#nbe3u

[goodreadsviadiya]

Book Recommendations for June!

With June being National Indigenous History Month and Canada being less than a month away, I want to help in centering First Nations, Métis and Inuit voices by recommending a few books by Indigenous authors! [At the end will be a list of links where you can purchase these books]

First I have “21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act” by Bob Joseph. This book does a great job at explaining how the federal government has used and continues to use policy as a way to oppress Indigenous Peoples, and provides deeper context to better understand some of the issues that Indigenous People have faced, and continues to face today. 

Second is “Seven Fallen Feathers” by Tanya Talaga, which is a beautifully written and heartbreaking account of 7 Indigenous highschool students that passed away in Thunder Bay from the years 2001 to 2011. This book highlights the legacy of colonialism as well as the resilience of Indigenous youth, in fighting against systemic racism. 

“Sweetgrass Basket” by Marlene Carvell is the story of 2 Mohawk sisters attending a Residential School. It’s written in Prose Poetry and describes the power of family, culture and language as a source of strength.

My last recommendation is “From the Ashes” by Jesse Thistle, a phenomenal memoir where Jesse recounts his experiences in being in foster care, substance abuse, homelessness and reconnection to his Métis Identity. I actually enjoyed this book so much I’ve written more about it on my page which you can read here!

More Books I’d recommend: 

The Break & The Strangers by Katherna Vermette

Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

I have a lot of other recommendations too. I might create a followup post because there’s so many great resources by Indigenous authors and creators that I really enjoyed, not just books. If you have a suggestion of a resource you enjoyed or if you check any of these out feel free to send me an ask!

Where to get these books:

21 Things You Might Not Know About The Indian Act

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/21-things-you-may-not/9780995266520-item.html

Seven Fallen Feathers

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/seven-fallen-feathers-racism-death/9781487002268-item.html

Sweetgrass Basket

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/sweetgrass-basket/9780525475477-item.html

From The Ashes

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/from-the-ashes-my-story/9781982101213-item.html

The Break & The Strangers

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/624145/the-strangers-by-katherena-vermette/9780735239630

Indigenous Writes

https://www.amazon.ca/Indigenous-Writes-Nations-issues-Canada/dp/1553796802 

Five Little Indians

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/five-little-indians-a-novel/9781443459181-item.html 

[what-i-learned-in-english-class]

A Day in the Life of a Chronically Forgetful Person

Under the break is a short story that I wrote. (Not pertaining to Indigenous people.)

My school day started with math class, where I sat next to my friend Avory. 

“Are you ready for the test Wednesday?” she asked as class was packing up. 

“Not at all. You?”

“No, I’m not ready either. Would you like to study together?”

“Sure,” I said. 

“Today or tomorrow? It doesn’t really make a difference for me.”

I thought of my schedule. I work Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and volunteer Thursdays, but today was Monday, so I had nothing today. “How about today. Should we walk to your house after school?”

“No. I have to stay late at school today. And my house is too loud. Normally I study in the library.”

“The library is quite far from my house. Let’s meet at the coffee shop.”

“Sure,” she said. “At five?”

“That sounds good.”

After that I went to french class, and the teacher introduced a new project where we were to write a story using the subjunctive mood. Thoughts of that project were in my mind as I went to lunch. 

At the start of lunch I went to the usual spot to eat lunch with my friends. When I got there, my friend Vance greeted me.

“Are you ready for the concert tonight?” he asked. 

Right! I nearly forgot! The Band Battle round one is tonight. Me and some friends were in a band, and we had been practicing for months for this. 

“Yes I’m ready.” I said. 

“Are you still able to bring snare drum and ride cymbal?”

“Yes. They are sitting next to the door ready to be loaded into the car.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

“Anything for the best drummer in the world.”

“Thank you, best bassist in the world.”

“What time is the concert again?”

“We’re on at 5:30, but we need to be there at 5:00."

 “Okay perfect.”

