Restoring Relations Through Stories: From Dinétah to Denendehby Renae WatchmanPublished by University of Regina PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$35.95 ISBN 9781779400031 The striking cover photo of Renae Watchman’s Restoring Relations Through Stories: From Dinétah to Denendeh features green aurora borealis dancing above the natural monolith Tsé Bit’a’í (the Rock with Wings), Watchman’s “maternal family’s hometown landmark” on Navajo Land near Shiprock, New Mexico. In her new book, the Diné author and associate professor in Indigenous Studies at McMaster University (Indigenous Literatures and Film) frequently addresses the “sentinel’s” cultural importance to the Diné (Navajo), and she discusses ties she discovered between the American Diné and the Dene people north of “the medicine line” in Canada. The scholarly text examines traditional stories by Diné and Dene storytellers, writers and filmmakers and explains their significance. Watchman advocates for “the recognition of hane’ [story, narrative, wisdom] in oral, literary, and visual formats (spoken, published, directed, and beaded) to demonstrate “Hózhǫ́,” an important Diné precept that encompasses beauty, order, harmony, and the idea of striving for a balanced life. The tragic effect of COVID-19 on the Diné; ceremonies; beadwork; and “pretendians” are also some of what’s covered. Watchman introduces herself by acknowledging her Clan relations,…

Gold Rush on the Prairiesby Roderick E. MacDonaldPublished by Roderick E. MacDonaldReview by Toby A. Welch  $30.00 ISBN 9781069362704 Gold Rush on the Prairies is a must-read for all history enthusiasts, especially those interested in the olden days of southern Saskatchewan. The amount of time, effort, and research that went into Gold Rush on the Prairies is obvious from the first page. This was clearly a passion project for Roderick E. MacDonald. The retired lawyer dug deep researching the history of the Town of Radville and the mysterious death of the town’s namesake, Conrad Paquin. Tourism Radville assisted MacDonald with his research and the end result was Gold Rush on the Prairies.  This book is a glimpse into the Radville area during the time that Conrad Paquin lived his life there. (Radville is in southern Saskatchewan, one hundred and thirty kilometres south of Regina, fifty kilometres southwest of Weyburn.) It was during the gold rush era, which adds a unique element to the story. But there are so many more levels to the mystery including politics at that time, railway issues, legal maneuvers, and complicated family dynamics.  The real-life story that unfolds in these pages is fascinating. Had Conrad Paquin lived in modern times, I…

Metis Matriarchs: Agents of TransitionEdited by Cheryl Troupe and Doris Jeanne MacKinnonPublished by University of Regina PressReview by Michelle Shaw$34.95 ISBN 9781779400116 As I read Métis Matriarchs, I couldn’t help thinking of the old adage that history is written by the victors. Or, as the editors Troupe and MacKinnon put it: ”Until recently, historical scholarship of the Canadian Prairies has privileged the masculine…” This book offers another, long overdue, perspective. Métis Matriarchs is a meticulously researched, family-centred biographical collection of essays exploring the lives of several prominent Métis women during a period of immense change, from the late nineteenth to the mid- twentieth century in what is now Western Canada. It shows how they held families and communities together, providing cultural continuity and stability while in many cases also providing economically for their families. Respected for their wisdom and experience, they acted as healers and midwives, raised families and passed on cultural values, stories, practises and traditions. This is such an important book and hopefully part of a growing body of work chronicling the lives and importance of Métis women in Canadian history. As the editors note: “Scholarship on this period has not until recently begun to examine the significance…

Where the Cherries End Up: A Memoirby Sandra RamberranPublished by Wood Dragon BooksReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$19.99 ISBN 9781990863769 “You have not lived until you have shared a staff room with ten other women, sharing information about male genitals …” British-born Sandra Ramberran writes in Where the Cherries End Up: A Memoir. This quote exemplifies the brazen author’s honesty and matter-of-fact confessions in her tell-all, and clearly demonstrates that from the time she was nine and a fellow student “put his hands down [her] knickers,” her body’s been controlled by others. Soon an older man was also taking advantage of her and other “young, maturing school girls” by offering to “put money in their training bras.” The quick cash allowed them to “buy sweets or single cigarettes from the local shop.” Born the eldest of six with an alcoholic father, Ramberran’s rape at age fourteen and the ability to drink “more than most women,” seemed to set the stage for several challenging decades among “the world of massage parlours, drugs, and sex.” School was something to be endured, and as a teen, “done with childhood games,” her focus turned to “chasing boys and being chased”—and she had an eye for…

Nobody from Nowhere: A Story of Leadership, Resilience, and Legacyby Dale W. BottingPublished by Benchmark PressReview by Sally Meadows$24.95 ISBN 9781927352526 There are so many nuggets of wisdom about leadership–and indeed life itself–in Dale Botting’s mesmerizing book Nobody from Nowhere, it’s hard to know where to begin. Both a memoir and career guide, this book challenges outdated views of what many people think leadership is by realigning it to the fundamental heart of “stewardship” it should be. That conclusion, found in Dale’s epilogue chapter, comes from many years’ experience gained through his storied career in diverse sectors. Indeed, despite Dale’s insistence that he is a “nobody,” this book has the potential to impact the lives of many who are fortunate enough to have it come across their radar. I know, because I am one of them. Split into two parts representing the dual overarching realms of his career trajectory, this book delivers an incredible wealth of life and professional lessons learned, from the time Dale was a young boy exploring the meadows near his home to his current career as a globally recognized leadership coach. Part I of the book reads like a story as Dale shares his professional (and…

In the Light of Dawn: The History and Legacy of a Black Canadian Communityby Marie Carter, Foreword by Afua CooperPublished by University of Regina PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$36.95 ISBN 9781779400468 Canada’s multicultural history is diverse and complex, and at times its narratives have been erroneously rendered. Take Black Canadian history, for example. Take the Dawn Settlement, a historical abolitionist community at the end of the Underground Railway (UGRR) in the area in and around Dresden, Ontario. Intended to be a “utopia” for emancipated American slaves, the Dawn Settlement has often been portrayed as a failure and its numerous founders overshadowed by the spotlit fame of one individual, Reverend Josiah Henson. The role of the British American Institute (BAI) has also been conflated in Dawn’s 200-year historical record. Furthermore, not all of the Black asylum-seekers who arrived in Canada via the UGRR were part of “a destitute band of fugitives” … many were members of the “Black Elite:” educated Pennsylvanian activists who migrated north and contributed intellectual and financial wealth to the “vibrant multicultural community.” These idealists fought for both the eradication of slavery and for securing equality, ie: in the segregated education system. In her book In the Light…

Walking with God through Anxiety and Depression: A Personal Guideby Jerald WallPublished by Jerald WallReview by Sally Meadows$16.99 ISBN 9780994799562 If you’re seeking a quick and easy read with simple, straightforward strategies for overcoming anxiety attacks and depression, look no further than Jerald Wall’s new book Walking with God through Anxiety and Depression. As the title promises, scattered throughout the book–in fact, on every second or third page–are Scripture quotes that reinforce and support his strategic approach, along with bite-sized affirmations for readers to repeat to themselves daily or under triggering circumstances. Although anyone struggling with anxiety and comorbid conditions could benefit from this book, it is perhaps most suitable, in my opinion as someone who has experienced and observed these conditions in close quarters, for either people of faith with, or those who want to learn more about the role of faith as it pertains to, mild to moderate anxiety and depression. It is important to note, as the author does in several places in his book, that the strategies suggested do not take the place of professional medical advice. In fact, Wall encourages the reader to work in tandem with a medical professional from the outset to confirm…

My Tarzan Tree and Other Farm Boy Memoriesby Doug CameronPublished by Cameron NarrativesReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$25.00 ISBN 9781738687749 I grew up in small-town Saskatchewan and thus am familiar with folks who congregate daily at “coffee row” to remember the good old days, tell amusing stories, share gossip and passionately discuss current events. I continually thought about coffee row while reading Swift Current-area writer Doug Cameron’s memoir, My Tarzan Tree and Other Farm Boy Memories. This 1945-born author is obviously a storyteller at heart, but more than that, he’s done what many people talk about doing—writing a book about their life—but few accomplish. Cameron’s light and informal tone; the emphasis on his rural upbringing (near Alcomdale, Alberta); and rambling reminiscences of boyhood escapades with eight siblings, cousins, and friends reads like coffee row conversation: I could even imagine Cameron’s coffee mates nodding in recognition as they stirred another spoonful of sugar into their coffee cups. Cameron, who had a significant career in agricultural science (he was employed at Ottawa’s Agriculture Canada Research Station, and worked globally), has culled his varied childhood experiences into an easy and pleasurable read. He says that he’s “always wanted to write about [his] boyhood days…

Homegrown Radicals: A Story of State Violence, Islamophobia, and Jihad in the Post-9/11 Worldby Youcef SoufiPublished by University of Regina PressReview by Toby A. Welch  $29.95 ISBN 9781779400611 How do you sum up a book as comprehensive as Homegrown Radicals? It’s challenging as it covers so much in its 250 pages. The world after September 11, 2001, is such a different place than it was the day before. The story of the years since then is a powerful one.  Canada was greatly affected by the 9/11 tragedy, especially Canadian Muslims. Winnipeg is one of the largest hubs of Muslims in Canada; that community is closely linked to the pockets of Muslims in the United States – places like Chicago, Houston, and Dearborn.  Homegrown Radicals delves into the topic of Islamophobia, which is anti-Muslim prejudice. Muslims were already on the CSIS’s radar – Canadian Secret Intelligence Services – and past academic studies show that the CSIS generally saw the Muslim community as an object of suspicion. And in reverse, many Muslims were skeptical of security agencies. Soufi is hopeful that one day there will be a deep national contrition for the treatment of Canadian Muslims during the War on Terror; we are just not…

kôhkominawak ocihcîwâw: Our Grandmothers’ Hands – Repatriating Métis Material Artby Gregory Scofield, Historical Overview by Sherry Farrell RacettePublished by Gabriel Dumont Institute PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$65.00 ISBN 9781988011226 In Gregory Scofield’s introduction to Our Grandmothers’ Hands: Repatriating Métis Material Art, the multi-genre Métis author, academic and bead-worker immediately demonstrates his poetic prowess via a description of the said, titulary hands: “I always imagine them as fine-boned birds, taking musical flight over a pattern traced onto velvet, stroud, or hide.” This fine writing compelled me to sink into this 245-page treasure trove of photographs, descriptions, and necessary stories about the grandmothers’ beaded artifacts—what Scofield refers to as “grandmother-pieces”—and his years-long efforts to repatriate them from “antique stores and ‘Indian art’ galleries, e-Bay and Etsy, and online auctions”. It was the myriad pieces themselves, he explains, that “guide[d] and educate[d] him” to give voice and honour to these Métis women and their creations during “a time of reconciliation” and “colonial reckoning.” Scofield recalls his Aunty Georgina teaching him—a nicâniskôhpicanisak, or “little ancestor”—to bead at her kitchen table, and recounts his ongoing dedication to learning how to “properly care for historic beadwork and silk embroidery.” Scofield’s illuminating introduction is followed by Sherry…