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procession
you are only here
to learn from those who came before
and make space
for those who come after
a line of people moving in the same direction; a formal ceremony or celebration, as in a wedding, a funeral, a religious parade. Bestseller and Governor General’s Award–winner Katherena Vermette’s third collection presents a series of poems reaching into what it means to be at once a descendant and a future ancestor, exploring the connections we have with one another and ourselves, amongst friends, and within families and Nations.
In frank, heartfelt poems that move through body sovereignty and ancestral dreams, and from ’80s childhood nostalgia to welcoming one’s own babies, Vermette unreels the story of a child, a parent, and soon, an elder, living in a prairie place that has always existed, though looks much different to her now. This book is about being one small part of a large genealogy. A lineage is a line, and the procession, whether in celebration or in mourning, is ongoing. Procession delves into what it means to make poems and to be an artist, to be born into a body, to carry it all, and, if you’re very lucky, age.
be a good ancestor
be a good kid
to learn from those who came before
and make space
for those who come after
a line of people moving in the same direction; a formal ceremony or celebration, as in a wedding, a funeral, a religious parade. Bestseller and Governor General’s Award–winner Katherena Vermette’s third collection presents a series of poems reaching into what it means to be at once a descendant and a future ancestor, exploring the connections we have with one another and ourselves, amongst friends, and within families and Nations.
In frank, heartfelt poems that move through body sovereignty and ancestral dreams, and from ’80s childhood nostalgia to welcoming one’s own babies, Vermette unreels the story of a child, a parent, and soon, an elder, living in a prairie place that has always existed, though looks much different to her now. This book is about being one small part of a large genealogy. A lineage is a line, and the procession, whether in celebration or in mourning, is ongoing. Procession delves into what it means to make poems and to be an artist, to be born into a body, to carry it all, and, if you’re very lucky, age.
be a good ancestor
be a good kid
112 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
5 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Katherena Vermette
35 books1,297 followersKatherena Vermette is a Canadian writer, who won the Governor General's Award for English-language poetry in 2013 for her collection North End Love Songs. Vermette is of Metis descent and from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was a MFA student in creative writing at the University of British Columbia.
Her children's picture book series The Seven Teachings Stories was published by Portage and Main Press in 2015. In addition to her own publications, her work has also been published in the literary anthology Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water. She is a member of the Aboriginal Writers Collective of Manitoba, and edited the anthology xxx ndn: love and lust in ndn country in 2011.
Vermette has described her writing as motivated by an activist spirit, particularly on First Nations issues. The title of her book refers to Winnipeg's North End.
Her children's picture book series The Seven Teachings Stories was published by Portage and Main Press in 2015. In addition to her own publications, her work has also been published in the literary anthology Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water. She is a member of the Aboriginal Writers Collective of Manitoba, and edited the anthology xxx ndn: love and lust in ndn country in 2011.
Vermette has described her writing as motivated by an activist spirit, particularly on First Nations issues. The title of her book refers to Winnipeg's North End.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 30, 2025
“Come in
Take up the space
I have made for you”
-Katherena Vermette
Award-winning writer Katherena Vermette returns with a stunning collection of poetry, Procession. Her poetry explores the inter-generational connections every body shares with their ancestors and descendants, their younger self and future self, and within their communities. This collection also meditates on what a true blessing and honour it is to hold space in the world through our bodies, which contain both our past selves and our ancestry as well as our future selves and our lineage. Each of us contain so much history and meaning just as we are. We bring so much value to our communities and relationships; not just our humans ones but to our non-human kin and natural world too.
This is a deeply moving and empowering collection of poetry that I highly recommend checking out.
Take up the space
I have made for you”
-Katherena Vermette
Award-winning writer Katherena Vermette returns with a stunning collection of poetry, Procession. Her poetry explores the inter-generational connections every body shares with their ancestors and descendants, their younger self and future self, and within their communities. This collection also meditates on what a true blessing and honour it is to hold space in the world through our bodies, which contain both our past selves and our ancestry as well as our future selves and our lineage. Each of us contain so much history and meaning just as we are. We bring so much value to our communities and relationships; not just our humans ones but to our non-human kin and natural world too.