After lunch, I had english then chemistry, and then school was over. Excited for the Band Battle, I started towards the bus stop for my ride home. Half way to the bus stop,  I noticed that I couldn’t see very well. I wasn’t wearing my glasses! I had taken them off to put on safety goggles for my chemistry lab. I checked my pockets, but they weren’t there. I must have left them in the classroom. I briefly considered leaving them behind, but glasses are expensive and I like seeing well. I sprinted back to the chemistry lab and found my glasses sitting on the middle of the lab bench, but it took too long. I knew that by the time I got to the bus stop, the bus would have already left. The next one wouldn’t be for another half hour. Not worth the wait. I had to go home on foot. 

I knew that in order to get home in time to go to Band Battle, I would have to run home. But if I’m being honest, I didn’t run the whole way. I was wearing a winter coat, and I didn’t want to sweat. And besides, my cardio’s not good enough to run 9k with a heavy backpack. So when I got home I was running a bit late. I quickly changed my clothes, shoved some food in my mouth, grabbed my electric bass and amp, and jumped in the car to drive to Band Battle. The venue was far away, and the drive took half an hour. I arrived 10 minutes late. 

I brought my bass and amp to the stage to set up. My four other band mates were already there. Vance looked at me. 

“Hi. You’re here.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

“You’re not wearing your Hawaiian shirt.”

“Oh no! I forgot. I was in a rush as I got ready. Sorry,” I said. The four others were all wearing Hawaiian shirts, and I was supposed to wear one too. 

“Should we go to the car to get my drums?”

My eyes widened in realisation. 

“Oh no!”

“What?”

“I forgot your drums. Sorry.”

“What.”

“I’m really sorry. They were sitting right by the door ready to be put in the car, but I was running late, and I don’t know… I guess I just forgot.”

Vance was very disappointed. “How am I supposed to play without a snare?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

There was no time for me to go back home and get the drums, so he had to work with what he had. When we went onstage we played all of our normal songs. Vance made do with using the toms instead of the snare, but it sounded bad. I played the bass lines I’d practiced, but the guilt of forgetting the drums got into to my head during the show, and caused me to make many mistakes. And when it came time for the bass solo, I struggled to play even a single note. We didn’t advance to the next round of Band Battle. I let my friends down. 

And when the show was over and we cleared the stage. I congratulated my band mates and said they played well. They were nice enough to say the same to me. I apologised again for forgetting the drums, and Vance nodded. There will always be another Band Battle he said. He was still angry, but he forgave me. 

And then I remembered. I agreed to study with Avory earlier today when I forgot I had Band Battle! I opened up Instagram, and found I had unread DMs from her. Where are you? She had asked. We’re supposed to meet at five right? I’m at Bridgehead. Is that the right coffee shop? Please answer me!

I texted back. Oh my gosh I forgot. I’m so sorry. I’m really a horrible person.

[what-i-learned-in-english-class]

Watching the Nimkii Aazhibikong video showed me Indigenous people making a camp to teach young people their cultural ways. This is super powerful, because it shows Indigenous people helping young Indigenous people connect to culture, language, and tradition. It shows that Indigenous people can take control of their own culture and pass it down to the next generation.

[what-i-learned-in-english-class]

Reading Motorcycles and Sweetgrass helped me recognize Indigenous joy. It was a really fun book to read, and it was the first book I ever read that had Indigenous main characters without focusing on the struggles of colonisation or oppression. It opened my eyes to a new type of Indigenous literature, and it made me confront my stereotypes about what it means to be Indigenous. 

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass is full of Indigenous people uplifting each other. Like Wayne helping Virgil to deal with his mom’s bad new boyfriend. Or Nanabush’s (albeit misguided) attempt to help Maggie by putting bones on the land. Or Dakota helping Virgil when she finds him skipping class again. Or Maggie taking control of he community by becoming the chief. It shows the power of Indigenous people to help each other. 

[what-i-learned-in-english-class]

Here’s what I learned this semester in this class: I learned that Indigenous people have a lot of power, because they uplift each other to achieve beauty, strength and joy.