Sojourners and Sundogs: First Nations Fiction

by Lee Maracle

Here is a new combined edition of Lee Maracle's best-loved works of fiction. True to the principles of First Nations oratory, the novel (Sundogs) and short stories (Sojourner's Truth and Other Stories) in this volume are layered with unresolved human dilemmas. Maracle writes with love and humor, whether she's telling the tragic story of a boy's attempt to escape residential school or offering an intimate look at one family's struggle during the Mohawk Warrior Society's defiant stand at Oka. These are stories of the heart -- daring and imaginative, crossing cultures and generations -- by a vital and visionary writer.

Genres: Indigenous, Short Stories, Fiction, Canada

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2002

About the author

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she grew up in the neighbouring city of North Vancouver and attended Simon Fraser University. She was one of the first Aboriginal people to be published in the early 1970s.

Maracle is one of the most prolific aboriginal authors in Canada and a recognized authority on issues pertaining to aboriginal people and aboriginal literature. She is an award-winning poet, novelist, performance storyteller, scriptwriter, actor and keeper/mythmaker among the Stó:lō people.

Maracle was one of the founders of the En’owkin International School of Writing in Penticton, British Columbia and the cultural director of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.

Maracle has given hundreds of speeches on political, historical, and feminist sociological topics related to native people, and conducted dozens of workshops on personal and cultural reclamation. She has served as a consultant on First Nations’ self-government and has an extensive history
in community development. She has been described as “a walking history book” and an international expert on Canadian First Nations culture and history.

Maracle has taught at the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Southern Oregon University and has served as professor of Canadian culture at Western Washington University. She currently lives in Toronto, teaching at the University of Toronto First Nations House. She most recently was the writer-in-residence at the University of Guelph.

Reviews

[Max Boock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite, but an interesting perspective that I am glad I read.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel included in this collection, Sundogs, was wonderful. I loved how Marianne's voice actually changed as her journey to understanding herself, her family, her place progressed. There is also a lot of wisdom and thought provoking writing that left me with a richer understanding of the events around Meech Lake and Elijah Harper's stand.

I didn't love most of the short stories quite as much, but there was also some powerful writing and rich characters and stories there. I did really like the last story, World War I, and the story Polka Partners, Uptown Indians and White Folks.