Me Sexy: An Exploration of Native Sex and Sexuality

by Drew Hayden Taylor, Joseph Boyden, Makka Kleist

Is Cree really the sexiest of all languages? Do Native people have less or more public hair? Does Inuit sex have a dark side? These are some of the questions answered in this witty, thoughtful collection. Twelve important voices in the Native culture — including Joseph Boyden, author of Three Day Road, and Marissa Crazytrain, a descendant of Chief Sitting Bull — tackle a variety of previously taboo subjects with humor and insight. Noted comic writer and editor Drew Hayden Taylor wraps it up with an original contribution of his own.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Essays, Sexuality, Canadian Literature, Canada, Native American

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2008

About the author

During the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.

He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.

Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.

The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.

The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.

Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.

Reviews

[k reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of romances over the years - all different kinds. From sweet to dark, contemporary to historical, realistic to fantastic. I like reading about people like me and I like reading about people different than me. I like variety.
But there are some romances I avoid because they make me… uncomfortable at best.

So, I tend to avoid romances that have a Native hero or heroine. Because no matter how hard an author tries, the Native character usually reads to me as a variation of the “Noble Savage” and the depiction of Native sexuality is defined by the perceptions of white people. (And there’s a ton of those kinds of books - usually with “savage” in the title. Savage Love, Savage Ecstasy, Savage Desire, etc.).

I have not come across many romances that do depict Native characters as realistic sexual beings instead of the objectified other and I wasn’t having too much luck finding any. I also came to realize that just because I can recognize racist depictions of Natives doesn’t mean I know enough to recognize accurate depictions and maybe I need to remedy that. Then I found Me Sexy: An Exploration of Native Sex and Sexuality, a collection of essays compiled and edited by Drew Hayden Taylor.

Yeah, I know, it’s not a romance. It’s not even fiction. But it is really interesting. And a good starting point to learn about Native sexuality.

Welcome to what could be called a textbook about some of the most private issues in Native culture. It has been said that how a people makes love or expresses love says more about who they are than all their political, social, and economic writings.

The essays found within deal with a variety of sexual issues. There are coming out stories, essays about pre-christian sexuality, erotic art, pubic hair and creation stories. So many of the essays are terrific. It’s also a highly readable book. There is a nice flow to the writing - especially good since each essay is written by a different author.

I especially enjoyed the essay Indian Love Call because it deals specifically with Indian romances.
…the reason these books are devoured so rabidly by a faithful audience is that readers want more than just a love story - they want one encased in exoticism, one involving a distant but still embraceable culture and environment, far removed from their own existence. It is this sense of foreignness or otherworldliness that makes these stories so enticing.

All in all, well worth the read.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great essays in this anthology! My favorites include: Drew Hayden Taylor's essay on the image of native sexuality created by romance novels, Tomson Highway's essay on the sexy and hilarious Cree language and literature, Nancy Cooper's essay on queerness in the Native community and tradition, Marissa Crazytrain's essay on stripping and Marius P. Tungilik's heartbreaking essay on boarding school sexual assault.

The best one in my opinion is by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm who writes erotica and I'm dying to read more from her. Maybe her anthology Without Reservation: Indigenous Erotica will be my next read.

[Kazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with pretty much all anthologies, there are some amazing essays, as well as some that don't speak to my interests at all. Overall quite positive - I learned a bunch, and have a lot more to think about the intersection of being Native and sexuality.

[Titania Remakes the World]

*********Comment & rating will change after I read the book**********

Most people want variety, or "Something New" (novel, exciting, & definitely what's NOT at home) when seeking out their escapist or racy literature, or new people to date. It gets their brain-chemicals excited leading to a recharge of their hormone-induced excitement. There's also huge genetic drive to mate with extreme Alpha-males, and also Extremely different than your own genetics. Pheromones are very big players here.
Not many people want to dream about what most of us REALLY have at home: a person who does a million thoughtless/clueless things to make us feel very "un-special", and/or a unfit person sitting forever on the couch or out with us at a restaurant tuned-out completely on their electronics after you spent an hour or more trying to look nice for them.
All my female and gay-male friends like the Alpha-Male Archetypes, ex: "YMCA" music group: Cops, Firemen, Cowboys, Military, Doctors, Construction... Races: (Whatever's not at home) Any dude with hot British/Australian/European accents, Black, Asian, E. Asian, Native-American/First Nations.
And then, once they get favorite flavor at home, well, about 7-10 years into it, they start dreaming about a different variety of flavor.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book while browsing through the campus library, and the title caught my eye right away.

Me Sexy is a collection of essays regarding many different aspects of First Nations sexuality. I really enjoyed the variety, as it included coming out experiences, First Nations erotic art critiques, and how sexuality has been talked about (or not) through personal histories and story-telling.

It's a relatively quick read, but something that can be re-read and enjoyed. While I found a few of the essays a bit dry/academic, the more personal stories were very interesting. I'm definitely adding this collection to my "to buy" list.

