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Quest for the Thunderbird Nest
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June 8, 2020
Reading this book as a settler, I was honoured to have the opportunity to read Tim’s words and honest account of his experiences and journey of self and land-based discovery, especially how these two intermingled at Thunderbird Rock and the place of the Thunderbird’s Nest. This book feels timeless, and very special. I was struck by the thought of how many other people had these experiences on this land since time immemorial, on this same landscape upon which I live as an uninvited guest through the privilege of my British ancestry. This book speaks to the indivisible relationship between humans and this land, and to me as a settler, I felt honoured that Tim shares the depth of his relationship with the land through this story of blood memory.
Tim communicates this depth of connection to the land through his deep Metis and Algonquin roots, ‘proof’ of which he discovers over the course of the book, though in the book he shares his personal feelings about how he has always felt this rooted deeply within himself. It reminded me of the on-going challenges to the treaties, and how nonsensical it is that written words on a page reduce land to a commodity that can be signed away – evidence of an imposed European mindset on this land that continues to be incommensurable with Indigenous ways of being and knowing. For settlers on this land, this book is important to read because it will show you the depth of this world view and you are gifted with a glimpse of seeing the area around the Ottawa valley through Tim’s eyes and through the eyes of his ancestors, all the way back to the beginning of when they were present in this region.
Tim shares many personal experiences in his journey to discover his identify, which he powerfully relates to land based discovery. Tim’s act of sharing this journey through this book is incredibly generous and important. The centuries of on-going oppression and genocide attempts inflicted on Indigenous bodies across this land have caused disconnects to heritage and identity, so this book can also be read as a guidebook for self-discovery and healing.
The book is wonderfully illustrated throughout, with photographs and artwork by Tim. For settlers wondering what their role in post-Truth and Reconciliation Canada is, this book is a great starting point to understanding this land in a new way.
Tim communicates this depth of connection to the land through his deep Metis and Algonquin roots, ‘proof’ of which he discovers over the course of the book, though in the book he shares his personal feelings about how he has always felt this rooted deeply within himself. It reminded me of the on-going challenges to the treaties, and how nonsensical it is that written words on a page reduce land to a commodity that can be signed away – evidence of an imposed European mindset on this land that continues to be incommensurable with Indigenous ways of being and knowing. For settlers on this land, this book is important to read because it will show you the depth of this world view and you are gifted with a glimpse of seeing the area around the Ottawa valley through Tim’s eyes and through the eyes of his ancestors, all the way back to the beginning of when they were present in this region.
Tim shares many personal experiences in his journey to discover his identify, which he powerfully relates to land based discovery. Tim’s act of sharing this journey through this book is incredibly generous and important. The centuries of on-going oppression and genocide attempts inflicted on Indigenous bodies across this land have caused disconnects to heritage and identity, so this book can also be read as a guidebook for self-discovery and healing.
The book is wonderfully illustrated throughout, with photographs and artwork by Tim. For settlers wondering what their role in post-Truth and Reconciliation Canada is, this book is a great starting point to understanding this land in a new way.
Displaying 1 of 1 review