This is a deeply moving and empowering collection of poetry that I highly recommend checking out.
September 30, 2025
This is a heartfelt collection of poetry that feels like a memoir about memory, childhood, parties, and the long procession of our lineage. I appreciate the way vermette joyfully anticipates aging as she awaits becoming an elder and ancestor. There’s a sense of responsibility for living a life of care for those yet to come, and a consideration of legacy and love and storytelling. vermette reminds us of the sacredness of land and the ceremony. Procession is rich in teachings and learnings. These poems often share a theme of matriarchal wisdom and a cherishing of women’s culture as it exists in dreams, whispers, and bodies. Thank you to House of Anansi Press for the free copy.
September 27, 2025
Loved these poems!
Thank you to House of Anansi for my copy!
Thank you to House of Anansi for my copy!
December 3, 2025
A witty set of poems both evoking and invoking hope and knowledge. Touches on deep emotions, ideas, and memory with diving so deep that either the writer or reader loses touch at any point.
I'd recommend this collection for those looking to get into poetry, but who aren't sure where to start! The thematic structuring of this collection is exemplar.
Stellar.
I'd recommend this collection for those looking to get into poetry, but who aren't sure where to start! The thematic structuring of this collection is exemplar.
Stellar.
October 30, 2025
loved the flow and format of this so much :)
November 17, 2025
A beautiful and thoughtful collection.
November 12, 2025
Breathtaking.
vermette had a different upbringing than mine, although I also lived in the north end of Winnipeg for four years when I was a child. Yet, poems made me feel as if we had a shared experience. Despite the differences in our upbringing, her poetry resonated with me more than any other poet I have read.
The poem “Snake” where she recounts bike riding as a child reminded me of doing a lot of the same when I was 9 years old. I could see memories of me and my friends riding our bikes around our north Winnipeg neighbourhood.
Her reflections on aging and matriarchy were so beautiful, and expressed a lot of my own feelings. She grew up with an understanding of the importance of women in her life, that community of women that is essential for women to learn what it means to be an individual. In my Christianity experience, that kind of “mentoring” is all about teaching girls to be compliant. vermette reveals a different kind of mentoring. It sounds like a much better system. Her poem “grandmother” is my favourite of the collection, and I also found “her story, her notes,” “things you can say about me when I am dead,” and "Matriarchy/dreamtime” especially profound. Despite our different experiences, I felt like she had read my mind.
Beautiful.
vermette had a different upbringing than mine, although I also lived in the north end of Winnipeg for four years when I was a child. Yet, poems made me feel as if we had a shared experience. Despite the differences in our upbringing, her poetry resonated with me more than any other poet I have read.
The poem “Snake” where she recounts bike riding as a child reminded me of doing a lot of the same when I was 9 years old. I could see memories of me and my friends riding our bikes around our north Winnipeg neighbourhood.
Her reflections on aging and matriarchy were so beautiful, and expressed a lot of my own feelings. She grew up with an understanding of the importance of women in her life, that community of women that is essential for women to learn what it means to be an individual. In my Christianity experience, that kind of “mentoring” is all about teaching girls to be compliant. vermette reveals a different kind of mentoring. It sounds like a much better system. Her poem “grandmother” is my favourite of the collection, and I also found “her story, her notes,” “things you can say about me when I am dead,” and "Matriarchy/dreamtime” especially profound. Despite our different experiences, I felt like she had read my mind.
Beautiful.
October 19, 2025
Thank you to House of Anansi for a copy of Procession. Here are my thoughts.
Procession contains a variety of poems from Katherena Vermette, in which she is exploring ancestry, nostalgia, and the role changes you experience in family through life. Even in the title, you get a snippet at what to expect in these poems. It’s a line moving through life, in the good and bad but things continue to move on. Similarly to a funeral procession, as your loved ones carry you they reflect on your life and how it’s changed while also physically moving you to the next stage.
