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procession
procession: a line of people moving in the same direction; a formal ceremony or celebration, as in a wedding, a funeral, a religious parade. Bestselling novelist and Governor General’s Award–winning poet 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 it 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.
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 it 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.
112 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
About the author
Katherena Vermette
38 books1,369 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 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 13, 2026
Katherena Vermette is honestly a national treasure. These narrative poems were so straightforward and yet completely stunning. The poems about her childhood felt especially immersive, setting scenes I could clearly picture. The standout poem for me was about being the mixed-race, Indigenous child of a white mother, and having people constantly think she was adopted. I definitely recommend this collection!
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book.
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.
October 5, 2026
omw to becoming a poetry girlie
April 15, 2026
Initially, I wasn’t going to take notes while reading but I ended up writing so many side annotations! What a beautiful read for all, indigenous and non indigenous. Especially for women, it is so empowering to read about our ancestors and how we are going to become the next generation of ancestors.
The first poem made me emotional right off the bat. It reminded me of the children who endured Residential Schools (concentration camps) and the children of Palestine. Oh how my heart aches for the children of the world. They are sacred, they are our future. We lose ancestors and hope every time a child is killed.
If you wish to diversify your bookshelves and reading habits I highly recommend picking up this poetry book. Not enough people read diversely! Now, more than ever is the time to start. Especially if you live on Turtle Island (North America), this is your sign to start reading books by Native authors!
The first poem made me emotional right off the bat. It reminded me of the children who endured Residential Schools (concentration camps) and the children of Palestine. Oh how my heart aches for the children of the world. They are sacred, they are our future. We lose ancestors and hope every time a child is killed.
If you wish to diversify your bookshelves and reading habits I highly recommend picking up this poetry book. Not enough people read diversely! Now, more than ever is the time to start. Especially if you live on Turtle Island (North America), this is your sign to start reading books by Native authors!
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.
March 14, 2026
Unfortunately I did not like this as much as I thought I would. The collection's theme to empower womanhood and how we as humans will continue to carry each other on is super important and impactful, in my opinion; however, the poems themselves read very much like insta-poetry, or streams of consciousness with careless line breaks posted on social media, which diminishes the message the form is trying to impart.
That being said, the collecion has excellent structure, conveying a deep message with the occassional great imagery. I am curious to read Katherena's other works, but in prose only.
That being said, the collecion has excellent structure, conveying a deep message with the occassional great imagery. I am curious to read Katherena's other works, but in prose only.
January 3, 2026
I’m a big fan of katherena vermette’s poetry and prose. This latest book is no exception. I devoured these poems and will doubtless return to them again for another helping.
January 31, 2026
"We don't do art to be good
we get good by doing art
but real good art is the love of it."
we get good by doing art
but real good art is the love of it."
June 19, 2026
"live life / as if / you've chosen it / you are your own / sun this world / your creation / spellcraft every day"
July 25, 2026
I think this is the first poetry book I’ve read start to finish. There is so much beauty and familiarity in these poems. I’ve never been one to connect to this style of writing until now - I feel like I was able to understand the emotion behind it all. Highly recommend
October 30, 2025
loved the flow and format of this so much :)
January 11, 2026
Beautiful indigenous poetry. Mamere and Bury Me Dirty was especially touching to me.
you will be
what you have always known
you should have always been
you will be
what you have always known
you should have always been
November 17, 2025
A beautiful and thoughtful collection.
March 28, 2026
"writing is one of two things -/it's for you/or it's for other people" (p. 59)
I'm a huge fan of Katherena Vermette's work. Her poetic words often remind me of soft moccasin footsteps over Mother Earth: a gentle journey of discovery with a bit of humour and bite.
However, this third collection "procession" left me with mixed feelings and perhaps that is okay. It's tough to judge a poem about subject matter that one is unfamiliar with. That is one of the benefits of reading: to learn more about other cultures and experiences. This author continues to teach me so much.
Her 96-page collection is divided into numerous sections and each showcases a variety of styles: from short minimalist poems that barely cover a page to longer three to six page poems. Much of the work is written in first person for a more intimate feel but Vermette also keeps a distance when writing in the second person. There are few poems written in the third person.
The first section includes title names I was unfamiliar with and focused on such subjects as dreams, "magick", greetings, Mother Earth, grandmother Moon, language, and learning from ancestors. In describing grandmother Moon, she wrote: "old/grey/grated with age/like cheese." I loved that line.
In the section "carry memory", she explained the "poems describe actual photos of my family, Ernest Senior and Junior, Alma, Esther, Pierre Vermette" (p. 93). My favourite poem in this section was "if it were a river" and my favourite line was included in her poem "Mamere": "you're kneaded dough/made too quick and lumpy/you're burnt raisin pie/so good it's still raved about." (p. 29)
In the section "make beautiful", the poet goes back in time to childhood and adolescent memories and "this is what a Matriarch looks like" (p. 61).
This Matriarch theme continues in the section "Matriarchy/dreamtime" and includes some strong memorable lines: "you will grow old/your flesh will fall/like a map your skin/will draw deep lines" (p. 87)
One of the dangers of reading a poet's later work is that it is often compared with earlier work.
Her first collection "North End Love Songs" is still my favourite and its strength shadows Vermette's last two poetry collections.
And yet, maintaining an authentic voice is vital as Vermette writes in her concluding poem:
"then one day I realized/if I deny my voice/I deny my grandmothers/my many mothers/before my mother/as inadequate as I may be/I am all they have" ( p. 89)
Would her grandmothers be happy with the swearing in her poem "things you can say about me when I am dead"? Some might find this humorous. Some might find it offensive. Who am I to judge?
Vermette might write for herself but she definitely also writes to share her voice and thoughts with others. We can all be thankful for that.
I'm a huge fan of Katherena Vermette's work. Her poetic words often remind me of soft moccasin footsteps over Mother Earth: a gentle journey of discovery with a bit of humour and bite.
However, this third collection "procession" left me with mixed feelings and perhaps that is okay. It's tough to judge a poem about subject matter that one is unfamiliar with. That is one of the benefits of reading: to learn more about other cultures and experiences. This author continues to teach me so much.
Her 96-page collection is divided into numerous sections and each showcases a variety of styles: from short minimalist poems that barely cover a page to longer three to six page poems. Much of the work is written in first person for a more intimate feel but Vermette also keeps a distance when writing in the second person. There are few poems written in the third person.
The first section includes title names I was unfamiliar with and focused on such subjects as dreams, "magick", greetings, Mother Earth, grandmother Moon, language, and learning from ancestors. In describing grandmother Moon, she wrote: "old/grey/grated with age/like cheese." I loved that line.
In the section "carry memory", she explained the "poems describe actual photos of my family, Ernest Senior and Junior, Alma, Esther, Pierre Vermette" (p. 93). My favourite poem in this section was "if it were a river" and my favourite line was included in her poem "Mamere": "you're kneaded dough/made too quick and lumpy/you're burnt raisin pie/so good it's still raved about." (p. 29)
In the section "make beautiful", the poet goes back in time to childhood and adolescent memories and "this is what a Matriarch looks like" (p. 61).
This Matriarch theme continues in the section "Matriarchy/dreamtime" and includes some strong memorable lines: "you will grow old/your flesh will fall/like a map your skin/will draw deep lines" (p. 87)
One of the dangers of reading a poet's later work is that it is often compared with earlier work.
Her first collection "North End Love Songs" is still my favourite and its strength shadows Vermette's last two poetry collections.
And yet, maintaining an authentic voice is vital as Vermette writes in her concluding poem:
"then one day I realized/if I deny my voice/I deny my grandmothers/my many mothers/before my mother/as inadequate as I may be/I am all they have" ( p. 89)
Would her grandmothers be happy with the swearing in her poem "things you can say about me when I am dead"? Some might find this humorous. Some might find it offensive. Who am I to judge?
Vermette might write for herself but she definitely also writes to share her voice and thoughts with others. We can all be thankful for that.
May 4, 2026
I went into this primed to love it. I'm already a big fan of her writing (she's probably one of my favourite poets), and early in 2025 I had the absolute pleasure of seeing her perform some of these poems. My local library hosted her for a poetry event, and she did a reading of Real Ones (which had been out a few months at the time), poetry from previous collections or publications, and a couple of poems from Procession, months before it was released. It was a real treat.
This collection really lived up to my lofty expectations. Her poems about Michif and Anishinaabemowin words were really beautiful meditations on Indigenous language and how the words are used. Her poems on matriarchy and about her grandmothers were so warm and beautiful. There's a sense of nostalgia that is comforting, tinged only with the slightest bit of maudlin feeling. It made me miss loved ones who have been gone for years, but it made me feel connected with them too. The poems that described and evoked photography were different from what I'm used to from her, but in a good way.
This is an excellent collection. I highly recommend checking it out if you get the chance. I'll have to revisit it in the future.
This collection really lived up to my lofty expectations. Her poems about Michif and Anishinaabemowin words were really beautiful meditations on Indigenous language and how the words are used. Her poems on matriarchy and about her grandmothers were so warm and beautiful. There's a sense of nostalgia that is comforting, tinged only with the slightest bit of maudlin feeling. It made me miss loved ones who have been gone for years, but it made me feel connected with them too. The poems that described and evoked photography were different from what I'm used to from her, but in a good way.
This is an excellent collection. I highly recommend checking it out if you get the chance. I'll have to revisit it in the future.
October 15, 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 4, 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.
February 5, 2026
Procession is the first book I have had the opportunity to read from Katherena Vermette and it won’t be the last, I have two others currently on my bookshelf. Poetry isn’t normally my favourite but this book was so gorgeous I couldn’t say no. The poems in this book read so smoothly and they made me feel things. The beginning was so cheerful or felt like it was and happy and then the middle gets a bit sad or darker. It was interesting to feel that so viscerally. My favourite was Mamère, it actually made me think of a song i like from when i was a teenager called Drop Me In The Well by The Rocky Fortune.
I would recommend this read to others and I can’t wait to pick up more of her works.
I would recommend this read to others and I can’t wait to pick up more of her works.
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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.
October 19, 2026
Found this gem in a small bookshop on Granville Island (Vancouver). Made a great trip even better. I love poetry that makes me think, not just feel, and this collection accomplished that. Now I have to go out and find her other books.
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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.
January 11, 2026
Really good poetry book. I enjoyed reading it and I hope the author publishes more of her work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews