Stories from the Magic Canoe of Wa’xaid

by Cecil Paul (Wa’xaid), Briony Penn (as told to), Roy Henry Vickers (Foreward)

A remarkable and profound collection of reflections by one of North America’s most important Indigenous leaders. My name is Wa’xaid, given to me by my people. ‘Wa’ is ‘the river’, ‘Xaid’ is ‘good’ – good river. Sometimes the river is not good. I am a Xenaksiala, I am from the Killer Whale Clan. I would like to walk with you in Xenaksiala lands. Where I will take you is the place of my birth. They call it the Kitlope. It is called Xesdu’wäxw (Huschduwaschdu) for ‘blue, milky, glacial water’. Our destination is what I would like to talk about, and a boat – I call it my magic canoe. It is a magical canoe because there is room for everyone who wants to come into it to paddle together. The currents against it are very strong but I believe we can reach that destination and this is the reason for our survival. ―Cecil Paul Who better to tell the narrative of our times about the restoration of land and culture than Wa’xaid (the good river), or Cecil Paul, a Xenaksiala elder who pursued both in his ancestral home, the Kitlope ― now the largest protected unlogged temperate rainforest left on the planet. Paul’s cultural teachings are more relevant today than ever in the face of environmental threats, climate change and social unrest, while his personal stories of loss from residential schools, industrialization and theft of cultural property (the world-renowned Gps’golox pole) put a human face to the survivors of this particular brand of genocide. Told in Cecil Paul’s singular, vernacular voice, Stories from the Magic Canoe spans a lifetime of experience, suffering and survival. This beautifully produced paperback edition is in Cecil’s own words, as told to Briony Penn and other friends, and has been meticulously transcribed. Along with Penn’s biography of Cecil Paul, Following the Good The Life and Times of Wa’xaid , Stories from the Magic Canoe provides a valuable documented history of a generation that continues to deal with the impacts of brutal colonization and environmental change at the hands of politicians, industrialists and those who willingly ignore the power of ancestral lands and traditional knowledge.

Genres: Indigenous, Nonfiction, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Cecelia Reekie]

This is my Dad so I am a little biased!! :)

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come sit by the fire. Quiet your mind. Open your heart. Wa'xaid, Cecil Paul, will tell you stories that invite you into the Magic Canoe, the one that plies the waters that lead to reconciliation. He will lead you on the path he trod to save one of the world's largest old-growth forests. He will show you how love overcomes more obstacles than hate. He will speak honestly of love and loss, of addiction and recovery, of anger and peace.

Read all of the footnotes, which fill in the gritty detail Wa'xaid omits from the polished gems of his stories. They will make you weep. If you are one of us settlers, you will once again feel the guilt of the privilege you carry. Hold it lightly enough that you keep working toward the better world Wa'xaid has spent decades working for. Hold it heavily enough that you never forget that we still live in a culture that destroys the planet for monetary gain, where First Nations people continue to experience racism on a daily basis, where inequality keeps many from taking their rightful place in the human family.

Thank you, Wa'xaid, for your stories. And may every Canadian (and every settler in countries where indigenous people have been brushed aside) read this book, share it widely, and resolve to enter the Magic Canoe and work toward a just society and a beloved environment.

[Jacqueline Worboys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecil Paul and Brionny Penn relate so well the history of the people of the north coast of BC. Cecil Paul's name is Wa'xaid": " Wa" is 'the river' and 'Xaid' is 'good. Born in the Kitlope, feeling a deep passion to preserve the land, Wa'xaid calls various people to travel with him in his magic canoe. Still others, people from around the world, join in the fight to preserve the Kitlope. Beautifully told, this book reflects upon the past history of the Xenaksiala and Kitamaat people, from time immemorial to the arrival of European contact, and the dark, dark side of the Canadian government's desire to "beat the savage out of the Indian". A small book, well worth reading. I'm glad I was able to hear his story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I was alone in a canoe. But it was a magical canoe because there was room for everyone who wanted to paddle together. The currents against us were very strong. But I believed we could reach our destination and we had to do so for our survival." ~Wa'xaid (Cecil Paul)

Wa'xaid, a Xenaksiala elder on the coast of BC, came up with the concept of the magic canoe to try to preserve his ancestral homeland which is located in one of the last largely unspoiled temperate rainforests in the world. Despite the suffering he endured in Canadian government and church sponsored residential schools, and despite seeing how industrialists had irreparably altered nearby land, Wa'xaid kept his metaphorical canoe open for anyone - including Coca-cola heiresses and church ministers - who wanted to join the fight to preserve the land.

This first 2/3s of the book is a collection of Wa'xaid's remembrances of this fight and of his life. The last third are footnotes from co-author Briony Penn that give a deeper historical context to Wa'xaid's stories. The first part was lyrical and personal, and the last part was informational and the whole thing was fantastic.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like sitting down and getting to listen to the stories of our elders. A bit rambling at times and a jumpy time line, absolute perfection. Just imagine sitting at the water edge and being told all about your people's history, the good, the terrible and the utterly unfair but in a balanced way that you can understand much more easily than searching out news articles on all the hot button topics yourself.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is nothing short of remarkable. It was so wonderful to hear some of the real history of where I'm from. I think it is simply a must read for anyone and every one. I'm sure at least one thing talked about in the book will touch your heart one way or another. I'm pretty sure anyone who flips through will feel the same.

[Li Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short little book tells an amazing story. There is so much to learn from all our relatives. This is an Indegous story of hope and for me a starting place to explore so many things to be grateful and appreciative of I have taken for granted or been ignorant of. Highly recommend if you're like me and looking to expand your knowledge and ❤ 🤍 💙 🧡 heart.

[Julia Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a lot of valuable and inspiring information in this book, but the disjointed nature of its construction made it a struggle to read.
I would have loved to hear Cecil Paul speak, and tell these stories, but as a written text, it just didn't work for me.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a large book but it is packed with interesting details.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a mandatory read for all Canadians but I’d recommend it to everyone.

[Ellie O'Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wa'xiad passed away in December, so this was a way to celebrate all that he accomplished, despite spending several decades as a young adult under the curse of alcohol.

[Fern Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.t stars. I thought the writing was beautiful and important and it helped me understand some of the things indigenous Canadians have been dealing with for many decades. I enjoyed reading it.

[Luke Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of recollections by a Xenaksiala Elder this is a moving insight into someone who fought to connect with his culture against overwhelming odds

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving book about a great man. Insights and stories about a very special place.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read 100 more books like this.

[Paul Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great novella/collection of stories.
I loved the incorporation of both languages into the main text and the main story was a perfect mixture of sadness, grit, perseverance, and eventual protection of the largest protected temperate rainforest in the world!

[Kab · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5