residentialschool

Wenjack | Joseph Boyden

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I decided to squeeze in 1 more book for #foodandlit this month. This novella is based on the true story of Chanie Wenjack, a Native American boy who was taken from his family to one of Ontario‘s residential schools in the 1960s. The story alternates chapters between Chanie, who runs away from school with 2 friends, & various animals who watch over Chanie on his journey in the freezing winter. A heartbreaking story that will stick with you. 5⭐️

Texreader, Catsandbooks

Catsandbooks Fantastic! 🇨🇦 3w

51 likes1 comment

Singout

The Reason You Walk: A Memoir | Wab Kinew

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Now Manitoba Premier, Kinew shares a rich story of his journey, as well as that of his father who survived residential school, through pain, racism, and substance abuse to healing and leadership. He honestly covers key elements in Canada‘s Indigenous history, insights into spiritual and cultural practices, and his own path towards being a writer and commentator with his father becoming a key national leader.
#Nonfiction2024 AbsolutelyTrue

Riveted_Reader_Melissa

14 likes2 stack adds

Eggs

Fatty Legs: A True Story | Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Liz Amini-Holmes

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8 yo Margaret Pokiak, who lives in a village on the high Arctic, wants to attend “outsiders” school (residential school) across the water, a 5-day trip. She pressures her parents for 2+ years and they relent at last. She hates it right off. The mean nun cuts off girls‘ braids, and makes them do the smelliest, dirtiest, back-breaking jobs…the author‘s true story.
#Pantone2023 @Clwojick
#RushAThon Day 9 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 1y

Eggs @DieAReader 🤗🤗 1y

Audreyreads Oh I haven't seen this book in forever! It's a great one, and definitely an important story 1y

Eggs @Audreyreads Absolutely 👍🏼 💯 1y

49 likes1 stack add4 comments

dabbe

Wenjack | Joseph Boyden

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#BookedinTime @Cuilin
Wenjack is a heartbreaking story of an Ojibwe boy who escapes the residential school he has been forced to attend due to the government's push to culturally assimilate the indigenous people into the white man's world at the expense of losing his own heritage. I read this novella in less than an hour, but I will remember the experience for a long time. ⬇️

dabbe Controversy has surrounded Boyden because he is not part of the Ojibwe community. Some have criticized him for writing from that point of view. Cultural appropriation is a thorny discussion point, and I know too little to speak about it here. The book was extremely sympathetic to the Ojibwe people and their plight, so one might argue that Boyden shouldn't have been criticized. What, however, if he hadn't been empathetic? The bigger problem lies ⬇️ 1y

dabbe in the fact that Boyden claimed to have indigenous DNA, but solid proof is nowhere to be found. It's the opposite effect of what June did in YELLOWFACE. There, she blurred her background (with the help from her editors) to possibly seem to be Asian. Here, Boyden claimed outwardly that he had indigenous blood when the research so far shows he doesn't. All of this controversy takes away from Chanie Wenjack's story, which I feel should still be told. 1y

AnnCrystal 😢👍. It is difficult. Even for me. My American Indigenous comes from my maternal line (my mom's mom). I also have Mexican indigenous within me. Either way, we are at least three generations assimilated into the western ways. My ancestors survived, but only some of the “ancestral ways“ trickled down through the generations.

During a time when Mexicans were lynched for being Mexican, it was still more safe to claim being Mexican than Native .👇
1y

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AnnCrystal I don't know of any relatives who went to the Indian schools, yet I believe it might be why my 2-great grandma and grandpa left their territory.

While many might consider me an outsider (so to speak). I will read works based on my own cultural identity, no matter the cultural identity of the writer. Although, I prefer work written by American Indigenous. Mainly because it comes from the personal level rather than researched understandings. 👇 (edited) 1y

AnnCrystal The reason this is not always the case across Native Country, is because we have always been oppressed.

We were not even legally allowed to practice our religions or cultural beliefs untill the late 1970s (need to double check the exact year).

We were often written about, while few American Indigenous had the chance to write from true prospective.

It is difficult to explain.

I just read looking for correctness, and quadruple verify when 👇 1y

AnnCrystal reading work from none indigenous writers.

It is difficult when doing my own research, finding the answers I so badly crave...you know.

Thank you for reading this (& other) work. I believe that the importance is that these histories are shared, so long as they are told correctly.

I know a lot about other cultures, because it's widespread and easy to run across.

