#Beyondrealms #Tabaccooffering #VFF #Haislaproud

“I used to think that if I could talk to the spirit world, I'd get some answers. Ha bloody ha. I wish the dead would just come out and say what they mean instead of being so passive-aggressive about the whole thing.” 

Eden Robinson is an Indigenous Canadian author who identifies as a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations.

The Protagonist Lisaarie Hill is a young teenager with a lot of attitude. When he brother Jimmy goes missing at sea, she will go under immense transformation physical and spiritually. In some ways, she has supernatural powers where she can transfer through both realms. In this journey, she seeks guidance form the spirit world to help find her brother. This story allows Robison to share aspects of Haisla culture including mythology represented through the animals Lisamarie encounters.

Monkey Beach was recently released for Vancouver’s Film Festival online 2020.

https://canlitguides.ca/canlit-guides-editorial-team/monkey-beach-by-eden-robinson/key-themes/

#humourous, #spirituality, #hybridity, #bildungstroman #Metoo #abtiracism #antibullying #healing

“The line between im/possible is not as absolute as it once was. That there is an arbitrariness in the world that she never suspected existed takes a physical toll on her”

Birdie by Tracey lindberg was on Canada’s Reads 2016. Lindberg grew up in B.C and is an award winning writer, lawyer, and Indigenous rights activist who identifies are Cree. This follows a young Indigenous girl named Bernice. Bernice is a modern-day girl who has recently moved to Gibbons B.C and is Bildungsroman story of a young girl creating and learning about her identity. As the story unfolds, the reader will learn about Bernice’s dark secret form the past and how this has affected her. 

The writing is beautiful. Both written in Cree and English, there are amazing dream sequences where Bernice has out of body experiences that can only be as captivatingly written as does Lindberg. A truly enriching, edgy and modern story that every classroom should have.

#Politicalcommentary, IndiginousActivism, Herstory, historyretold, 

“cause the railway shut down

and this country is still quarrelling over unity,

and Riel is dead

but he just keeps coming back"

Marilyn Dumont is a Cree/ Metis poet from Alberta. Her short anthology of poetry consists of many intricate poems that are thematically rich and provoke countless hours of classroom discussion. The poem “Letter to Sir John A. MacDonald” specifically s written from an untold perspective form history that through the years has been deemed as untrue. Dumont eloquently can state her argument in a way that finally gives voice to those who are oppressed.

“Irene wondered if a number was all she was”

Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis is a member of Nipissing First Nation. She identifies as Ojibway Anishinaabe. She teamed up with Canadian author Kathy Kacer who is well known to teaching about difficult subjects to younger children.

This novel is great for all ages, especially when it comes to talking about Residential Schools from an authentic voice for the younger crowd.

to be afraid

but still i am surprised you cannot see

the danger burning brightly in my eyes

the fire i am struggling to control”

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is a Poet from torrent who identifies as part of the Anishinaabe, Chippewa Of Nawash First Nation Band. She is a talented writer, poet and publisher. Her poem To You Who Wage War Against Me is a beautiful poem that speaks to intergenerational trauma and a mother-daughter relationships. I believe that writing is a form of self-healing as well as voicing the oppressed. This poem speaks about inner turmoil and the damaging effects of bottling up emotional trauma. A beautifully written poem that should be shared in every classroom.

Check out a micro interview she did with “Poetry In Voice"

Red: A Haida Manga Story, by Canadian political activist, Yahgulanaas is a colourful, intertwined graphic novel. This graphic novel is unique as Yahgulanaas has created a new visual genre called Haida Manga, as a way to connect the artwork from Haida Gwaii into a new popular and creative form. The story explores indigenous ways of knowing that touch upon colonialism, revenge, and stolen women. The visuals are vibrant and the lines flow like water. The entirety of the graphic novel comes together to create a larger mural as described “Red" is more than a collection of bound pages, something more than a story to be read page by page” (Yahgulanaas). The story is beautiful and captivating.

Secret Path by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire is a thematically rich graphic novel. modern, edgy and creative. Gord, a Canadian signer/ songwriter and Lemire, a Canadian cartoonist, have worked together to create a beautiful graphic novel. The illustrations are well organized with boxes as prisons, symmetry for conformity, colours for dramatic tones, and shapes that can share feelings. The texts are rhythmic, poetic and repetitive in the best way possible. There is a spiritual element that carries through the story. As you follow the thoughts of a young boy, the reader will learn about the negative aspects of Residential schools through little text and million word illustrations. 

https://sites.google.com/sd63.bc.ca/sd63indigenoused/online-resources#h.p_SaTduyuR8X1S