Calling Down the Sky

by Rosanna Deerchild

"Calling Down the Sky" is a poetry collection that describes deep personal experiences and post generational effects of the Canadian Aboriginal Residential School confinements in the 1950's when thousands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were placed in these schools against their parents' wishes. Many were forbidden to speak their language and practice their own culture. The author portrays how the ongoing impact of the residential schools problem has been felt throughout generations and has contributed to social problems that continue to exist today.

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Fiction, Canada, Historical

80 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2015

Reviews

[Erin L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartwrenching poetry written by a daughter about her mother's experience in residential schools. The anger, hurt and betrayal bleeds through the words leaving the reader feeling lost, hopeless and wishing they could help or stop the abuse.

[Cail Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful, poetic narrative recounting a mother's residential school experience. Deerchild captures her mother's voice in a clear, direct style that feels like you're sharing tea in her kitchen.

[kautaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin? This collection has all the good aspects that the previous one had, but better. There were a few new things as well, like the use of brackets and including the dates and names of specific places. Those creative techniques made the poems so much more unique.
Unlike the previous collection, this one was specifically centered around residential schools and their impacts. I don't think people should ever stop talking about residential schools (if that's even possible). There is so much to be learned and understood. Not to mention intergenerational trauma. Residential schools seem to be considered a thing of the past, but for some people, they are ever-present. The emotions in this collection were so well conveyed that I was shocked to find out that the author had based it on her mother's stories rather than experiences she's had first-hand. The pain is so palpable, it almost brought me to tears. Even though I've learned about indigenous peoples and their experiences in residential schools for years as it's compulsory in the curriculum, reading this made me realize there's so much more to learn. I wonder why this collection is not part of the curriculum, it really should be.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

In October 2017, I had the amazing opportunity to attend a talk given by Rosanna Deerchild. She spoke of her mother, the process to have her mother share her experiences at residential school, and the impact it had, and still has, on her. In her storytelling, she would read a poem or two from "Calling Down the Sky". I was moved to tears throughout her presentation and am so honoured and humbled to have been a part of that morning.
As I read the complete volume now, I could hear her voice, making the strong poems even more powerful. Beautifully and hauntingly written, Deerchild conveys her mother's story of innocence lost, survival, and strength.
Anyone on their own path of reconciliation should read this powerful collection of poems.

[inquillery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. Stunningly written. Grateful for this insight.

[Janice Forman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling Down the Sky is not an easy read! It is also not a book to read for enjoyment, but more a book of learning and to help better understand the struggle of residential school survivors and their families.

Through the use of poetry, Deerchild recounts her mother’s residential school experience. The language is simple and powerful. A single word evokes a picture in the reader’s mind; challenges the reader to revisit misconceptions; feel the pain and to help understand the long journey of healing.

The actual reading of Calling Down the Sky can be relatively quick, but thoughts linger — ideally, for me, this book is best read in snippets. Leave it on the table and re-read one of the poems — each reading challenges me to understand a little more!

[Craig M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't really read poetry, but this book is superb. This is a short, but very powerful, book of poetry. The poems are based onDeerchild's mother’s residential school experiences, so they are tough to read at times. The poems are honest, and quite easy to understand. I am sure there are “levels” that I don’t understand, but I got enough out of them to appreciate their depth and to get an idea of the devastation. Some are hopeful though, so the poems are not totally depressing. They are wonderfully written. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Lois Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daughter reviewing her mother's story in an effort to understand the source of power and trauma in both of their lives. This feels familiar as I lived in the shadow of my mother's own history for so long. These poems brought back a lot of the feelings I had about reliving her life in my present.

----Some wonderful interactions on the page and a poignant expose of life in residential schools in Canada.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this poetry. I got hear Rosanna describe her mother at Kingston Writer's Festival and read this afterward...and glad I did it in that order. I could hear Rosanna's voice while I read and some of the sweet/sad/angry stories she told about her mother were like background for the poems.

[Baaanana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry is phenomenal. Some of the poems seriously gave me shivers. This is a must read for every one.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and intense poetry collection focused on generational trauma. While some poems were stronger than others, the collection as a whole built together in such a strong way. It's very much focused on the poet's mother who was in residential schools (and her experiences there, as dark and miserable as they were), and the poet's complex relationship with her mother after that suffering.

While I've heard and read a lot about residential schools and how the traumas caused in them have caused a domino effect of trauma down the generational lines, this collection gets at the feeling of those things. This effects of this book are exactly what Audre Lorde talked about n her essay "Poetry is Not a Luxury" - this collection shows the effects of what poetry can do and be and add to our understanding of the world and its people.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Calling Down the Sky, Rosanna Deerchild tells of her mother's time in a residential school, and of her relationship with her mother. The poetry is simple and straightforward and beautiful, and she tells a story that is raw, emotional, and painful. I read one of her poems from this collection before and loved it, so I am not surprised to have loved this. But it is an instant favourite for me.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a poetry collection or narratives of residential schools. I would definitely reread this and read more from Deerchild in the future.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been and will remain to be one of my favourite poetry collections of all time. Deerchild’s short lines and stanzas pack a wicked punch, cracking open the residential school horror story through the voice of a mother and daughter. The book explores both the direct impact of residential school violence and the indirect reverberations of that violence, and like many other readers, if believe it should be part of Canadian high school curriculums. It’s that good, and that important.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another example of difficult subject matter portrayed in a redemptive manner, this time through poetry. Deerchild tells the story of her mother's experience in residential school and the legacy of that experience, in raw, terse poetry that serves to highlight her own and her mama's hurt and hardship but also resilience. Somehow, reading this history through art form, such as poetry, visual art, and drama, brings its reality to life but in a way that also brings hope and healing.

[Renee Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this collection of poems Rosanna Deerchild portrays her
mother’s voice and her experiences in the residential school she was forced into. The prose is raw and real, written conversationally as if you were sitting at a table over tea with her mother as she tells you of the horrors she endured. This is a powerful series of poems that take us through the journey of a woman finally opening up about her experiences.

[Brian Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching episodes related through a gentle introspective delivery of an ancient culture and tradition. These poems are empowering relaying tragic memories with a power that cannot be denied. The primordial lovely sky of the title summoned down. This volume can serve indigenous people as a reminder, a set of short prayer/stories to recount the historic truth and to retain it.

[Leah Shiloh Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, simple, poignant. It was easy to feel into Rosanna Deerchild's words. Poems as a necessary antidote of beauty, rage and truth to give voice to the unnameable experience of residential schools.

[Lainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poignancy of this book was incredible. It reflected what I would say is the largest stain on Canadian history so incredibly well, exploring generational trauma and the effects of residential schools.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it.

[feux d'artifice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, a powerful poetry collection from beginning to end

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"but you can't forgive and forget
the unnameable

there is no word for what they did
in our language"

[an important but difficult read.]

[Rochelle Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the new year. A beautiful collection of poems. I loved the acknowledgement of Rita Joe, but my favourite was on page 76. The build up broke me when I read that particular poem.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bouleversant.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this for the second time and I love the style of writing. Definitely recommend.

[Jaim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful (and haunting) selection of poetry that gives voice to the impact of residential schools in Canada, not only on the mother but on the child, as well.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful!

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouch my heart. This book of poetry is heart-wrenching and beautifully written. Deerchild captured her mother’s voice and experiences in such an authentic-sounding way. Intergenerational trauma is existent and ongoing. A really important read for everyone.