Whiskey Bullets: Cowboy and Indian Heritage Poems

by Garry Gottfriedson MFA

This edgy collection explores themes of duality that exist in the parallel worlds of cowboys and Indians. Often satirical, "Whiskey Bullets" is a testament to adaptability, turning tragedy into humour and pain into passion. It speaks to the unique experience of growing up aboriginal, on the Tk'emlups Reserve (Secwepemc) near Kamloops, with strong First Nation values and traditions, while at the same time immersed in the cowboy and ranching culture of the interior of BC. Gottfriedson skilfully balances his indigenous vision and contemporary concerns, creating a blend of imagery that stimulates the mind's eye like never before. Shattering the cowboy's code of ethics he unveils hidden truths, unspoken and often ignored, bringing to the fore inescapable issues of gender, sexuality, race and politics, infused with aboriginal attitude. Form and content are carefully conceived to celebrate the distinctive aboriginal individuality, the 'shape-shifting' attitudes that are required when one lives simultaneously in two cultures - Secwepemc and white - and their two languages. Candid and challenging, "Whiskey Bullets" is thought-provoking and engaging.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006