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Coming Home: Stories from the Northwest Territories
Coming Home features eighteen stories by NWT writers that express the diversity of the region, speaking from many points of view. The foreword is by the renowned storyteller and NWT author Richard Van Camp. Included are stories of teenage angst in small communities; connection with the land; the Giant Mine strike of 1992; relationships both failed and renewed in Yellowknife; getting lost in the bush; Europeans shipwrecked and saved by Inuit; Inuit taken on board by Europeans; learning from elders and other cultures; a wonky tourism outing; going to jail for breaking a dog bylaw and many more.
- GenresShort StoriesNonfiction
152 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
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About the author
Richard Van Camp
54 books312 followersA Dogrib (Tlicho) Dene from Fort Smith, NWT, Richard Van Camp is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. He is the author of the novel, The Lesser Blessed, a collection of short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern, and two children’s books with Cree artist, George Littlechild. His new baby book: Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns is the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and is being given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. His new novel, Blessing Wendy, will be released in the fall of 2009 through Orca Book Publishers. Richard was awarded Storyteller of the Year for both Canada and the US by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. You can visit Richard at his website: www.richardvancamp.org.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 6, 2018
First published in 2012, Coming Home:Stories from the Northwest Territories includes seventeen short stories -fiction and non-fiction. I came into contact with this compilation while visiting the city of Yellowknife in July 2018. Let me tell you, it was an incredible trip and my five days were completely full as I walked all over the city and ventured out to both the Cameron River Ramparts and Reid Lake. I highly recommend all of it on your travel bucket list!
As I usually do when it comes to reviewing short story anthologies, I like to talk about each written piece and rate them individually.
Fiction
The Points by Colin Henderson 4 stars
Our narrator discusses a tragic accident that occurred in his community and his own personal involvement. This story really resonated with me and those final words at the end of the story replay on my mind even now.
Finding Home by Jordan Carpenter 3 stars. I had to re-read this twice before I "got" that this was a first contact story and that Umma was a dog.
Born a Girl by Richard Van Camp 5 stars. Why, Brian? Why the fuck are you so beautiful, and why have I always wanted you so much?
Wow this was the first one that had me wanting to curl up in a corner and sob. Conflicted with his own sexual identity, main character Kevin and his friend, Steve commit a terrible act against another teenager.
Angatkuq by Marcus Jackson 2 stars. This tale has the misfortune of coming right after Van Camp. I actually cannot remember what it was about.
Celia's Inner Anorexic by Annelies Pool 4. 5 stars
Celia reflects on her fling with a younger man and finds herself tackling some body issues. I absolutely adored the "voice "of this character and found her very relatable.
Haunted Hill Mine by Cathy Jewison
1 star. This tourism romp failed to win me although I knew the places in Yellowknife mentioned.
My Epiphany by Rebecca Aylward 2 stars. A good self realization of how our elders and ancestors blaze the trail for us youngsters. A little surprising to see it as a fictional piece, but I found it lacked something.
Jailbird by Patti-Kay Hamilton 2 stars
A woman goes to jail because of a dog bylaw. It wasn't that interesting.
Homecoming by Cara Loverock 3 stars
A man receives the news that his son's remains have been located. A very realistic fiction about life in the North.
Dirty Rascal by Christine Raves 3 stars. I would love to return to Yellowknife just to see the Snowking Castle that is featured in this adventure tale of two mischievous youths that set out to explore the castle at night.
The Long Gun by Shawn McCann 4 stars. A teenage girls first term party leads to some pretty scary events.
Nonfiction
Lost by AmberLee Kolson 2 stars
Woman gets lost on the Ingraham trail. As usual, she ignores basic survival skills. Lucky to be alive
Ts'ankui Theda, The Kindness of the Lake by Brian Penney 3.5 stars
Great fishing story
Beauty of the Butte 3.5 stars
One of the great things about the NWT is the gorgeous natural beauty surrounding Yellowknife. This story made me anxious to go back and do some hiking.
For Us by January Go 5 stars
A timeless tale of a wife who is struggling to cope with her new life in the North while missing her life in the south. But it is her love for her husband that anchors her.
Children of the Strike by Jamesie Fournier 5 stars
Author 's personal recollection of the Giant Mine strike in Yellowknife.
Where they Belong by Jessie C. Mackenzie 2 stars Dedicated to lost fishermen, I cannot recall this one either.
As I usually do when it comes to reviewing short story anthologies, I like to talk about each written piece and rate them individually.
