In Our Own Aboriginal Voice: A Collection of Indigenous Authors & Artists in Canada

by Michael Calvert (editor), Edmund Metatawabin (Foreword)

In Our Own Aboriginal Voice 2 is a powerful collection of short fiction, non-fiction, personal essay, poetry, and original Indigenous artwork by Indigenous authors and artists from across Canada. Featuring the work of established authors such as the late Connie Fife, and up-and-coming Aboriginal authors to watch out for (according to CBC Books) Joanne Arnott, Michelle Sylliboy, and Dennis Saddleman, as well as emerging writers from across Canada who shine a light on the lives of Indigenous Peoples living in Canada. The Indigenous selection committee was headed by author Richard Van Camp. Foreword by former Chief Edmund Metatawabin--appointed to the Order of Canada and author of Up Ghost A Chief's Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History , a finalist for the 2014 Governor General's Award.

148 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2019

Reviews

[Meaningless · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to read. Nostalgic.
Sorrow and anger are the driving emotions I felt when reading most of these stories.
The forced, violent assimilation of the Aboriginal Canadian is not fair, it's horrifying.
I'm grateful to have stumbled upon this book again, years after I dropped out of Michael Calvert's class. He was a really amazing teacher! Reading this brought back good memories of those times :')
(I just hope my usage of commas is up to his standard, as that was a huge section we worked on, hehe).

This book provided me with a deeper understanding of the silenced voices of my home country, reminding me of the genocide of a whole multicomplex culture that's recently happened, and to some degree, is still happening - that most of us non-Natives go about our days blissfully ignorant to.
There were stories that I, as a young 100% white bred man, could relate to and saw myself in them. Which made the experience all the more painful to read and reflect on.
There were sweet melodic poems of prayer.
There is a poem that is comically upbeat, but ironically sheds light on something so devasting.
Lastly, there are also stories to aspire to, with hope and promise. Ones that makes me want to work to build a better future, not with hatred and anger at the ones who have caused so much needless physical, spiritual, cultural, and emotional harm, but with love and determination to rebuild broken relations.

I have very mixed feelings and thoughts about this book and what it contains. Some of them contradictory, some of them elusive. What I do know, is that I'm grateful for all that it's brought to me <3

[Christina Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

“In Our Own Aboriginal Voice 2,” edited by Michael Calvert, is an anthology of Indigenous poetry, stories, essays, art and photography. The often very personal narratives and perspectives of living through trauma are raw and real and relate experiences from diverse voices across Turtle Island.

[Madeline Kruschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