stand-up/

# data[].attributes.body
Horn, Kaniehtiio, host. Coffee with my Ma. Kaniehtio Horn, 2018-2020, https://www.facebook.com/coffeewithmyma/