Fiction
The Points by Colin Henderson 4 stars
Our narrator discusses a tragic accident that occurred in his community and his own personal involvement. This story really resonated with me and those final words at the end of the story replay on my mind even now.
Finding Home by Jordan Carpenter 3 stars. I had to re-read this twice before I "got" that this was a first contact story and that Umma was a dog.
Born a Girl by Richard Van Camp 5 stars. Why, Brian? Why the fuck are you so beautiful, and why have I always wanted you so much?
Wow this was the first one that had me wanting to curl up in a corner and sob. Conflicted with his own sexual identity, main character Kevin and his friend, Steve commit a terrible act against another teenager.
Angatkuq by Marcus Jackson 2 stars. This tale has the misfortune of coming right after Van Camp. I actually cannot remember what it was about.
Celia's Inner Anorexic by Annelies Pool 4. 5 stars
Celia reflects on her fling with a younger man and finds herself tackling some body issues. I absolutely adored the "voice "of this character and found her very relatable.
Haunted Hill Mine by Cathy Jewison
1 star. This tourism romp failed to win me although I knew the places in Yellowknife mentioned.
My Epiphany by Rebecca Aylward 2 stars. A good self realization of how our elders and ancestors blaze the trail for us youngsters. A little surprising to see it as a fictional piece, but I found it lacked something.
Jailbird by Patti-Kay Hamilton 2 stars
A woman goes to jail because of a dog bylaw. It wasn't that interesting.
Homecoming by Cara Loverock 3 stars
A man receives the news that his son's remains have been located. A very realistic fiction about life in the North.
Dirty Rascal by Christine Raves 3 stars. I would love to return to Yellowknife just to see the Snowking Castle that is featured in this adventure tale of two mischievous youths that set out to explore the castle at night.
The Long Gun by Shawn McCann 4 stars. A teenage girls first term party leads to some pretty scary events.
Nonfiction
Lost by AmberLee Kolson 2 stars
Woman gets lost on the Ingraham trail. As usual, she ignores basic survival skills. Lucky to be alive
Ts'ankui Theda, The Kindness of the Lake by Brian Penney 3.5 stars
Great fishing story
Beauty of the Butte 3.5 stars
One of the great things about the NWT is the gorgeous natural beauty surrounding Yellowknife. This story made me anxious to go back and do some hiking.
For Us by January Go 5 stars
A timeless tale of a wife who is struggling to cope with her new life in the North while missing her life in the south. But it is her love for her husband that anchors her.
Children of the Strike by Jamesie Fournier 5 stars
Author 's personal recollection of the Giant Mine strike in Yellowknife.
Where they Belong by Jessie C. Mackenzie 2 stars Dedicated to lost fishermen, I cannot recall this one either.
December 22, 2025
When I picked up this anthology, I thought it was fiction, but it was a combination of both fiction (11 stories) and nonfiction (6 stories). They are quite a mix of genres and lengths. I enjoyed most of them, but some I loved and others were just okay. Two of the nonfiction stories were my favourites. For Us by January Go is a story of a wife who moves to the north and misses her life in the south. Her love for her husband keeps her settled in the north. The other is Children of the Strike by Jamesie Fournier that tells of the Giant Mine strike in Yellowknife in 1942. They are the authors own personal memories. There are a couple of stories that deal with sexual identity and confusion surrounding it. The one fiction story that has stayed with me is the first one, The Points. It deals with a tragedy in a community caused by drugs, bullying and violence and the choices people make. It made me think about the issues that the Inuit Communities are dealing with today. This was an intriguing anthology and it gave me some insight into the communities in the Northwest Territories.
September 14, 2019
it's an anthology *shrug*
Some stories were really good, others I was less impressed with, some did nothing for me.
I really enjoyed "The Points", "Celia's Inner Anorexic", " My Epiphany", and "Homecoming".
Whereas the non-fiction self-absorbed whining (interspersed with soft porn - WHY?) of January Do's bored Yellowknife housewife made my skin crawl. I never could relate to this sort of woman.
Some stories were really good, others I was less impressed with, some did nothing for me.
I really enjoyed "The Points", "Celia's Inner Anorexic", " My Epiphany", and "Homecoming".
Whereas the non-fiction self-absorbed whining (interspersed with soft porn - WHY?) of January Do's bored Yellowknife housewife made my skin crawl. I never could relate to this sort of woman.
April 3, 2022
A diverse collection of stories from the north.
May 5, 2013
A 'nice' collection of stories. Didn't really have a 'favourite'..some made me think more than others.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews