The Work of Our Hands: A Cree Meditation on the Real World

by Adrian Sutherland

In a world yearning for meaning, the path to spiritual renewal may lie through the discipline and freedom that only hard work can show us.

Life is hard in Attawapiskat. Outsiders see the poverty and despair, the sagging, mold-filled houses with generations packed into each one. The substance abuse and the suicides. The decaying water system, that has come to symbolize the everyday injustice faced by First Nations communities.

So why does Juno-nominated Cree musician Adrian Sutherland live there?

The Work of Our Hands reveals a dimension of his own experience that headlines cannot capture and outsiders cannot see. The answer to why? is the answer to how?

By exploring his world through the concrete experience of his hands, as they hold a guitar, a hammer, a rifle, or a cannister used to carry water to his family home, and the materials from which the traditional Cree sweat lodge is constructed, Sutherland not only paints a portrait of a world few of us have ever seen, he also lays out the way the world itself can teach us right and wrong as clearly as we can detect a musical note that is off-key.   

Everyday life in Attawapiskat means choosing a difficult path, learning from the contours and hard edges of the world, and striving to do what is right. That is freedom. How many of us can say we are free?

Gritty, personal, and above all attuned to the meaning that we can discern only when we carefully hold the physical world in our hands, Sutherland’s story pulls us away from the abstractions and false promises of the disembodied reality we have stumbled into to approach deeper truth and meaning.

152 pages, Hardcover

Published December 30, 2025

Reviews

[Bloss ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, reflective memoir. While this audiobook clocks in around 3-ish hours, I took my time with it. I often found myself rewinding and listening to sections again because I found them so impactful.

I mostly listened to this out on my bike rides and was surprised at the range of emotions I felt. At times, I felt my eyes prickle with emotion, at others I was exclaiming 'WHAT!' (particularly around the lack of water security in Attawapiskat). I also felt a kinship, a thread of connection from another human that grew up in Northern Ontario and recognized elements of the land, weather, and animals.

This was a beautiful, emotional book to spend time with. Adrian is a gifted orator and his conversational tone and delivery was fantastic. Listen to it. Then, listen to it again.

My request to review this was approved by Penguin / Viking via NetGalley.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was indeed a very meditative read. It is moving, uncomfortable and eye-opening. It certainly got me thinking in new ways and about new things, and contemplating my relationship to the land I live on and the privileges that I enjoy. Many of us have read about Attawapiskat in the news - I certainly remember reading about the water crisis there, but news coverage often misses the humanity of a situation and it can be all too easy to distance ourselves from that type of news. The author shares his home, his life and his humility with readers with these stories. Told in a non-linear way, the stories each focus on tools that facilitate the author's work of living and connecting with the land, his spirituality and his community and are best enjoyed with a bit of space between each story.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author and it was well done.

I received digital and audio Advance Reader Copies from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing a memoir is always a delicate task; Sutherland’s storytelling is engaging, unconventional, and deeply human. Rather than following a strict chronological path, the memoir is organized topically (an approach I don’t often encounter in this genre but I'm also not an avid memoir reader). Surprisingly, that structure heightened the emotional impact of the book for me. Each thematic section feels intentional, almost like a conversation the author invites you into, allowing readers to understand what it may truly look and feel like to walk in his shoes. I listened to the audiobook, and hearing Sutherland narrate his own story added a meaningful layer. His voice helped me connect with both the content and the emotion behind it.

What stood out most was Sutherland’s candor. He chooses his moments carefully: what to illuminate, what to question, and what to leave for readers to sit with. His honesty gives the memoir a quiet power, and it’s clear that sharing this story with the world has the potential to make it a better, more empathetic place.

I’m grateful to see more modern Indigenous voices represented in publishing, and Sutherland’s contribution here feels both essential and timely. Though the memoir is a relatively short read, it shouldn’t be rushed. I found myself listening to one chapter at a time because each one offers something to reflect on. It may not be a textbook, but there’s certainly plenty to learn.

[Mahnoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This was an absolute masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly give it five stars. What I love about this book is its honesty in depicting life in Attawapiskat, an isolated Cree First Nation located in northern Ontario, Canada. It’s a profound and intensely personal memoir, as well as a philosophical essay, and it’s the first time I’ve read anything quite like it.

We follow Sutherland, a Juno-nominated Cree musician, who doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities, the poverty, despair, and systemic injustice, but also reveals a dimension that outsiders rarely see, and that was what truly caught my attention. I love how he shares his answers to how he stays, survives, and thrives. As a reader who has been to Canada several times, this aspect resonated deeply with me. This book is perfect for readers like me who appreciate stories that confront sadness and tragedy with unflinching honesty, yet transform those realities into a narrative of resilience and hard-won freedom.

Ultimately, this is a personal, gritty, and vital story that pulled me away from the noise of modern, disembodied life. It challenges readers to find meaning and spiritual truth in the simple, difficult act of doing the work right in front of us. It’s a necessary and moving read that will stay with me for a long time.

[Relena_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an especially impactful listen over Indigenous People's Day this year. Sutherland organizes his ideas around objects of importance in his life, grounding his philosophical and spiritual concepts in the tangible world and his particular experiences. His incredible respect for himself, his wife, and his community shine throughout the text, as does the hard work that he's done to create the life that he has today.

From his audiobook narration, it's easy to understand how Sutherland's other job is as an award nominated musician.

I'm going to be returning to these meditations again in the future, and I don't use that word just because it's in the title. As a person who incorporates meditations into their life practices, these are ideas that I can see myself sitting with again and again.

A hearty thank you to NetGalley for this audioARC!

[Lisa Roppel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Work of Our Hands is a memoir of a Cree man on the Attawapiskat First Nation in Northern Ontario, Canada. It is a haunting story of how Canadians have failed our first nations. Adrian Sutherland helps us understand more about the Cree nation and their traditions. It is an audiobook that I could revisit and learn more from each time. It is 4 hours and 46 minutes in length. It is a self narration and narrator's voice was soothing and easy to listen to. It felt as though Adrian Sutherland was talking directly with me and sharing his thoughts, feelings and teachings.

Thank you Net Galley, Adrian Sutherland and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Work of Our Hands is expected to be released on audio on Dec. 30, 2025.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was a quick listen, it was also a deeply impactful memoir about what life living in the Attawapiskat Nation is like. I give full kudos to award-winning musician to his dedication to his place of birth and really appreciated how he wrote about what it's like growing up there. Excellent on audio, this is a book to read over and over and will make you want to do more to improve conditions in First Nations Reserves. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Luna and Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a long book, but one I took the time to pause and re-listen to, to absorb it fully. I try to educate myself as much as I can on other people's realities and oppressions, and this book opened my eyes to some issues I wasn't aware of in my own country. The words are well-told and gorgeous to listen to: the narration done by the author made it even better for me.



Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[JL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful memoir that often felt like a meditation. I listened to the audiobook and appreciated the soothing tone of the author’s voice as he shared his experiences with alcohol abuse and reflected on the culture and beliefs of his Indigenous people. Many thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary ARC. My review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion. Book #95 in 2025

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully done, important & impactful story. I found this heavy & potential complex subject very easy to absorb & enjoy, that really speaks to the quality of the work. The depth on the topic was impressive & clearly well researched.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.

[Carol Curley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoughtful and beautiful memoir. Thanks Libro.FM for this advance copy.

[Dionne Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely memoir, short and sweet. Definitely recommend picking up if interested in First Nations. Also someone living without all this mass digitalization and ai etc

[Anne Jisca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding books written by Indigenous people, sharing their perspectives and views on life. I find it so wholesome. beautiful, meaningful, and grounding.

This book was no different. What peeked my interest in reading it was that it took place in Northern Ontario. I live in Northern Ontario as well and recognized some of the town names. It makes the stories and meditation more relatable and personal.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.