[TheTyee.ca]

There is an old saying: "The older you get, the less sex you have, and the more you talk about it." If you'll pardon the pun, that makes older people oral experts on sex when it is a little late to be considered sexy.... This society is focused on projecting sexiness only through youth, but many of our elders don't buy into that idea much, and of course neither do I.

read more ...
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/05/06/Fi...

[Asif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad Sarah recommended that i read this book. I have learnt so much more, in a fun (sometimes too fun!) way, about our brothers and sisters that were on this land before it was colonized. I particularly appreciated how the essays in this book opened my eyes to the various worldviews of the Inuit and First Nations people.

[Lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent stories. Thought provoking. My choice of 'best story' in this collection...'Fear Of A Changeling Moon' by Daniel Heath Justice. After checking out DHJ's website, quote;
"How might the world look different if we didn't start with the corrosive and simplistic binary of "savagism vs. civilization"?
I wonder too!

[Vickie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays by Indians on how native sexuality is portrayed in art, literature and society. Some of the essays were really good some not so good. Some funny and some serious.

[Chocho · Rating 2 out of 5]

wasn't really crazy about this book and i'm not a fan of drew hayden taylor. but i did like lee maracle's essay...

[Randilynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concept and content, but hate displaying the cover art while I ride the bus!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Now about that bee dance...

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the essays in this book - I learned so much about Native life and art! There were a lot of incredible quotes in here... I wish I had written them down before I had returned it to the library.

[GateGypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great and very eclectic collection of essays. I learned new things, laughed, got mad, cried a bit, got excited (a few ways!) and in the end was really glad I was able to read this book.

[Danni Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated this collection of essays. I felt really honored to be invited to witness the deeply personal and powerful stories that are shared here.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven, as essay collections usually are, but some themes are approached from multiple perspectives, which adds good depth.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I went into this with zero expectations and I just loved this. Yes, I was quite bummed when I realized that this is a collection of essay, but that feeling quickly went away. Were there some dud essays? Sure. Well, maybe "dud" isn't the right word. Uninteresting would work better because you are never going to be able to make an essay about art exciting to me. Even art with enormous penises didn't excite me. With that being said, 1/3 of the essays absolutely blew me away. I will list my favorites w/ a brief summary down below so you know a little more of what to expect.

My favorite essays
1. Why Cree is the Sexiest of All Languages by Tomson Highway (5/5 stars) Main discussion is why are words like tit and ass terrifying in English, but hysterical in Cree? This is probably my favorite one because this essay made me realize my fundamental issues w/ Christianity.
2. Indian Call Love by Drew Hayden Taylor (5/5) OMG this one was hilarious! This one discusses how Native American's sexuality has been exploited by Eurocentric fantasies (esp in the romance genre).
3. Pre Christian Inuit Sexuality by Makka Kleist (5/5 stars) The title is self-explanatory.
4. Why Cree is the Sexiest of All Languages by Tomson Highway (5/5 stars) Main discussion is why are words like tit and ass terrifying in English, but hysterical in Cree?
5. First Wives Club by Lee Maracle (4/5 stars) Discussion of what is sexy in the Salish culture and how morality and sexuality are intertwined w/ one another.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays was a mixed bag, with a few VERY academic footnoted ones that were too dense and, well, academic, for me to want to enjoy. Most of the other essays were personal, and often funny, and from a diverse group of North American Indigenous writers. From the title and cover of the book, I thought there was going to be more of a critical takedown of representations of First Nations people in pop culture, but only one of those essays was really that, and it was OK. I really enjoyed learning about some of the worldviews of various specific Nations and that was my favorite part.

[Grady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag. The best contributions are the most personal, but perhaps the editor was loose in communicating the brief - the tone ranges from academic to conversational to deeply personal essays to a couple pieces that were phoned in. Those I found most compelling were: Marius Tungilik, the Dark Side of Sex, personal and focused on abuse in residential schools; Daniel Heath Justice, Fear of a Changeling Moon, on the author’s journey of self-acceptance; Gregory Scofield, You Can Always Count on an Anthropologist, same; and Lee Maracle, First Wives Club, a witty essay on sex in Salish culture and folklore.

[Pankaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great, eclectic collection that provides an insight into indigenous humour and deconstructs the prudish approach of their colonizers and the West towards sex. Employing a very private medium - sex - these authors have publicly shared their heritage, culture and the ability to live life fully in spite of being treated poorly and be shamed.

Some of the essays that stand out for me are the ones by Joseph Boyden, Makka Kleist, Drew Hayden Taylor, Marissa Crazitrain and especially Lee Maracle.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories and articles about sexuality and native sex. Nothing to enlightening but a pleasant read.

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved almost every single piece of this book. This was a much needed read for me.


The only downside was the piece written by Joseph Boyden.

[Beary Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4

Interesting ideas in an interesting book.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of essays

[Kit Pangman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays covering a wide perspective on Indigenous sexuality - looking forward to the path paved by the trailblazers contained within this collection!

[MasterSal]

Found a copy which was not printed in the glaring shiny white paper so naturally I bought a copy. Can finally read this

[Ayicia Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all pretty good, had me giggling most of the time. Looooved the personal and traditional stories

[Tayler Fleming]

terrible