My dream, is that more American Indigenous true information will become widespread. 1y

AnnCrystal ... sorry for rambling 🥺🤐. For the record, I haven't read this book. I was just commenting on your comments about the author. (edited) 1y

dabbe @AnnCrystal I thank you so much for enlightening me even more. I'm ashamed to say that I don't read enough books like this. I usually focus on “fun“ reading (my mysteries and detective stories) because I guess I don't want to rip the bandaid off so to speak. We need to, though, and keep ripping until we can all empathize with one another and truly give everyone a chance to live their life as they choose. Ramble whenever you want! 🧡💜🧡 1y

AnnCrystal @dabbe ☺️👍.

And true, we do. Although, honestly, I cannot go into detail on tragic histories... especially my own people's. Shamefully, I like to read quick facts, light on details. I just can't handle anything more.

I crave to know the older information, the information about my ancestral world from before contact.

There are some fantastic wonders to be learned 🧐 in that ancient world ☺️. (edited) 1y

dabbe @AnnCrystal Amen! 🧡🤗🧡 1y

AnnCrystal @dabbe one thing I should note, is that while my mom doesn't read much, when she does, she can spend hours on history. Not only has my mom shared ancestral information, she learned everything she could to teach my brother and I. Now my mom and I continue learning together.

I believe that is why more informational texts and documentaries are needed. This information was stolen, now it needs to be easily available so we can re-learn and teach.👇 (edited) 1y

AnnCrystal @dabbe if you're interested in learning more, there is a TV channel called, First Nation Experience (FNX). You can maybe check your local listings. We actually lost the channel here in my area...still waiting for it's return. Just wanted to share. I believe there are also two aboriginal channels in Canada. Not only history is shown, also variety shows, comedy sitcoms, music videos, etc. (edited) 1y

dabbe @AnnCrystal You've given me a lot to think about and research, and I profoundly thank you. I will take a look at your suggestions. 🧡🤩🧡 1y

AnnCrystal @dabbe 🎉👏☺️👍. 1y

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dabbe

Wenjack | Joseph Boyden

#BookedinTime
@Cuilin

I hope this will work for October. 😍

ShelleyBooksie I really enjoy his writing, but there is a lot of contention over whether he is actually indigenous. 1y

Cuilin Absolutely 👍 looking forward to seeing your thoughts on this. 1y

dabbe @Cuilin Yay! Based on what @ShelleyBooksie said, I'm really interested in this book now! 🤩 1y

42 likes3 comments

DogMomIrene

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story | David Alexander Robertson

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The illustrations in this graphic novel so strongly support the story. Such contrast in the beauty and light found at Sugar Falls, and the darkness surrounding the Catholic priest who sexually abused the girls at the Residential School. The panel depicting him as this shadowy faceless evil canoeing to abduct Betty was perfect foreshadowing. Going to be reading more by David A. Robertson.

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DogMomIrene

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story | David Alexander Robertson

I‘ve been distracted recently, so trying to jumpstart spending more time reading with a few graphic novels. This one about the horrors of the Residential School system has already grabbed my attention with the Foreward written by Canadian Senator Murray Sinclair.

35 likes

SarahBookInterrupted

They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School | Bev Sellars

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This memoir is written in a way that places the information into you brain while you read and then when you put it down allows the information to flood in and take hold of your thoughts and emotions so that you can really understand the horrifying truth of the residential school system in Canada. During the Book Interrupted podcast we spoke a lot about the factual style of the book and the many reasons why it was so “readable”. It‘s a must read.

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SarahBookInterrupted

The Orange Shirt Story | Phyllis Webstad

Check out Meredith‘s book recommendation of The Orange Shirt Story on this weeks Manuscript Monday. https://www.bookinterrupted.com/post/manuscript-monday-the-orange-shirt-story

27 likes

Aimeesue

Fatty Legs: A True Story | Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Liz Amini-Holmes

Middle grade book about an Inuit girl who longs to go off to a residential school so she can learn to read. It includes some wonderful pictures of the author and her family, but the sheer cruelty she is targeted with is astounding. A child - targeted! By Nuns!! I continue to be amazed at the awfulness of some humans.

LeahBergen Yes, this was a brutal read. 😢 2y

Aimeesue @LeahBergen It's hit me in the past few years, as First Nation people in Canada have raised so much awareness of the abusive "Indian schools," that they were all over the US as well, yet there's not nearly as much knowledge of them here. We Americans do like to keep our skeletons in the closet, literally in this case. ☹️ 2y

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