Welcome to Litsy!

While it was lovely to hear the Cree in this book spoken aloud, I don't think audiobook was the best choice for this, as the print copy is full of art! The book traces the literal beginning of time to 19th cent. from the perspective of a queer Cree shape-shifting immortal being. Often funny, very sexy, and scathing. Europeans come out looking, rightly so, as heartless idiots. I would have liked more content that didn't focus on colonization.

This wasn‘t like anything else I‘ve ever read. I read the audiobook and recommend for the Cree spoken in it but will borrow a copy to browse the amazing art. This book has mythology, history, art, sex (a lot),culture and mind bending perspectives. Miss Chief is a shapeshifter, non-gendered, demi-god, lover, and heroine. It‘s the story of the beginning of existence to first contact with European settlers on turtle island. ⬇️

And now, some sticky toffee apple cake with my daily short story. ANCESTOR APPROVED is a great anthology so far. It‘s full of emotional truths and I love all the little connections between the stories as these kids (& one dog) converge on the powwow.

The cake recipe is available on the Food Network‘s website. They bill it as the best ever, and they ain‘t wrong. I ate it off my hummingbird plate designed by Coast Salish artist Maynard Johnny Jr.

I read the whole thing b/c there was important & interesting information, but this author did not really have the range to write this book lol. She has a college freshman‘s analysis of concepts like race, class & nationalism, and she chooses to write from the perspective of empires and states instead of a “people‘s history”… plus the chapter naming convention barely makes sense 😒 Ambitious but ultimately pretty superficial.

A hybrid queer fictional memoir / true history of North America—from creation of the universe to Canada‘s confederation in 1867—told from a Cree Indigenous worldview. Miss Chief is a supernatural, all-gender shapeshifter with a talent for lovemaking. The story is sexy, tongue-in-cheek, and eye-opening. The physical book is beautifully designed & full of Monkman‘s gorgeous artwork. The audiobook is read by Cree-speaker Gail Maurice. Both are 👌😍

Throughout this text, Cree words are printed in red (there‘s a glossary at the back) and there are references to the many notes in the appendix.

Our muscular bodies still entwined & radiating heat, I whispered to him that otôtêmihtowin* was not limited to human beings. “Do not take more than you need,” I said, kissing him tenderly. “Respect all creatures & also the land. Tell Your people.” He nodded, assuring me that he would, but I was not convinced he had understood, so I kept spreading the word in the way I knew best.

*respectful openness & acceptance of others; friendship, diplomacy

She inquired about my heels. I explained that my shoes were not like the shoes of human beings. They contained power, and to me felt like moccasins; besides, I liked the pink on the bottom, like the paw pads of my dear older brother Wîsahkêcâhk.

Shawn and I talked about some of the many GG award finalists (including the tagged novel):

https://youtu.be/IcC2susP_VA

I love finding watermarks! I hauled this book recently and, beyond the well-written descriptions and plates which will be an excellent birding resource, I was thrilled to find this watermark for Warren‘s Olde Style. A quick search uncovers that this was a line from S.D. Warren Company, Boston. The official description, taken from an advertising digest I found online is, “a watermarked antique finish for type and line illustration.” Cool!