Stolen from Our Embrace

by Suzanne J. Fournier, Ernie Crey

This important and timely book is a balance of the most gruesome elements of church-run schools, the child welfare system, survivors of sexual abuse, and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome counter-balanced against heroic stories of children who survived, fought back, and found their way home. Harrrowing stories are presented wherever possible in the first person, by Fournier , a journalist, and Cree, a B.C native spokesperson and activist, and a stolen child himself. The final message is optimistic, suggesting that redress and reconciliation could enrich the entire country by creating healthy aboriginal communities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, History

248 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lisa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Stolen From Our Embrace" is an exceptional historical and oral account, I recommend its reading to deepen your understanding of how aboriginal communities have been impacted by the polices of social welfare systems and why contemporary discussions of Indian child welfare and transracial adoption and foster care are ultimately shaped by their histories. For me, this book was also another example to help me make parallels between of the ways in which colonization that impacted First Nations communities and the ways in which colonization and slavery impacted the stolen and sold African peoples and the consequent ‘civilizing’ projects that changed African Diasporic communities forever. for a full review - visit: http://birthproject.wordpress.com/200...

[Danielle]

Hard truths, important stories. It's hard to rate a book like this, but the book (its author and collaborators) found a good balance between journalism and storytelling.

[Caylee Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad book.
Read for my Aboriginal Studies class.

[Debbie Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough accounting of a terrible time in history. The destruction of families is heartbreaking.

[Laneene Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most powerful books i've ever read. I was shocked, heartbroken, incredibly angry but mostly just so saddened by the destruction of young lives. Why? I wanted to reach into this book and take hold of each child and hug them, love the pain away...never being able to have kids, my heart broke to see the abuse suffered by them. Shame on the systems that were meant to safeguard them. The legacy of colonization is harrowing and confronting but truth all the same. I dare you to read this and not be changed!