This Place

Indigenous authors share tales from Canada's past in this compendium. Dystopian visions have become increasingly common in mainstream culture, but as Tuscarora writer Alicia Elliott asserts in her foreword to this graphic novel anthology, "as Indigenous people, we all live in a post-apocalyptic world." Survival against all odds is a common thread in these intriguing stories, as are resistance, self-determination, and respect for traditional ways of life. Métis author Katherena Vermette tells the tale of Annie Bannatyne, a Métis entrepreneur who, in 1868, reacted to a newspaper article disparaging Métis women by treating its author to some frontier justice. Cree writer David A. Robertson explores the life of legendary World War I sniper--and later chief of the Wasauksing Nation--Francis "Peggy" Pegahmagabow, who earned a level of respect from whites in the military he could not have hoped for in civilian life. Anishinaabe author Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair recounts the experiences of an Indigenous youth coming-of-age during the Indigenous resistance to the Meech Lake Accord and the subsequent Oka Crisis--an armed standoff between the Canadian government and Mohawk activists--in 1990. Standout pieces include "Rosie" by Inuit-Cree writer Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Scottish-Mohawk author Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley (with stunning images by GMB Chomichuk) and "Red Clouds" by Ojibway writer Jen Storm (illustrations and color by Métis artist Natasha Donovan). The "Red Clouds" images feature thin lines and flat, broad patches of orange, white, and gray, lending the tale a picture-book quality that perfectly fits its ghost story plot. The anthology hops around in time, geography, and narrative style. But the repetition of certain illustrators and colorists gives it a cohesive, though not overly uniform, look. For those interested in the under-covered history of Indigenous Canada--and the contemporary Indigenous graphic novel scene--this should be a must-have book. An illuminating, self-assured graphic novel anthology in which every panel reads like a radical act.

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April 22, 2019
Ten tales offer an enlightening perspective of Canadian history from the point of view of First Nations people. Preceded with timelines to place them in historical context, each explores survival strategies adopted by indigenous people after the arrival of Europeans in North America. “We have survived the apocalypse,” Alicia Elliot writes in the foreword. “Annie of Red River” by Katherena Vermette and Scott B. Henderson, set in 1850, features a prominent Native woman who takes physical action against a journalist who insulted Métis women. “Red Clouds” and “Peggy,” illustrated in earthy tones by Natasha Donovan, are especially vivid in their depictions of peril —first in the form of windigo (a supernatural being in traditional First Nations folklore) and then in WWI. Both recount historical events with sensitivity to shamanistic beliefs. As the stories move further into the 20th century, and First Nations people grapple with their children being forced into foster care and their land being appropriated for industry, the art becomes grounded in a more pedestrian style, shifting from the mystical visions of earlier pieces. The final story, “Kitaskînaw 2350,”by Chelsea Vowell, imagines a future Canada and strikes a heavily didactic note, pulling down the collection. Still, the anthology’s theme and authentically told stories make it a stand-out.

Starred review from June 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Ten stories. Ten stunning Indigenous insights into 150 years of Canadian history, leavened with a dash of hope for the future, written and drawn in defiance of the attempted erassure of Indigenous peoples from Canadian identity and history. Each piece is introduced by a foreword from its author, with a time line of events surrounding the narrative, adding to readers' appreciation. Ten different art styles bring to life tales of separation, personal sacrifice, and resistance, of spiritualism and wonder, of promises broken, and of voices finally heard. Some of the artwork is in full color with large page spreads and vibrant hues and detail. One selection is rendered in dreamy watercolors; others are presented in black-and-white, with strong stark contrasts or sketchlike elements. All are powerful and poignant. Expressive and well rendered, the characters stand out and will linger with readers. In every case, the art and writing are a perfect fit; panels are creatively spaced, the pacing superb, and the speech bubbles well placed. VERDICT An essential title with first-rate storytelling and beautiful use of color and design.-Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2019
Grades 9-12 This collection of 10 stories retells Canada's history since Confederacy in 1867 through the lens of its Indigenous peoples. Each story focuses on a significant Indigenous historical figure or event, illuminating pivotal moments with a focus on Indigenous rights and sovereignty. Eleven Indigenous authors and eight illustrators from various cultures make for a wide range of storytelling and illustrative styles, although author introductions and timelines for each piece establish some continuity. The fact-based stories relay important historical figures and pivotal moments for Indigenous rights in an accessible way, but the more fantastical stories are where this collection really shines. Red Clouds, a fictionalized account of a woman murdered during a great famine, conveys a disturbingly eerie and convincing alternate explanation of events, while Rosie offers a surreal, dreamlike landscape in which Inuit shamanism and European colonialism collide, illuminating the vast chasm between the two cultures. Although somewhat uneven, this collection provides invaluable opportunity to hear voices that are featured all too rarely in literature and is a worthwhile addition to collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)