Taapoategl & Pallet

by Peter J. Clair

The practice and celebration of storytelling is a touchstone of cultural survival for First Nation People right across Canada. With Taapoategl & Pallet, Peter Clair adds his voice to this narrative tradition and makes a contribution to Indigenous literature.

The Mi’kmaq culture was one of many disrupted by European colonizers. The effect of this disruption and the long path of recovery are at the centre of this book, along with numerous stories from the Mi’kmaq oral tradition.

This novel is a work of imagination. It creates the parallel stories of Taapoategl, starting in the mid 18th century, and Pallet, starting in the mid 20th century. Taapoategl’s story is one of incredible faithfulness to culture and family. Pallet’s story is one of a wilderness quest for personal and cultural identity. The stories of Taapoategl and Pallet converge in a dramatic an unforgettable way.

228 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jim Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal Mi'maq storytelling.

[Bri 🩷 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to like this but I found Pallet’s point of view to be a slog to get through, and the overall manuscript was poorly edited. I did enjoy Taapoategl’s story though, and the exploration of Indigenous storytelling was interesting.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I still think it could have gone through one more editing cycle, even my initial questions about writing choices made me rethink my (white, western) assumptions about how storytelling is supposed to work. I particularly love how this book starts with the importance of Indigenous literacy long before the arrival of colonizers. The emphasis on stories and the fluid, dancing movement of the narrative reminded me both of Thomas King's "The Truth About Stories" and "Green Grass, Running Water." I hope to live my life a little differently because I've read this.

[Mrs. Ruigrok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was very eye opening and an incredible read. At first, I found the language made it a challenging read for me but the more I read, the more I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. This book makes you think and is a book that should be read again and again. I suspect that I will learn so much more the next time around. This book is a story about the Mi'kmaq culture and how it was disrupted by European colonizers but there is so much more than that. It is powerful and unforgettable.

[Zev Bagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Clair is a weaver of baskets, and he weaves his stories in a way that reflects his art. Pallet is a young Mi'kmaq man who goes on a five-year journey to discover his roots and himself. On the way, he meets many characters who tell their own tales and help, or hinder him on his way. In parallel, we meet a young girl as she is abducted by hunters and struggles to find her way back to her family.

This is a tale full of magical and moving stories. I learned much about the indigenous way (and words) of life.

[Angela Joynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taapoategl and Pallet is one of the most unusual, intriguing books I have ever read.
I love how Mr. Clair weaves the two stories of Native Maritime history together in an exquisite tapestry.
The plots are deceivingly simple and gentle at first and build until the final moments, which cannot be missed.
I will never forget the impact of this novel.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story about stories and the land and people that hold them.