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Stolen Life: Journey Of A Cree Woman
"Written with primal intensity, touched with redeeming compassion, Rudy Wiebe--has explored our history, our roots and the secrets of our hearts with moral seriousness and great feeling." - Governor General's Award for Fiction Citation, l994
A powerful, major work of non-fiction, beautifully written, with the impact of Mikal Gilmore's Shot in the Heart, from the twice winner of the Governor General's Award for Fiction and the great-great-granddaughter of Big Bear.
This is a story about justice, and terrible injustices, a story about a murder, and a courtroom drama as compelling as any thriller as it unravels the events that put Yvonne Johnson behind bars for life, first in Kingston's Federal Prison for Women until the riot that closed it, and presently in the Okimaw Ochi Healing Lodge in the Cypress Hills. But above all it is the unforgettable true story of the life of a Native woman who has decided to speak out and break the silence, written with the redeeming compassion that marks all Rudy Wiebe's writing, and informed throughout by Yvonne Johnson's own intelligence and poetic eloquence.
Characters and events spring to life with the vividness of fiction. The story is told sometimes in the first person by Rudy Wiebe, sometimes by Yvonne herself. He tracks down the details of Yvonne's early life in Butte, Montana, as a child with a double-cleft palate, unable to speak until the kindness of one man provided the necessary operations; the murder of her beloved brother while in police custody; her life of sexual abuse at the hands of another brother, grandfather and others; her escape to Canada - to Winnipeg and Wetaskiwin; the traumas of her life thatled to alcoholism, and her slow descent into hell despite the love she found with her husband and three children.
He reveals how she participated, with three others, in the murder of the man she believed to be a child abuser; he unravels the police story, taking us step by step, with jail-taped transcripts, through the police attempts to set one member of the group against the others in their search for a conviction - and the courtroom drama that followed. And Yvonne openly examines her life and, through her grandmother, comes to understand the legacy she has inherited from her ancestor Big Bear; having been led through pain to wisdom, she brings us with her to the point where she finds spiritual strength in passing on the lessons and understandings of her life.
How the great-great-granddaughter of Big Bear reached out to the author of The Temptations of Big Bear to help her tell her story is itself an extraordinary tale. The co-authorship between one of Canada's foremost writers and the only Native woman in Canada serving life imprisonment for murder has produced a deeply moving, raw and honest book that speaks to all of us, and gives us new insight into the society we live in, while offering a deeply moving affirmation of spiritual healing.
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
44 people are currently reading
1302 people want to read
About the author
Rudy Wiebe
38 books44 followersWiebe was born at Speedwell, near Fairholme, Saskatchewan in what would later become his family’s chicken barn. For thirteen years he lived in an isolated Mennonite community of about 250 people. He did not speak English until age six since Mennonites at that time customarily spoke Low German at home and standard German at Church. He attended the small school three miles from his farm and the Speedwell Mennonite Brethren Church.
He received his B.A. in 1956 from the University of Alberta and then studied at the University of Tübingen in West Germany. In 1958 he married Tena Isaak, with whom he had two children.
He is deeply committed to the literary culture of Canada and has shown a particular interest in the traditions and struggles of people in the Prairie provinces, both whites and Aboriginals.
Wiebe won the Governor General's Award for Fiction twice, for The Temptations of Big Bear (1973) and A Discovery of Strangers (1994). He was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal in 1986. In 2000 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He received his B.A. in 1956 from the University of Alberta and then studied at the University of Tübingen in West Germany. In 1958 he married Tena Isaak, with whom he had two children.
He is deeply committed to the literary culture of Canada and has shown a particular interest in the traditions and struggles of people in the Prairie provinces, both whites and Aboriginals.
Wiebe won the Governor General's Award for Fiction twice, for The Temptations of Big Bear (1973) and A Discovery of Strangers (1994). He was awarded the Royal Society of Canada's Lorne Pierce Medal in 1986. In 2000 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
February 23, 2016
This is one of the most compelling books I have ever read. Was the subject matter troubling? Were there many horrific events and depictions. Yes. But it was a story that needed to be told. It needed to be told because it illustrates what colonization and the oppressive colonial attitude has done and continues to do to Canada's First Nations peoples. Those of us in the settler community MUST be made aware of what our ancestors did. And we must examine our own attitudes and how they perpetuate the colonial attitude. And in becoming aware, we must have our eyes opened to the horrors that far too many FN people have endured. Pleasant to read? Not at all. So imagine then, what it was like for Yvonne Johnson to be raped as many times as she was - starting at age 3! Imagine what it is like to be brutalized by the very people entrusted to protect her - her parents, her siblings, her aunts & uncles and . . . the police.
I cannot and will not justify the death of another human being at the hands of another. But, I can understand what brought Yvonne to that place. I cannot understand however, how and why she received the harshest sentence of all those involved. Nor can she.
Yvonne was born into a life of horror and lived a life of horror for 27 years before her incarceration. And yet . . . she has risen above it all. She has forgiven her rapists. She has been generous in spirit with her oppressors and betrayers. Her story needed to be told not just for her own healing, but so that we may all join her in healing the larger population, including ourselves. Without the stories, as horrific as they are, there can be no understanding. Without understanding, there can be no reconciliation. Without reconciliation there can be no healing. For any of us.
This is one of those rare books that will stay on my bookshelf forever.
I cannot and will not justify the death of another human being at the hands of another. But, I can understand what brought Yvonne to that place. I cannot understand however, how and why she received the harshest sentence of all those involved. Nor can she.
Yvonne was born into a life of horror and lived a life of horror for 27 years before her incarceration. And yet . . . she has risen above it all. She has forgiven her rapists. She has been generous in spirit with her oppressors and betrayers. Her story needed to be told not just for her own healing, but so that we may all join her in healing the larger population, including ourselves. Without the stories, as horrific as they are, there can be no understanding. Without understanding, there can be no reconciliation. Without reconciliation there can be no healing. For any of us.
This is one of those rare books that will stay on my bookshelf forever.
January 7, 2008
If you ever start to whine about what a tough life you have, just read this book. You will become grateful for all the goodness in your life when you compare Yvonne Johnson's life with yours. Recommend you read this book with a strong heart and a box of tissues handy.
January 12, 2022
Raw, honest and heartbreaking. This book is not only difficult to put down, but also difficult to imagine the horrific events that are woven into the life story of Yvonne Johnson. In prison for murder, the story unravels Johnson’s experiences of abuse, racism and the socioeconomic realities that many aboriginals face in North America. While Johnson does not shy away from ownership of her past mistakes, Wiebe highlights flaws in the legal and justice system through his own investigations and deconstruction of events. Wiebe constructs the various fragments and pieces of Johnson’s life into a tangible journey of understanding. Although written nearly 10 years ago, this is a must read for every Canadian to gain further understanding (and compassion) on issues such as intergenerational trauma, sexual abuse, justice, and systemic racism.
August 14, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars. This book. To say this book was difficult to read is totally insignificant compared to the fact that another human suffered this unbearably difficult, actual life. This is a well written, intense book that is an important read. I am in awe of Yvonne Johnson and her resilience. Read, learn, do better.
August 26, 2010
Wow, this book really made me stop and think about what our ancestors did to the native people of this land. It made me sad that people can be so cruel under the guise of religion. It also made me examine my own prejudices I have toward our First Nations people. This story is so heartbreaking, so raw and at times unbearable, but her voice needs to be heard. She is one of the lucky ones-she's a survivor. Hopefully, she can help us to better understand the aboriginal community, and help her people to speak out and break the cycle of addiction and abuse. Thank you Yvonne.
December 22, 2021
This was an incredibly difficult read particularly the terrible child abuse. It’s hard to imagine surviving or wanting to survive after all that happened to Yvonne. I was angry that she still loved her family and at the gross failures in our legal system. And the injustice towards indigenous in both Canada and the US. And this is a true story.
July 11, 2022
Stolen Life was such a difficult, gut-wrenching read. Rudy Wiebe and Yvonne Johnson, a Cree woman from the prairies, tell her life story and share her spiritual redemption. After a childhood and young adulthood of abuse and torment, she is involved in the murder of a local man, who was possibly a pedophile and who had showed up at her house, on her cousin’s invitation. Three other people also participated in his death, but Yvonne was the only one to receive a life sentence for first degree murder.
Johnson’s words, feelings, and thoughts shine through the text, and Wiebe carefully demonstrates how justice was not served in Johnson’s trial in Westakiwin, Alberta using court documents, interviews, the transcript of the trial, and Yvonne’s extensive notes and journals. According to respected attorney Felicity Hunter, sentencing Yvonne to first degree murder was a “gross travesty of justice”, and Wiebe shares that her expertise “corroborates the reputation the Westakiwin Judicial District, from which Yvonne’s all-white, largely male jury were drawn, has in Alberta legal circles: for certain crimes, the chance of getting a fair trial there is almost nil”.
Although Yvonne went to prison 30 years ago, and has since been released on parole, and this book was first published not long after, it feels intensely topical in light of the 2018 acquittal of Gerald Stanley, who shot and killed Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Indigenous man.
Johnson’s words, feelings, and thoughts shine through the text, and Wiebe carefully demonstrates how justice was not served in Johnson’s trial in Westakiwin, Alberta using court documents, interviews, the transcript of the trial, and Yvonne’s extensive notes and journals. According to respected attorney Felicity Hunter, sentencing Yvonne to first degree murder was a “gross travesty of justice”, and Wiebe shares that her expertise “corroborates the reputation the Westakiwin Judicial District, from which Yvonne’s all-white, largely male jury were drawn, has in Alberta legal circles: for certain crimes, the chance of getting a fair trial there is almost nil”.
Although Yvonne went to prison 30 years ago, and has since been released on parole, and this book was first published not long after, it feels intensely topical in light of the 2018 acquittal of Gerald Stanley, who shot and killed Colten Boushie, a 22-year-old Indigenous man.
November 26, 2018
Reading this book totally gutted me. I’ll never be able to go back comfortably to my safe, white, middle-class life now that I’ve experienced the violence, sexual abuse and trauma that Yvonne Johnson endured from the time she was a very young child. When this book was published 20 years ago, I avoided it for those very reasons, but it’s a story all white Canadians should read, because so much of the horror of her life arises from the trauma caused by settler treatment of First Nations people. And we have no right NOT to know this. What is most amazing it that Yvonne Johnson had the intelligence and will to find her own voice and tell her story, and I’m grateful that writer/professor Rudy Wiebe worked with her to ensure it was published.
Read
August 19, 2011This book was great. Hard to put down, but then hard to read at times because of the horrific treatment of aboriginal peoples in their own community and by the "white" people. Yvonne Johnson is a very strong and courageous person for putting her life in print like this. Recommended to all my friends! Thanks to Mary for lending it to me.
March 4, 2013
Terrible! not the writing just the subject matter was beyond what I could stomach. I got to page 144 and it was truly a gross number of assaults, rapes, traumas that I couldn't bare to continue long enough to find out why she was in jail. I can count the number of books in my life on one hand that I could not, would not finish this one joins that count.
October 2, 2014
Too bleak to finish
August 6, 2012
Pretty depressing subject matter and harsh to read. Interesting but not particularily well written.
June 10, 2019
The most difficult and heartbreaking book I've ever read -- and one that I think should be required reading for every Canadian.
It is so easy to judge when we don't know what people have suffered ... this book does a heartrending job of sharing what Yvonne and her family experienced.
It is so easy to judge when we don't know what people have suffered ... this book does a heartrending job of sharing what Yvonne and her family experienced.
November 19, 2018
This was the hardest book for me to read in years. I would not have started it, or continued past the beginning, but my daughter said I had to. Part of it was that I was not enamored of Rudy Weibe's writing. I had to wade through his long descriptions of scenery and long explanations of the background of the book. Most of this was necessary, but for me, the book came alive when he let Yvonne Johnson talk.
The abuse that Yvonne suffered her whole life was horrendous. And the fact that she was in a culture where that abuse was not only not talked about, but pervasive, is horrifying. This is not just the Native culture, where everything was torn to pieces when the white culture took over. It's also the white side of her family and many others. I mean, her husband was the good guy in the book, because he was a quiet alcoholic rather than a mean one, didn't beat her up very often, and semi-apologized the times she found out that he cheated on her.
Yvonne describes her mental/emotional problems very clearly. I don't recall the term PTSD being used, but not only did she have that, the term is inadequate to describe the depth of her trauma and what it did to her personality. And it was ongoing; the abuse never ended--and nobody said it wasn't okay--until she was behind bars. She was no angel or victim; she was a brawler, an alcoholic, and promiscuous (mainly to get approval or avoid conflict; she got no enjoyment from sex). And she participated in the murder that got her into prison.
In prison, she (re?-)connected with Native spirituality. She worked to get a clear understanding of the abuse she endured from childhood. Trauma changes the ways memories are formed, and hers started when she was very young, so she had to reconstruct what probably happened. She also worked to get a clear understanding of why she felt and acted as she did, and to heal as much as possible. This was very hard work, and she managed to come up with the resources to do it. Her intelligence and growing strength come through clearly in her writing.
The abuse that Yvonne suffered her whole life was horrendous. And the fact that she was in a culture where that abuse was not only not talked about, but pervasive, is horrifying. This is not just the Native culture, where everything was torn to pieces when the white culture took over. It's also the white side of her family and many others. I mean, her husband was the good guy in the book, because he was a quiet alcoholic rather than a mean one, didn't beat her up very often, and semi-apologized the times she found out that he cheated on her.
Yvonne describes her mental/emotional problems very clearly. I don't recall the term PTSD being used, but not only did she have that, the term is inadequate to describe the depth of her trauma and what it did to her personality. And it was ongoing; the abuse never ended--and nobody said it wasn't okay--until she was behind bars. She was no angel or victim; she was a brawler, an alcoholic, and promiscuous (mainly to get approval or avoid conflict; she got no enjoyment from sex). And she participated in the murder that got her into prison.
In prison, she (re?-)connected with Native spirituality. She worked to get a clear understanding of the abuse she endured from childhood. Trauma changes the ways memories are formed, and hers started when she was very young, so she had to reconstruct what probably happened. She also worked to get a clear understanding of why she felt and acted as she did, and to heal as much as possible. This was very hard work, and she managed to come up with the resources to do it. Her intelligence and growing strength come through clearly in her writing.
July 31, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to rate this. I wanted to quit reading it so many times because I didn’t want to see what she was describing. But because she had to live jt I decided the least I could do was read it. It was the hardest book I’ve ever read. Heartbreaking on so many accounts. Trigger warning for abuse, r*p* and suic*de. Read with caution.
August 30, 2013
I read this book for my Toastmaster Book Club.
I have always said that everyone has a story. To take this further, some people want to tell ther story, some don't. Some people know how to tell a story, others don't know how to tell a story. Yvonne Johnson was a person that had a story to tell, she just didn't how to tell it. She made a decision in contacting Rudy Wiebe to help her write her story. Rudy Wiebe is an accomplished and award winning author. She made a great decision.
Yvonne was woman born of a Cree woman and a white man. She condidered herself Cree. She spent more time with her Cree relations than her white relations. She also had a violent and abusive upbringing. Then, just when it appeared that her life was starting to go good, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison for her part in a murder.
It was during this time in prison that she contacted Wiebe to write the book. In reading this book, you can tell where the story is written more by Yvonne than Rudy. Her writing is all over the place. She talks about something at one point in her life, then jump to an earlier point. This can be confusing. Rudy did an excellent job of trying to organize here writing into a followable sequence. Yvonne tells a little of the actual murder. Much of the story comes from the other people that were involved.
If you want to read about the underside of first nation life in Canada, I recommend this book. This book can be intense at time. Some members of my book club were un able to read portions of the story. Actually, everyone should read this book.
I have always said that everyone has a story. To take this further, some people want to tell ther story, some don't. Some people know how to tell a story, others don't know how to tell a story. Yvonne Johnson was a person that had a story to tell, she just didn't how to tell it. She made a decision in contacting Rudy Wiebe to help her write her story. Rudy Wiebe is an accomplished and award winning author. She made a great decision.
Yvonne was woman born of a Cree woman and a white man. She condidered herself Cree. She spent more time with her Cree relations than her white relations. She also had a violent and abusive upbringing. Then, just when it appeared that her life was starting to go good, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison for her part in a murder.
It was during this time in prison that she contacted Wiebe to write the book. In reading this book, you can tell where the story is written more by Yvonne than Rudy. Her writing is all over the place. She talks about something at one point in her life, then jump to an earlier point. This can be confusing. Rudy did an excellent job of trying to organize here writing into a followable sequence. Yvonne tells a little of the actual murder. Much of the story comes from the other people that were involved.
If you want to read about the underside of first nation life in Canada, I recommend this book. This book can be intense at time. Some members of my book club were un able to read portions of the story. Actually, everyone should read this book.
May 11, 2016
This novel is about the life of a Cree woman, Yvonne Johnson. Even after reading only the first page, you can already get the idea that she has definitely not had it very easy. Yvonne has had to deal with many traumatic experiences and heartbreak throughout her life. From the day she was born, there have been people that have viewed Yvonne as weak; as a target. But "weak" is definitely not a word I would use to describe her as. Yvonne was born with a cleft palate, causing her to not be capable of speaking properly, so people, including her family members, thought they could take advantage of that... and they definitely did. Over the years, she's been mentally, physically, and sexually abused. Even though she's gotten many surgeries and treatments that have made that problem extremely better, she will always have the unforgettable memories. A great deal of the people she's encountered in her life have both hurt and betrayed her. But despite everything she's gone through, she's never given up. No matter how much she so desperately wanted to. This book turned out to be better than I thought it would. But, this book is definitely not for everyone. It is extremely raw and honest, especially during the parts when Yvonne talks about her many experiences with abuse. It can be quite disturbing at times, but it needs to be. Otherwise, Yvonne wouldn't really be telling her story. Overall, I liked this book, especially because the author didn't try to hide and cover up parts of her story to make it more bearable for the readers. It would lose the true effect and impact that way.
May 3, 2015
An often harsh, but apparently honest, reflective biography of Yvonne Johnson,a mixed Cree/Norwegian woman incarcerated for first degree murder.
Well researched and guided by Rudy Wiebe, with moments of shear beauty found in some of Yvonne Johnson's writing, it is none-the-less an emotionally difficult read for anyone who has heart. Yet, it is still a must read for anyone who dare call themselves a human being.
The reader is informed of the horrific dysfunction, severe abuse and trauma this woman has endured and is given insight into the rippling consequences of poverty, indifference, racism and ignorance: Violation. And in the case of the murder victim, brutal violation.
A significant theme is Yvonne's own struggle to find her voice, both physically (due to cleft palate) and then in a spiritual, cognizant and empowered way. A reader may find in her struggle a larger analogy for the lack of voice and "heard voice" of First Nations peoples.
It becomes clear that if one is disabled from their voice, from defending their personhood among the indifferent, this may become the root of violation through severe dysfunction, abuse, trauma.
Thanks to the strength of Mistatim Muskwa's spirit, we are afforded a window to better understand through the voice of Yvonne.
Well researched and guided by Rudy Wiebe, with moments of shear beauty found in some of Yvonne Johnson's writing, it is none-the-less an emotionally difficult read for anyone who has heart. Yet, it is still a must read for anyone who dare call themselves a human being.
The reader is informed of the horrific dysfunction, severe abuse and trauma this woman has endured and is given insight into the rippling consequences of poverty, indifference, racism and ignorance: Violation. And in the case of the murder victim, brutal violation.
A significant theme is Yvonne's own struggle to find her voice, both physically (due to cleft palate) and then in a spiritual, cognizant and empowered way. A reader may find in her struggle a larger analogy for the lack of voice and "heard voice" of First Nations peoples.
It becomes clear that if one is disabled from their voice, from defending their personhood among the indifferent, this may become the root of violation through severe dysfunction, abuse, trauma.
Thanks to the strength of Mistatim Muskwa's spirit, we are afforded a window to better understand through the voice of Yvonne.
July 12, 2014
An often harsh, but apparently honest, reflective biography of Yvonne Johnson,a mixed Cree/Norwegian woman incarcerated for first degree murder.
Well researched and guided by Rudy Wiebe, with moments of shear beauty found in some of Yvonne Johnson's writing, it is none-the-less an emotionally difficult read for anyone who has heart. Yet, it is still a must read for anyone who dare call themselves a human being.
The reader is informed of the horrific dysfunction, severe abuse and trauma this woman has endured and is given insight into the rippling consequences of poverty, indifference, racism and ignorance: Violation. And in the case of the murder victim, brutal violation.
A significant theme is Yvonne's own struggle to find her voice, both physically (due to cleft palate) and then in a spiritual, cognizant and empowered way. A reader may find in her struggle a larger analogy for the lack of voice and "heard voice" of First Nations peoples.
It becomes clear that if one is disabled from their voice, from defending their personhood among the indifferent, this may become the root of violation through severe dysfunction, abuse, trauma.
Thanks to the strength of Mistatim Muskwa's spirit, we are afforded a window to better understand through the voice of Yvonne.
Well researched and guided by Rudy Wiebe, with moments of shear beauty found in some of Yvonne Johnson's writing, it is none-the-less an emotionally difficult read for anyone who has heart. Yet, it is still a must read for anyone who dare call themselves a human being.
The reader is informed of the horrific dysfunction, severe abuse and trauma this woman has endured and is given insight into the rippling consequences of poverty, indifference, racism and ignorance: Violation. And in the case of the murder victim, brutal violation.
A significant theme is Yvonne's own struggle to find her voice, both physically (due to cleft palate) and then in a spiritual, cognizant and empowered way. A reader may find in her struggle a larger analogy for the lack of voice and "heard voice" of First Nations peoples.
It becomes clear that if one is disabled from their voice, from defending their personhood among the indifferent, this may become the root of violation through severe dysfunction, abuse, trauma.
Thanks to the strength of Mistatim Muskwa's spirit, we are afforded a window to better understand through the voice of Yvonne.
March 7, 2016
There's no getting around the fact that this is a disturbing book to read--raw first person accounts of severe sexual abuse of a very young child, as well as descriptions of a childhood spent mainly in chaos, without any kind of helpful guidance or support. This was the experience of Yvonne Johnson, convicted murderer, and Cree/Norwegian/American/Canadian woman. She inevitably became an alcoholic at an early age, had several violent relationships, but cared deeply about her three children and tried to keep them safe despite the downward spiral of her life. Ultimately this caring helped lead to the death of a near-stranger, and to Johnson's life sentence. Yet, this was not the end. Her intelligence, ability to reflect on her own life, and her essential goodness, shine through in this book, having been recognized by her co-author Rudy Wiebe, who spent several years getting to know her. The book is painful to read at times, and haunts the reader long after the last page, but it is an important reminder that prisoners have stories, and that what happens to children has implications far beyond the surface.
May 16, 2016
Stolen life wasn't a easy book to put down, it's an astonishing but deeply affecting non-fiction story about the abuse Yvonne Johnson went through in her time being. Besides all the tragedy and unjust moments, it was worth reading, it changed my point of view and taught me different sorts of things about the Native culture and history. It's certainly been a long bumpy road for Yvonne, all the of the dirt she's been dragged threw and yet she still smiles rather then seeking justice. It's a shame what our citizens would do to one another; mortifying and mistreating each other unfairly because of a foolish skin color.
Yvonne Johnson had a life harder then most people. It made me think that more people should open up there eyes and see what they have, because in a blink of an eye you could be going threw the same life as Yvonne Johnson had. It would suck being in her situation. most people would want to commit suicide but Yvonne Johnson is holding on. she had a rough journey but hopefully when she continues her life it will be better then before. If you think you're life is bad, read the book stolen life and compare your life with Yvonne's life.
Yvonne Johnson had a life harder then most people. It made me think that more people should open up there eyes and see what they have, because in a blink of an eye you could be going threw the same life as Yvonne Johnson had. It would suck being in her situation. most people would want to commit suicide but Yvonne Johnson is holding on. she had a rough journey but hopefully when she continues her life it will be better then before. If you think you're life is bad, read the book stolen life and compare your life with Yvonne's life.
January 28, 2017
This book is based on a true story and not for the faint of heart. Abuse, poverty, addictions, murder, racism, colonialism, incarceration, this book will haunt your soul after reading it. I had actually traveled to Maple Creek for the opening of the women`s correctional facility back in the 1990`s. It was an amazing experience to tour the healing lodge, a totally different take on the rigid correctional system one would expect. We participated in prayers and a traditional feast with the first inmates of that facility. It is something I will never forget. As I read this deeply profound and heart wrenching book, I have fostered a deeper sense of communion with those of our society who have been judged, ridiculed, abused and forgotten. If you ever think your life has been difficult and that nobody could possibly understand you, read this book. You might connect with the author`s story OR you might end up feeling so incredibly thankful that you did not have to endure what she has gone through. If you are into non-fiction, this book is a must have for your collection!
March 14, 2014
I first read this book in a higher level English class in my undergraduate degree. We were studying life writing - with a focus on autobiography. With this book we spent a lot of time talking about the issues surrounding a white man working with an Indigenous woman to write her autobiography. We argued, we debated, we discussed.
This time I just read the book. I wasn't looking to debate the issues or argue about point of view. And I was so moved. I got to stop worrying so much about the politics of Rudy and Yvonne - and instead just feel the life of Yvonne. This book is so moving. What a crazy life.
Seriously, the effects of colonisation, even today, are serious and no apology from any leader can make them less so.
This time I just read the book. I wasn't looking to debate the issues or argue about point of view. And I was so moved. I got to stop worrying so much about the politics of Rudy and Yvonne - and instead just feel the life of Yvonne. This book is so moving. What a crazy life.
Seriously, the effects of colonisation, even today, are serious and no apology from any leader can make them less so.
April 11, 2014
It's been a while since I've read this book, when I was in high school, but I remember how much it affected me even then. This poor woman had everything possible holding her back from leading a normal, happy life, and she lived up to many of the clichés given to Aboriginal people. Being Cree myself and from the same province a lot of this book was based in, I was able to connect with Yvonne's story, though I'm happy to say that there's as far as our commonality went. It's a shame so many folks are born into a life of disadvantage. Good read.
November 13, 2015
I read this book over 15 years ago. Reading it the second time I am left with the same disturbing after effects. It is a raw and haunting story of intergenerational trauma. The victims seem endless adn there are no happy endings. I have always wondered what happened to her, her children, her family and the murder victims family. I had hoped for a follow-up novel but have only found a video interview of Yvonne Johnson from 2011 after her release from jail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzdIu...
November 11, 2019
This book was powerful, frightening, heartbreaking. It took me quite a while to finish because of the difficulty of the subject matter. I can't recommend it to everyone, but in some ways everyone who want to understand the desperate need for reconciliation between the colonial whites of North America and the aboriginal people of this land need to read Yvonne Johnson's story. I hope that my reading of this book will help me to listen to the stories of other people with more compassion each day I walk this earth.
September 25, 2007
This autobiography is not for those with a weak constitution. It is about the horrific and tragic life of Yvonne Johnson, a Cree woman and decendant of Big Bear (a very well known and respected Cree Cheif from the 1800s). I encourage anyone who reads this book to also study the life of Big Bear. This will provide you with you a powerful image of the decent of Native culture into what it has been reduced to today.
This was a very powerful and enjoyable read.
This was a very powerful and enjoyable read.
January 6, 2010
A very heartfilled and powerful read. The trajectory of Yvonne Johnson's life is characterized by mountains of turmoil and stressful challenges. Yvonne is a Native Canadian woman (also "disabled" with a cleft palate throughout her childhood) has been faced with family dysfunction, abuse, and racism. Overall, a very good read although some sections of the book are disturbing and can be difficult to get through.
October 28, 2024
Originally read this in high school and gave it 4 stars. Just finished rereading this and am lowering my rating. While I still think it is an incredibly important story and a good look into our country's treatment of natives and our prison system, I wasn’t a fan of the writing. I would expect that a story written with a professional writer would feel more polished and be less about the writer’s journey.
February 22, 2016
A very candid life story of hardship and brief moments of joy. A very tough life of abuse didn't prevent the author from expressing herself and healing.
The legacy of residential schools, alcoholism, and sexual abuse created a pretty high bar to jump over.
But Ms Jonhson shows that there's always hope.
The legacy of residential schools, alcoholism, and sexual abuse created a pretty high bar to jump over.
But Ms Jonhson shows that there's always hope.
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