Otter’s Journey through Indigenous Language and Law

by Lindsay Keegitah Borrows

Storytelling has the capacity to address feelings and demonstrate themes – to illuminate beyond argument and theoretical exposition. In Otter’s Journey, Borrows makes use of the Anishinaabe tradition of storytelling to explore how the work in Indigenous language revitalization can inform the emerging field of Indigenous legal revitalization. She follows Otter, a dodem (clan) relation from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, on a journey across Anishinaabe, Inuit, Māori, Coast Salish, and Abenaki territories, through a narrative of Indigenous resurgence. In doing so, she reveals that the processes, philosophies, and practices flowing from Indigenous languages and laws can emerge from under the layers of colonial laws, policies, and languages to become guiding principles in people’s contemporary lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2018

Reviews

[Rick Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book of stories

I particularly enjoyed the Indigenous stories. I think I have come to understand that each Indigenous word has a descriptive meaning which makes these stories so interesting and so relevant. Clearly, indigenous language needs to be revived for all of us.

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is medicine in this book.
It is not a perfect book, I do not think such a thing is possible, but I do believe it is a good book.