I read The Break, by Vermette a few years ago and it brought me to tears a few times. I love the way she uses words. When I saw she was releasing a poetry collection I knew I wanted to read it, and I am incredibly happy that I did. She has a stunning vocabulary which adds to the detail an feeling behind each of the poems.
They are broken in to sections and it feels like they carry you through someone’s life. As a child, then a young woman, mother and finally a matriarch. I loved seeing how the attentions to different aspects of life change with where you are in life. I think Matriarchy/dreamtime was my favourite section, it just left this warm feeling in my chest that was really nice to experience.
I know a lot of people are trying to find more indigenous authors to read, and Katherena Vermette should be at the top of your list. This book of poems is a fairly quick read that I will be returning to again and again.
Procession contains a variety of poems from Katherena Vermette, in which she is exploring ancestry, nostalgia, and the role changes you experience in family through life. Even in the title, you get a snippet at what to expect in these poems. It’s a line moving through life, in the good and bad but things continue to move on. Similarly to a funeral procession, as your loved ones carry you they reflect on your life and how it’s changed while also physically moving you to the next stage.
I read The Break, by Vermette a few years ago and it brought me to tears a few times. I love the way she uses words. When I saw she was releasing a poetry collection I knew I wanted to read it, and I am incredibly happy that I did. She has a stunning vocabulary which adds to the detail an feeling behind each of the poems.
They are broken in to sections and it feels like they carry you through someone’s life. As a child, then a young woman, mother and finally a matriarch. I loved seeing how the attentions to different aspects of life change with where you are in life. I think Matriarchy/dreamtime was my favourite section, it just left this warm feeling in my chest that was really nice to experience.
I know a lot of people are trying to find more indigenous authors to read, and Katherena Vermette should be at the top of your list. This book of poems is a fairly quick read that I will be returning to again and again.
September 24, 2025
Katherena Vermette has written some amazing books like “Pemmican Wars” and “The Break” and now I’m adding this to my list of her fav publications.
I really enjoyed the way the collection of poems was separated.
There are 4 sections + interludes, an intro, and an outro.
The first section “Biindigen” uses Anishinaabemowin/ Michif words and phrases as the poem titles. The poem then is centred on the theme of the title.
The rest of the sections are all English names and English titles aside from one (mamère)
My favourite poem in this collection was “Michif”
The collection describes not only the authors lineage, memories, and experiences but also those who will come after them.
I thoroughly enjoyed every poem and see myself reading them again.
This book is perfect for fans of not only Katherena Vermette but those who appreciate interesting and heartfelt poetry!
Thank you to House of Anansi Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the way the collection of poems was separated.
There are 4 sections + interludes, an intro, and an outro.
The first section “Biindigen” uses Anishinaabemowin/ Michif words and phrases as the poem titles. The poem then is centred on the theme of the title.
The rest of the sections are all English names and English titles aside from one (mamère)
My favourite poem in this collection was “Michif”
The collection describes not only the authors lineage, memories, and experiences but also those who will come after them.
I thoroughly enjoyed every poem and see myself reading them again.
This book is perfect for fans of not only Katherena Vermette but those who appreciate interesting and heartfelt poetry!
Thank you to House of Anansi Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2025
An absolutely brilliant collection by Métis/Michif author katherena vermette. I read the whole thing out loud, which, on top of just making poetry more comprehensible to me, was a lot of fun adding in inflection and tone. vermette is a funny writer, as well as deeply insightful and creative one, and her humour shone through with some of those lines.
procession is about family and your place in the lineage of ancestor and descendent; being both descendent of your ancestors and a future ancestor to your descendants. It’s also about grief, the mothers and grandmothers in her life, and the nostalgia of her childhood.
I had the pleasure of hearing her read some of this collection at an event. Specifically, Matriarchy/dreamtime, so it was wonderful revisiting and sitting with those words. That poem is the titular poem of my favourite section of the collection overall too.
I’ve read her prose and now that I’ve read some of her poetry, I’m excited to dive into her backlog more.
procession is about family and your place in the lineage of ancestor and descendent; being both descendent of your ancestors and a future ancestor to your descendants. It’s also about grief, the mothers and grandmothers in her life, and the nostalgia of her childhood.
I had the pleasure of hearing her read some of this collection at an event. Specifically, Matriarchy/dreamtime, so it was wonderful revisiting and sitting with those words. That poem is the titular poem of my favourite section of the collection overall too.
I’ve read her prose and now that I’ve read some of her poetry, I’m excited to dive into her backlog more.
December 19, 2025
I would like to inject these poems into my veins.
Vermette's writing is intensely raw, open, and endearingly humourous. There were a few poems in this collection that I immediately had to reread, they were just so impactful and witty and meaningful. And my god, does she ever know how to end a poem.
Procession is such an apt title for this collection. The succession of poems, starting with beginnings and greetings and a welcome, leading through memories and stories, and ending with teachings and dreamings, felt so much larger than a mere 89 pages. It felt larger than life. This collection is intergenerational, continuous, and everlasting. It will stick with me, and I so look forward to reading more of Vermette's work.
what you were before/children
what you will be after/ancestors
Vermette's writing is intensely raw, open, and endearingly humourous. There were a few poems in this collection that I immediately had to reread, they were just so impactful and witty and meaningful. And my god, does she ever know how to end a poem.
she was absolutely terrified
all the time
did it anyway
Procession is such an apt title for this collection. The succession of poems, starting with beginnings and greetings and a welcome, leading through memories and stories, and ending with teachings and dreamings, felt so much larger than a mere 89 pages. It felt larger than life. This collection is intergenerational, continuous, and everlasting. It will stick with me, and I so look forward to reading more of Vermette's work.
October 5, 2025
Procession by Katherena Vermette is a stunning and deeply emotional poetry collection that explores ancestry, memory, and belonging. Through beautifully crafted verses, Vermette reflects on the interconnectedness of family, history, and identity, creating a sense of both intimacy and legacy. Her words flow with quiet strength, capturing moments of grief, tenderness, and resilience.
Each section feels intentional—like steps in a journey through generations—and the mix of personal reflection and cultural memory makes the collection both powerful and profoundly human. Some poems resonated more strongly than others, but together they form a moving portrait of heritage and healing.
A thoughtful, lyrical collection that lingers long after the final page.
Each section feels intentional—like steps in a journey through generations—and the mix of personal reflection and cultural memory makes the collection both powerful and profoundly human. Some poems resonated more strongly than others, but together they form a moving portrait of heritage and healing.
A thoughtful, lyrical collection that lingers long after the final page.
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October 1, 2025Thank you House of Anasi for a gifted copy - another beautiful poetry collection by Katherena Vermette!
Procession is a poetry collection, and each of Katherena's poetry books have told a different story. A Procession is being part of the line moving together, both in celebration and mourning - our family that came before us and those coming after.
"you can see
your ancestors there
all your relations in
all of you"
As someone who doesn't read a lot of poetry, I really enjoyed this - Katherena has beautiful writing and can tell a story in a few words, which is a hard thing to do.
Procession is a poetry collection, and each of Katherena's poetry books have told a different story. A Procession is being part of the line moving together, both in celebration and mourning - our family that came before us and those coming after.
"you can see
your ancestors there
all your relations in
all of you"
As someone who doesn't read a lot of poetry, I really enjoyed this - Katherena has beautiful writing and can tell a story in a few words, which is a hard thing to do.
Read
September 17, 2025My conversation with vermette discussing the book here:
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
https://umfm.com/programming/broadcas...
September 29, 2025
Thank you House of Anansi for this beautiful book of poems.
October 25, 2025
really enjoyed this book. fave section: matriarchy/dreamtime. would recommend if you are a fan of vermettes past poetry collections (which i am!)
November 16, 2025
A lovely collection of poems about language, aging, what it means to be a good ancestor and descendant.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews