Blue Marrow

by Louise Bernice Halfe

In this intricate dance of language and voice, a contemporary narrator – a Cree woman – draws into the telling of her own story the poignant history of her ancestors and the European newcomers they tragically welcomed into their lives.Grandmothers both actual and spiritual are prominent in this book of vivid characters, but many others, present and past, also appear – Native men and women, fur traders, Jesuits, Metis – all of whose stories interact in the drama of contact so brilliantly rendered here. “Louise Halfe has listened with reverent attention to the beautiful, strong voices of her Cree grandmothers and has allowed her own voice to dance with theirs. Exuberant, disturbing, and always deeply moving, the resulting poems roar, whisper and sing on the page. This book is a gift. It is a privilege to read it.” – Jane UrquhartFURTHER "Cree-ing Loud Into My Night": Louise Bernice Halfe's Blue Marrow, chapter in That's Raven holophrastic readings of contemporary Indigenous literatures by Marieke Neuhaus, CPRC Press, 2011

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Canada, School

109 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 1994

About the author

Louise Halfe is known in Cree as Sky Dancer. She was born on the Saddle Lake First Nation reserve in Alberta in 1953. At the age of seven, she was sent away to Blue Quills Residential School in St. Paul, Alberta. She left home of her own accord when she was sixteen, breaking ties with her family and completing her studies at St. Paul's regional high school. It was at this time that she began writing a journal about her experiences.

Halfe's first book of poetry, Bear Bones and Feathers, won the Milton Acorn People's Poet award, and was a finalist for the Spirit of Saskatchewan Award, the Pat Lowther Award and the Gerald Lampert Award.

Her second book, Blue Marrow was short-listed for the Governor General Award as well as the Book of the Year Award, Saskatoon Book Award, and Poetry Award.

Her work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, and she has been on Peter Gzowski's Morningside, CBC's The Arts Tonight and Ambience. Halfe has travelled extensively across Canada and abroad doing readings and presentations of her work and conducting writing workshops.

She has a Bachelor or Social Work from the University of Regina and certificates in addictions counseling from the Neechi Institute. Halfe lives in Saskatoon.

Reviews

[Zoë Birss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a haunting book of poetry, possessed on every page with the presence of the ancestors, especially the beloved grandmothers. This is a thoroughly feminine book, boldly and baldly expressing the experiences of a First Nations Canadian woman. I could not put it down from beginning to end for its beauty, honesty, and wisdom. I recommend this book to any lover of poetry, especially to Canadian readers.

[Lise Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting. It is pure magic, pure beauty and deeply moving. My only regret is not discovering this author sooner. I would class her work at the same level as Mary Oliver, Doris Lessing, Emily Dickinson...I intend to read all of her works now.

[Nehiyaw-Ayamihchikew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an a book I keep by my bed to revisit. I loved it from the moment I picked it up, and I am never going to put it down. Stories of power, stories of culture. If you're Cree, READ THIS BOOK!!! If you're from Alberta or around Saddle Lake, read this book!!
Beautifully crafted, interesting style of writing, and something I will always keep close to my heart.

[Lise Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Sky Dancer knocks it out of the park with her poetics. Her work is profound, moving and revelatory, without being preachy or sentimental. A national treasure, who wrote about aboriginal issues and trauma way ahead of her time.

[Alexandra Sproule · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of poetry. I tracked it down after reading a more recent book of poetry from Louise Bernice Halfe, The Crooked Good, wondering if I would connect more with Halfe’s earlier work - and I did. There were also still many passages in this poetry that I felt I didn’t understand, either because I was missing the metaphor or it was referencing experiences and cultural context that I didn’t have.

Blue Marrow has a great opening line - “The walk began before I was a seed.”

Louis Bernice Halfe brings the voices of her ancestors to life in this book of poetry, with lots of space for complexity. Amongst the characters we hear from, I interpreted Cree ancestors living off the land; Cree traders benefiting from European trade on Turtle Island; and French fur traders; Jesuit settler ancestors; Cree women who married (by choice and not by choice) French settlers and generally suffered disrespect and abuse; grandparents who Louise new in her lifetime; a father dealing with addiction issues who could be violent; a mother with a complex relationship to a child who attended residential schools.

There are many memorable passages. One speaks to attending a large family reunion in which the narrator's husband’s white ancestors are celebrating their ancestry and history of settling Turtle Island, and the complexity of being part of this as an Indigenous person, as there erasure inherent in the celebration of this settlement. This is further complicated by knowledge of the history of Indigenous women in abusive or unequal relationships with white colonial husbands, and is connected to some discussion of passing the complexity of this history on to your children with as much knowledge of their Cree ancestry as you are able to.

[Laurel Curley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue Marrow by Louise Halfe
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Halfe presents a wonderful collection of indigenous poetry focusing on the stories of her ancestors particularly her grandmothers. Not gonna lie but I struggled to read this one- but that’s because I find poetry to be confusing at times. However once I discussed it with my class I gained a new found respect for the stories she tells. Halfe confronts the challenges her people have faced as colonization has taken away her people’s culture and voices. I definitely recommend reading this one to gain a better understanding of how to decolonize yourself.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the celebration of feminine poetry I was thinking it would be. Definitely messages of the pain and trauma suffered, but also confusing as to where one 'poem' started and ended. I understand it's not the usual format, but still it would've been nice to understand where each new idea shifted, especially with the Cree language without explanations.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were so blessed to have Louise Halfe come and speak to our class about her writings, and particularly about Blue Marrow. We learned about what it means to be writing and re-writing history, to remember and re-member, and how Half forms home and community and identity through these practices.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the story telling aspect of these poems.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can feel the emotions within these words. A great addition to any poetry hoarder.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a skilful book of poetry by a Cree woman from Saskatchewan. I am taking a free course on Indigenous Canada out of the University of Alberta so I knew this was the right time to read this.
The author weaves different points of view mainly of women during the early encounters with the whites, especially with the men who took Indian women as partners. Consequently, there are several sexual pained relationships. There are some phrases and references I don’t understand though I can feel her pain of violation. I do want to know more as I am Aboriginal though raised apart from the culture.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved hearing the stories of many voices telling a story that is many and is one.