Nedí Nezų

by Tenille Campbell

nedí nezų (Good Medicine) explores the beautiful space that being a sensual Indigenous woman creates--not only as a partner, a fantasy, a heartbreak waiting to happen but also as an auntie, a role model, a voice that connects to others walking the same path. From the online hookup world of DMs, double taps, and secret texts to earth-shakingly erotic encounters under the northern stars to the ever-complicated relationship Indigenous women have with mainstream society, this poetry collection doesn't shy away from depicting the gorgeous diversity in decolonized desire. Instead, Campbell creates the most intimate of spaces, where the tea is hot and a seat is waiting, surrounded by the tantalizing laughter of aunties telling stories.

These wise, jubilant poems chronicle many failed attempts at romance, with the wry humour needed to not take these heartbreaks personally, and the growth that comes from sitting in the silence of living a solo life in a world that insists everyone should be partnered up. With a knowing smile, this book side-eyes the political existence and celebrates the lived experience of an Indigenous woman falling in love and lust with those around her--but, most importantly, with herself.

nedí nezų is a smart, sensual, and scandalous collection dripping in Indigenous culture yet irresistible to anyone in thrall to the magnificent disaster that is dating, sex, and relationships.

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Canada, Nonfiction, Romance

92 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally - a stunning poetry collection that’s accessible and relevant to my generation. This is exactly what I love to see, and it left me wanting way more from this author!

[Sho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous cultures are widely regarded as traditional with no sense of modernity. But these two things are not mutually exclusive- they can and do coexist. nedí nezų depicts the crosslink between tradition and contemporariness; the urban Indigenous.

This poetry collection is not just the hybridization of Indigenous ways, but of everything. It contains both humour and sadness, love and heartbreak, peace and anger, sex and loneliness. There is also a combination of languages used: english, dene, and cree. I love this aspect because it gives the story so much more weight, sincerity, and intimacy. (Although silly me, didn’t realize there was a glossary at the end and had to reread!)

Tenille K. Campbell is a truly talented writer. This work is important because we do not give much light to Indigenous sensuality. Though I could not relate to every piece, I found meaning in them all. I enjoyed the final two chapters most, especially sadness drenched in dripping syrup, men are trash, why indigenous erotica, water so clear, and urban indigenous.

[Madelin Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare to find a text that reminds you of how it feels to be a woman. This is one of them.

This was a genuinely beautiful collection of poetry pertaining to indigeneity and women-hood. Written in four parts, the text examines language, the land, sex, and femininity from an indigenous lens.

[Sherry Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Campbell’s poetry is refreshing. Filled with body positivity, its thick words steam with story and sensuality.

I’ll admit that I hadn’t heard of Campbell before. I was drawn to the beadwork on the cover. Dickson’s explanation of her design choices will help you see beadwork in a while new light if you’ve never paid attention to it before. The beauty of her design is much deeper and more meaningful than I had initially imagined.

Reader tip: there’s a handy glossary in the back!

[Care]

"thick indigenous women
are spilled beads and tangled thread
worth the time to pick up to untangle

we are curves spilling stories
against your lips
our thighs are soft muskeg
protecting good medicine
our skin soft as tanned hide
caress us with care
as you are touching
our ancestors' wildest dreams

thick indigenous women
are a feast during a long winter
canned raspberries fresh bannock
warm butter leaking between your fingers
come and eat

we hold joy in every round shoulder
laugh loudly drawing all eyes
we squeeze against you
and you hold us fight
smiling at your blessings

because thick indigenous women
we are magic and if you aren't careful
someone else will pick up spilled beads
and untangle threads"

Admittedly these weren't really my cup of tea and I just skimmed the collection, but I'm sure others love them. They're accessible yet hint at elevated concepts.

They're very sexy poems! I love the body positive, feminist perspective. A few did stand out to me, but I appreciate all of them for their presence and stance. I'm not personally a fan of ~erotica~ but I enjoyed the poems that touched on academia, used beautiful language and imagery, and showed sex/romance as ceremony.

I didn't especially notice the beadwork on the cover at first, but reading the artist statement from Heather Dickson at the back of this collection and how they chose the colour palette and design, incorporating Campbell's grandmother's beadwork pattern, her childhood memories, and her personality, it became very special.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indigenous erotica. Poetry as resistance. An Indigenous woman speaking back to colonialism and the environmental, physical, and sexual violence it perpretrates through a joyous and liberating series of poems. Relatable to all women, and yet specific to Indigenous women at the same time. Portrays a kinship between land, animal, and body. Portrays sex as scholarly and as silly and as heartbreaking and as earth shattering. Insists on the embodied agency of Indigenous women. This collection is moving and important, but also accessible and just plain fun to read. Five stars!

[Anna]

Man, this book came at the right time to help combat the late-winter slushy grey blues. Glowing yellow, with beautiful beadwork on the cover, and full of poems that swing from bright and summery and full of fast, hard love and good sex to whip-fast and dark and pointed, like the time between sunset and sunrise.

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like her poems about emotions more than her poems about sex. Not because I do not want to read about sex, but because of the sparse tone of her poems that leaves me wanting more than a sparse yet flowery description of her being eaten out. However a few poems that focus on emotions, on her as a jilted lover, as an indigenous women, these I love.

“you look like morning regrets the shuffling of clothes the lost bra the headache trying to remember where l am what your name is”

“you look like someone who will text that I'm beautiful
captivating like northern lights sparkling like a blanket of stars like someone
who has those words on copy and paste”

“you didn't look back didn't see me trip fall down and cut myself
on the stories
of how I used to love you”

“never mind
you're already somebody else's dream come true
why ain't that enough for you?”

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's the poetry that everyone's reading, and then there's the poetry that everyone should be reading.

This is such lush, evocative, imagery. These poems are the ones that beat along with your heart.

Tenille Campbell's voice is sure and defiant and beautiful. An Indigenous experience woven into modern life and love, sex and starlight.

Everyone should read this collection.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Images swimming, recognition sparking, head nodding, jaw dropping, eyes knowing, heart breaking and remaking, feeling, smelling, tasting, hearing, loving. Tenille Campbell has a powerful and mesmerizing way of making you feel like you lived every word and story right along with her.

[Lauren Golosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book of poetry before and I devoured this so quickly I’m not sure I read it properly, if that’s a thing. But my eyes flew over the pages and I read some poems again and again. What a beautiful piece of art. Of Indigenous identity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent all day poring over these poems. A beautiful, modern collection regarding everything from indigenous love to sensuality. The experiences drawn upon within these poems are so profound and left me in awe.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consumed this in one sitting despite the late hour; I couldn't stop reading. Honest and intimate.

[Laura Sackton]

These poems weren't for me--I can really only sink into poetry with incredibly sharp and concrete imagery. But I am sure these poems are for someone else.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Indigenous love & medicine wrapped up in a gorgeous book of poems ✨ I pre-ordered this so I could devour it right away and was strung in where I had no choice but to read it in one go!!

[Cait Aviv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection - highly recommend.

[Marcela Huerta · Rating 5 out of 5]

sensual, brimming, revelatory

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of poems.

[Stephanie Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Julia Azarcon · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful, sensual, textured book that reminds me i need to read more poetry, and how important the indigenous experience / perspective is

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful look at modern indigenous culture that weaves together love and lust with nature in harmony.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a sexy book of poetry! but also thought provoking and intelligent. 500 stars!

[Jenn Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfect.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful poetry

[Arwyn King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous collection of sensual poems from a strong Indigenous matriarch. I loved it.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of poems that made me think and feel! My favourites are the ones on pages 14, 24, 42, 61, 68, 72, 73, 80, 87, 92, 99, 104, 105, 110, 112.