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Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation
A heart-rending true story about racism and reconciliation
Divided by a beautiful valley and 150 years of racism, the town of Rossburn and the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve have been neighbours nearly as long as Canada has been a country. Their story reflects much of what has gone wrong in relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians. It also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.
Valley of the Birdtail is about how two communities became separate and unequal--and what it means for the rest of us. In Rossburn, once settled by Ukrainian immigrants who fled poverty and persecution, family income is near the national average and more than a third of adults have graduated from university. In Waywayseecappo, the average family lives below the national poverty line and less than a third of adults have graduated from high school, with many haunted by their time in residential schools.
This book follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. It is a story of villains and heroes, irony and idealism, racism and reconciliation. Valley of the Birdtail has the ambition to change the way we think about our past and show a path to a better future.
Divided by a beautiful valley and 150 years of racism, the town of Rossburn and the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve have been neighbours nearly as long as Canada has been a country. Their story reflects much of what has gone wrong in relations between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians. It also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.
Valley of the Birdtail is about how two communities became separate and unequal--and what it means for the rest of us. In Rossburn, once settled by Ukrainian immigrants who fled poverty and persecution, family income is near the national average and more than a third of adults have graduated from university. In Waywayseecappo, the average family lives below the national poverty line and less than a third of adults have graduated from high school, with many haunted by their time in residential schools.
This book follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. It is a story of villains and heroes, irony and idealism, racism and reconciliation. Valley of the Birdtail has the ambition to change the way we think about our past and show a path to a better future.
384 pages, ebook
First published August 30, 2022
218 people are currently reading
2648 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
September 16, 2022
I like a profound book that includes the word fart in its opening pages. The reader of this brilliant book, Valley of the Birdtail, will detect the genius and laughter that runs through anything involving Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) -- the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law & Public Policy at the University of Toronto (not the pulp fiction author of the same name). Viewers of the Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi hit TV series Reservation Dogs will recognize this mix of heartbreak, hope and humour. With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day (September 30) upcoming, you could do worse than reading Valley of the Birdtail, to mark the occasion this year. The co-authors reflect the subject of the book: "how can indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians live side-by-side, as equals?" Sniderman and Sanderson (Amo Binashii) met as student and teacher at law school. This settler/indigenous perspective (the authors are listed in that order on their book cover) comes together in one voice. The act of co-authoring thus models the prescriptions therein. The book is a true story about two neighboring towns; haves and have-nots; settler and indigenous. That many of the former are of Ukrainian origin makes the reader pause, in 2022, amid global events. There are solutions provided with helpful clarity, near the end. They unfold an impossibly complicated history, then fold it back into ingeniously straightforward solutions. To implement their prescriptions merely requires leadership by elected and electors, settler and indigenous together, just as the act of co-authorship was one of leadership. But Sanderson deserves particular credit for his role in this duo. It's far easier for him to disassociate with a settler voice, even if it's the voice of his disciple. But this is one of Professor Sanderson's gifts, of which I was a beneficiary, when I served as Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, in 2007, and Sanderson its chief advisor. He taught me for hours and hours. We spoke of One Canoe, Two Canoes; reconciliation and repair; poverty and capacity; racism and its sequels. Some of his ideas remain in place in Ontario to this day and were copied by feds and some provinces. Now we have a book that teaches readers to look not away from the horror of residential schools, of its legacy, but also teaches us how we could achieve something better, a co-authored Canada.
October 15, 2022
I think this has just rocketed to the top of my Canadian Indigenous Non-Fiction titles of the year list.
This starts out with a bang on the second page of the prologue where there's a reference to a line in a local history book, written by a women’s group in 1951. It reads as follows:
“Nowhere in Manitoba is there a finer sight than the Valley of the Birdtail, just west of the present town of Rossburn. It must have grieved the early settlers to find it set aside as an Indian reserve.”
We are introduced to the two characters who become the jumping off point for the telling of the tale: Marnie Twovoice (young, Indigenous, female, from Waywayseecappo) and Troy Luhowy (descended from Ukrainian settler family, grew up in Rossburn)
There was a point - about a third of the way through the book - where I felt like the plot was lost… like it was just an excuse to take a deep dive into the history of residential schools… but then the authors started to connect the dots and start to keep on bringing it back to the local.
They really take a deep dive into the roles of Hayter Reed and Clifford Sifton… if you hadn’t loathed these two men before reading this, you will when you’re done reading it (appropriately so).
It is the bringing this home to the local level that makes this book stand out from the crowd.
This is a book that someone with no knowledge of the history - of the Indian Act, or Indigenous Crown relations, or (broken) Treaty promises, or residential schools, or immigration policy - can read and have their “A-ha” moment. But, equally, someone like myself who is fairly/very well-versed will still find this a compelling read.
The way they frame the larger narrative around the concrete experiences of their two principal characters - Maureen and Troy - makes what can otherwise be awfully abstract into something very concrete that anyone can relate to. We experience the personal impact that these historic events have had on these two individuals, and on their families, at a deeply personal level.
The other thing the authors say in the prologue is that the story “also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.” And it does. It exemplifies - it celebrates - how really simple it is to move forward with positive, concrete, solutions. It just takes a few people with some resolve and an agreement - and ability - to think outside the box to make huge progress.
This brings to mind Jesse Wente’s Unreconciled, from last year - if you enjoyed that, you will enjoy this.
This starts out with a bang on the second page of the prologue where there's a reference to a line in a local history book, written by a women’s group in 1951. It reads as follows:
“Nowhere in Manitoba is there a finer sight than the Valley of the Birdtail, just west of the present town of Rossburn. It must have grieved the early settlers to find it set aside as an Indian reserve.”
We are introduced to the two characters who become the jumping off point for the telling of the tale: Marnie Twovoice (young, Indigenous, female, from Waywayseecappo) and Troy Luhowy (descended from Ukrainian settler family, grew up in Rossburn)
There was a point - about a third of the way through the book - where I felt like the plot was lost… like it was just an excuse to take a deep dive into the history of residential schools… but then the authors started to connect the dots and start to keep on bringing it back to the local.
They really take a deep dive into the roles of Hayter Reed and Clifford Sifton… if you hadn’t loathed these two men before reading this, you will when you’re done reading it (appropriately so).
It is the bringing this home to the local level that makes this book stand out from the crowd.
This is a book that someone with no knowledge of the history - of the Indian Act, or Indigenous Crown relations, or (broken) Treaty promises, or residential schools, or immigration policy - can read and have their “A-ha” moment. But, equally, someone like myself who is fairly/very well-versed will still find this a compelling read.
The way they frame the larger narrative around the concrete experiences of their two principal characters - Maureen and Troy - makes what can otherwise be awfully abstract into something very concrete that anyone can relate to. We experience the personal impact that these historic events have had on these two individuals, and on their families, at a deeply personal level.
The other thing the authors say in the prologue is that the story “also offers, in the end, an uncommon measure of hope.” And it does. It exemplifies - it celebrates - how really simple it is to move forward with positive, concrete, solutions. It just takes a few people with some resolve and an agreement - and ability - to think outside the box to make huge progress.
This brings to mind Jesse Wente’s Unreconciled, from last year - if you enjoyed that, you will enjoy this.
August 25, 2022
“It was as though Canada was telling them, ‘You get less because you 'Il never amount to anything anyway.’”
TW: abuse, racism
Valley of the Birdtail was eye opening in the saddest and most horrifying ways.
I received this ARC from a @harpercollinsca giveaway and am so happy i did because wow, did i learn a lot.
this book made me realize i knew little of Canada’s true history. sure, i knew some of it, but i didn’t know it all and i definitely didn’t know the details. how the country forced Indigenous Peoples to farm but wouldn’t let them have the tools to do so. how they didn’t let them sell or trade off reserve after forcing them onto the reserves. how residential schools closed just four years before i was born and created absolute horrors for people still being born today.
because that’s what this all comes from: residential schools. they created inter-generational trauma that hinders almost everything for the Indigenous Peoples today.
the book also shows other parts of history: the bigotry Ukrainians faced upon coming, the problems with underfunded education on reserves, and more.
i could go on forever about everything i learned reading this book but i won’t because i don’t want to spoil it. it has a little piece of every part of history, that’s what i’ll say.
the book is told by following certain characters and seeing how their stories changed as legislation did. it’s written in plain terms yet in a captivating way. the authors explain the difficult parts and everything is easy to understand, sadly.
the things i didn’t like is how information heavy some parts can be. i found myself losing focus and having to re-read multiple sentences as it was just statistic after statistic and number after number rather than storytelling. some paragraphs were really redundant, too, and as a journalist, the book not being consistent with CP style bugged me (but that’s a me thing).
i recommend this book to everyone. it’s time we know our real history.
TW: abuse, racism
Valley of the Birdtail was eye opening in the saddest and most horrifying ways.
I received this ARC from a @harpercollinsca giveaway and am so happy i did because wow, did i learn a lot.
this book made me realize i knew little of Canada’s true history. sure, i knew some of it, but i didn’t know it all and i definitely didn’t know the details. how the country forced Indigenous Peoples to farm but wouldn’t let them have the tools to do so. how they didn’t let them sell or trade off reserve after forcing them onto the reserves. how residential schools closed just four years before i was born and created absolute horrors for people still being born today.
because that’s what this all comes from: residential schools. they created inter-generational trauma that hinders almost everything for the Indigenous Peoples today.
the book also shows other parts of history: the bigotry Ukrainians faced upon coming, the problems with underfunded education on reserves, and more.
i could go on forever about everything i learned reading this book but i won’t because i don’t want to spoil it. it has a little piece of every part of history, that’s what i’ll say.
the book is told by following certain characters and seeing how their stories changed as legislation did. it’s written in plain terms yet in a captivating way. the authors explain the difficult parts and everything is easy to understand, sadly.
the things i didn’t like is how information heavy some parts can be. i found myself losing focus and having to re-read multiple sentences as it was just statistic after statistic and number after number rather than storytelling. some paragraphs were really redundant, too, and as a journalist, the book not being consistent with CP style bugged me (but that’s a me thing).
i recommend this book to everyone. it’s time we know our real history.
September 7, 2024
This does such a good job of tying together the stories of these neighbouring communities. I highly recommend it for any Canadian.
Every time I read about the history of the Canadian government's treatment of Indigenous people, there are new horrific and infuriating things to discover.
- Like Indigenous nations in this area being forbidden from using any sort of technology while farming for years, preferably making their own tools by hand, because the government thought them having access to tools would encourage "idleness"... at the same time as they criticized these same communities for not producing enough on their farms.
- Also, the use of the pass system while government officials openly admitted they knew it was illegal to restrict movement on and off reserves—but they just kept doing it anyway.
- Or in the 1920s, when Indigenous nations hired lawyers to argue that their traditional dances should be allowed to be held because they weren't actually illegal (true), the Canadian government made it illegal for lawyers to be hired by bands.
- Or that not only have schools on reserves been severely underfunded up until only about ten years ago (about 7k per student versus 10k per student), but when Waywayseecappo students went to high school in Rossburn (because they didn't have a high school on the reserve), they were expected to pay the difference.
And a couple of quotations that jumped out at me:
“Racism is a filter that renders the obvious invisible.”
"It is expensive to keep Indians poor..."
Every time I read about the history of the Canadian government's treatment of Indigenous people, there are new horrific and infuriating things to discover.
- Like Indigenous nations in this area being forbidden from using any sort of technology while farming for years, preferably making their own tools by hand, because the government thought them having access to tools would encourage "idleness"... at the same time as they criticized these same communities for not producing enough on their farms.
- Also, the use of the pass system while government officials openly admitted they knew it was illegal to restrict movement on and off reserves—but they just kept doing it anyway.
- Or in the 1920s, when Indigenous nations hired lawyers to argue that their traditional dances should be allowed to be held because they weren't actually illegal (true), the Canadian government made it illegal for lawyers to be hired by bands.
- Or that not only have schools on reserves been severely underfunded up until only about ten years ago (about 7k per student versus 10k per student), but when Waywayseecappo students went to high school in Rossburn (because they didn't have a high school on the reserve), they were expected to pay the difference.
And a couple of quotations that jumped out at me:
“Racism is a filter that renders the obvious invisible.”
"It is expensive to keep Indians poor..."
January 29, 2024
An exceptional, thought-provoking read. It is much more than the title implies. Yes, the focus of the book is on the Birdtail Valley in the province of Manitoba but the larger issues that the book explores are present day concerns in most of the provinces of Canada. These include: the marginalization of Indigenous peoples through Federal government legislation i.e. the Indian Act, the reservation system and substandard education for indigenous youth. Each of these elements has contributed to the present state of affairs. The book also examines the views, concerns and prejudices of non indigenous community members toward reservations and indigenous people and the evolution of these views over the last century and a half. Finally, the book looks at recent efforts at reconciliation and improved relations between the indigenous and non indigenous communities in the Birdtail Valley and proposes ways to achieve equality of opportunity for indigenous communities everywhere in Canada.
This is not an academic read nor is it an anthropological study but it is thoroughly researched and footnoted. The text is easy to read and much of it is based on interviews with individuals from the Valley of the Birdtail, particularly school teachers and students, who recount memories and emotions from their own life experiences and those of their family members. This personal element adds a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the book. These are real people talking about their lives. Did I mention that this is a great read? It is.
This is not an academic read nor is it an anthropological study but it is thoroughly researched and footnoted. The text is easy to read and much of it is based on interviews with individuals from the Valley of the Birdtail, particularly school teachers and students, who recount memories and emotions from their own life experiences and those of their family members. This personal element adds a sense of immediacy and authenticity to the book. These are real people talking about their lives. Did I mention that this is a great read? It is.
August 13, 2024
I’m broken-hearted yet hopeful after reading this. This book put some of the facts that I’ve recently learned about Canadian history and the Indian Act into tangible perspective. There were (many) times I had to put this book down just to breathe, but I couldn’t leave it unread for long.
Please read this book!
Please read this book!
September 22, 2022
A richly detailed and throughly researched history of the racial relations in a small Manitoba community. The authors did a good job showing how resentments between Indigenous and Ukrainian immigrant/settlers developed over years of colonialism, racism and inequalities.
Great on audio although I did find it a tad dry at times when things got a little too into the history of past events. I liked how personal anecdotes from different community members were interspersed in the narrative. Overall worth the read (or listen)!
Great on audio although I did find it a tad dry at times when things got a little too into the history of past events. I liked how personal anecdotes from different community members were interspersed in the narrative. Overall worth the read (or listen)!
October 24, 2022
Interesting perspective from Indigenous-Canadians and settler-Canadians living side by side. I loved the perspectives and introduction of narratives in Part 1, but found Part 2 read much more like a history textbook. Part 3 & 4 returned to the narratives and I found it much more enjoyable. For as many #IndigenousReads as I’ve read, I’m STILL learning about new injustices. We simply MUST do better. #CanadianLiterature #WeReadDoYou
February 24, 2025
A truly eye-opening book that I would recommend to everyone. Very readable (in terms of style), but not always an easy read (in terms of content). The most moving and impactful book I have encountered in some time.
September 19, 2025
4.75⭐️
A book that presents the other side of the story - in such a respectful, thoughtful, and considerate way. In school I was never a history buff, so I appreciated learning about what happened in colonial Canada and what’s still happening now. I think this is one of those important books that everyone should read. Loved it!
A book that presents the other side of the story - in such a respectful, thoughtful, and considerate way. In school I was never a history buff, so I appreciated learning about what happened in colonial Canada and what’s still happening now. I think this is one of those important books that everyone should read. Loved it!
April 25, 2024
Truly an incredible and thought-provoking read. And while the focus of the book is on the Birdtail Valley in Manitoba, it is clear to see that the larger issues explored in this book are present all across Canada.
Also as a side note - it truly is eye-opening that for every Indigenous read, I learn about many more injustices the Indigenous Peoples have survived. I hope our education system is better now, because I really should have learned about this in school.
Also as a side note - it truly is eye-opening that for every Indigenous read, I learn about many more injustices the Indigenous Peoples have survived. I hope our education system is better now, because I really should have learned about this in school.
May 9, 2024
Ce livre devrait être obligatoire dans toutes les écoles secondaires canadiennes.
May 6, 2025
A historical account of Indigenous and settler experience, driven by the contrast between the Waywayseecappo reserve and the neighbouring town of Rossburn. The narrative style mostly focuses on education on and off-reserve, with a heavy dose of Canadian politics. The middle portion of the text, while necessary, ventures out of the narrative style and gets caught up in political history.
This strikes me as a necessary read for all Canadians. It gives names and faces to a fraught history that can easily become generalized. As I read, this account prompted me to ask, again and again, where do I fit into this story? Where have my grandparents and great-grandparents been affected by decisions that were made, policies that were enacted, and treaties that were signed? And even more so, how are my family and neighbours affected by these things in the present?
I am grateful for the number of Indigenous stories and experiences that are now being published, and will happily add this title to my list.
This strikes me as a necessary read for all Canadians. It gives names and faces to a fraught history that can easily become generalized. As I read, this account prompted me to ask, again and again, where do I fit into this story? Where have my grandparents and great-grandparents been affected by decisions that were made, policies that were enacted, and treaties that were signed? And even more so, how are my family and neighbours affected by these things in the present?
I am grateful for the number of Indigenous stories and experiences that are now being published, and will happily add this title to my list.
August 9, 2024
J’ai adoré ce livre.
On y apprend beaucoup sur la vision des “blancs”, le racisme bi-directionnel entre autochtones et allochtones, ainsi que l’immigration ukrainienne dans l’ouest du pays.
Je recommande fortement. En tant que Canadien(ne)s nous devrions tous et toutes lire ce livre afin de mieux comprendre l’histoire du Canada.
On y apprend beaucoup sur la vision des “blancs”, le racisme bi-directionnel entre autochtones et allochtones, ainsi que l’immigration ukrainienne dans l’ouest du pays.
Je recommande fortement. En tant que Canadien(ne)s nous devrions tous et toutes lire ce livre afin de mieux comprendre l’histoire du Canada.
Read
April 15, 2024If you call Canada home, whether you were born here or not it doesn’t matter, if you can make time for one book, read this one. Think about it. Notice how it affects you. Discuss it with at least one person. Reach out to me if you want to discuss it with me. I am always available.
I came into Valley of the Birdtail with more perspectives than I had even imagined. As I read about the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve and the town of Rossburn, the broader Canadian history that played a huge role in the shaping of these two communities and their relationships, so many aspects of my life experiences and identities came up. In the detailed review on my blog, I analyzed this book as a student, teacher, someone from a colony, immigrant, someone who calls Canada home and as a human.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
I came into Valley of the Birdtail with more perspectives than I had even imagined. As I read about the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve and the town of Rossburn, the broader Canadian history that played a huge role in the shaping of these two communities and their relationships, so many aspects of my life experiences and identities came up. In the detailed review on my blog, I analyzed this book as a student, teacher, someone from a colony, immigrant, someone who calls Canada home and as a human.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
July 1, 2025
WOW... This is a book that should be compulsory for everyone who doesn't understand why Truth and Reconciliation is so important. This book uncovers details about the various details about the rules, policies and pass system, etc that were imposed on Indigenous people by the Indian Agents, and the government of Canada. It is shocking, as the details of maltreatment are openly described. I have been reading many books by Indigenous authors, because I need/want to learn and understand what happened, and how I can become an ally. This book, while exposing the disregard and disrespect for the Indigenous community members by the settlers living nearby, also shares a sense of hope. I appreciated that element....
There is so much we need to learn, and understand. This book is a powerful expose... and one we should all read!
There is so much we need to learn, and understand. This book is a powerful expose... and one we should all read!
July 9, 2024
Read with coworkers at school.
It sparked a lot of discussion and not everyone enjoyed it. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I had to make sure to break up my time with it or I just got overwhelmed with information. Everything is delivered with accessible language, endnotes and images. I’d recommend this read to educators but everyone who wishes to gain more perspective and understanding about Canada’s history and reconciliation.
It sparked a lot of discussion and not everyone enjoyed it. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I had to make sure to break up my time with it or I just got overwhelmed with information. Everything is delivered with accessible language, endnotes and images. I’d recommend this read to educators but everyone who wishes to gain more perspective and understanding about Canada’s history and reconciliation.
November 3, 2024
What an incredible book. As a university student, I took several classes on indigenous history and policy and consider myself to be relatively knowledgeable, yet I still learned so much from reading this book. It also brought all the issues and events in history together in one place. Many think residential schools existed in the distant past but yet, we read the last one only closed in 1996. Not only this but the authors were able to demonstrate so clearly how the impacts of government policy and legislation, the church and residential schools themselves impact communities to this day. The comparison of Waywayseecappo and Rossborn was so articulate and profound I was left with feelings of anger, guilt, and sadness. While the book focused mostly on the negative, it also highlighted the amazing stories of resilience and triumph over unimaginable obstacles.
Valley of the Birdtail is a piece of literature all Canadians should read. I would go so far as to say it should be required reading as part of the Canadian education system.
Valley of the Birdtail is a piece of literature all Canadians should read. I would go so far as to say it should be required reading as part of the Canadian education system.
January 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Valley of the Birdtail tells a story of racial divide, inequality, and systemic oppression of Indigenous peoples in Manitoba (although it represents racism in Canada as a whole). It was dry at parts, but I appreciated how it blended history with more personal narratives of local families, while trying to tell the truth and dispell hurtful myths. It also tackled racism against "white" people by mentioning the Ukranians, comparing the situations of Eastern European immigrants with the Indigenous peoples. As someone who studied Canadian history, I was not surprised by much of the information, but I did learn a few new things that stood out to me. I had never heard of Hayter Reed before, who was honestly such a villain so I'm surprised he's never come up. This book really made me reflect on big ideas of land, education, and equity, but also on my personal history and my place in Canada as a settler.
March 21, 2023
Should be required reading for every Canadian citizen. Critically important work, well researched, and accessibly written. Can’t recommend this book enough.
Read
February 22, 2025I thought this was well executed. It had a good mix of personal stories and historical content.
May 30, 2024
While I was already aware of the systematic racism against Indigenous people in Canada, this book does a really good job of illustrating just how deep it is. By contrasting the story of an Indian reserve (Waywayseecappo) with a neighbouring white-settler town (Rossburn), you can see just how deliberately the government impoverishes First Nations people. In some instances they were knowingly breaking laws just to control and subjugate the Indigenous people. This is the government breaking the laws that it created, mind you.
It was so jarring to see actual quotes from government officials saying things like "a little starvation will do them good". Settler colonialism is so cliché/repetitive. The playbook is the same: keep a group of people geographically sectioned off, control their movement, ban their language and cultural practices, and if all else fails, starve them.
It's so interesting that at the same time that the government was inviting and sponsoring Ukrainian immigrants to settle on so-called unoccupied land in Manitoba in the late 1800s, they were setting up residential schools. Immigrants were seen as the future of Canada's prosperity while the First Nations people were viewed as "a liability to be managed and minimized". I don't think much has changed today, and it's sad to think that I have benefitted in some way from the marginalization of Indigenous people. It's just a reminder that while I may not have had an active role in the marginalization, I do think I (we all) have a responsibility to make sure that it doesn't continue and that I (we) don't perpetuate it.
Also, Indigenous people pay taxes in Canada! I don't know where I heard that they didn't but it seems to be a pervasive myth.
That First Nations people are still here today in spite of attempts to exterminate them, is a testament of their resilience and determination. I hope to live in a Canada that recognises their dignity and follows it up with tangible action.
It was so jarring to see actual quotes from government officials saying things like "a little starvation will do them good". Settler colonialism is so cliché/repetitive. The playbook is the same: keep a group of people geographically sectioned off, control their movement, ban their language and cultural practices, and if all else fails, starve them.
It's so interesting that at the same time that the government was inviting and sponsoring Ukrainian immigrants to settle on so-called unoccupied land in Manitoba in the late 1800s, they were setting up residential schools. Immigrants were seen as the future of Canada's prosperity while the First Nations people were viewed as "a liability to be managed and minimized". I don't think much has changed today, and it's sad to think that I have benefitted in some way from the marginalization of Indigenous people. It's just a reminder that while I may not have had an active role in the marginalization, I do think I (we all) have a responsibility to make sure that it doesn't continue and that I (we) don't perpetuate it.
Also, Indigenous people pay taxes in Canada! I don't know where I heard that they didn't but it seems to be a pervasive myth.
That First Nations people are still here today in spite of attempts to exterminate them, is a testament of their resilience and determination. I hope to live in a Canada that recognises their dignity and follows it up with tangible action.
November 11, 2025
Outstanding! This book should be read by all Canadians.
September 22, 2022
I normally struggle to read historical/sociological books because the writing style is usually verbose and stolid. As such, I opened this book with trepidation, fearing that I’d have to discipline myself to persevere through stale metaphors and meandering logic.
But I was pleasantly surprised. The author’s writing skills are prodigious. He has weaved a captivating conclusion from personal interviews and extensive research.
As someone who is not Canadian and not much aware of Canadian history, I learned a great deal from this account. The various dynamics between indigenous First Peoples (as the authors calls them), for example, and settler Ukrainians, is gripping.
Their central claim is that some of the disparities we now observe between settler communities and First Peoples goes back to the 1800s. During that era they point out that law forbade Indigenous people from using new agricultural machines and failed to recognise Native Reserve land as collateral (which meant First Peoples couldn’t get bank loans like other Canadians). The system, in short, was stacked against First Peoples from the get-go.
Moreover, the authors argue that the hangover of these historic policies live on within the present schooling system. To illustrate this, they explore two towns separated by a river. One is in the Reserve and the other isn’t. The school outside of the reserve has historically performed far better than the one inside. The authors convincingly argue that this disparity in outcome has been driven, in part, by disparities in funding over the same period.
They also show how closing the funding gap in recent years has (to some extent) closed the gap in outcome.
As someone ordinarily sceptical of single factor explanations for multifaceted problems, I would have liked the authors to explore other factors in addition to systemic ones. I would have liked to see, for example, a deeper dive into the cultural differences between settler Ukrainians and First Peoples. Is there any reason to believe that people separated for tens of thousands of years would be equally culturally suited to the pursuit of profit, for example?
However, on reflection, I realise that such questions are likely a lifetime area of study. And, regardless of the full milieu of factors at play, it seems sensible that Canada as a nation eliminates those systemic factors it can easily control for. The authors make a compelling case for what these factors are, and how to fix them.
The arguments gave me much food for thought. They were well articulated and logically self-consistent. And, thankfully, thanks to their masterful storytelling, I was engaged enough to read the book in a single sitting.
I suspect this will not be the last book from two authors who clearly have many more burning questions to explore, and the writing talent to make those explorations captivating to a wide audience.
But I was pleasantly surprised. The author’s writing skills are prodigious. He has weaved a captivating conclusion from personal interviews and extensive research.
As someone who is not Canadian and not much aware of Canadian history, I learned a great deal from this account. The various dynamics between indigenous First Peoples (as the authors calls them), for example, and settler Ukrainians, is gripping.
Their central claim is that some of the disparities we now observe between settler communities and First Peoples goes back to the 1800s. During that era they point out that law forbade Indigenous people from using new agricultural machines and failed to recognise Native Reserve land as collateral (which meant First Peoples couldn’t get bank loans like other Canadians). The system, in short, was stacked against First Peoples from the get-go.
Moreover, the authors argue that the hangover of these historic policies live on within the present schooling system. To illustrate this, they explore two towns separated by a river. One is in the Reserve and the other isn’t. The school outside of the reserve has historically performed far better than the one inside. The authors convincingly argue that this disparity in outcome has been driven, in part, by disparities in funding over the same period.
They also show how closing the funding gap in recent years has (to some extent) closed the gap in outcome.
As someone ordinarily sceptical of single factor explanations for multifaceted problems, I would have liked the authors to explore other factors in addition to systemic ones. I would have liked to see, for example, a deeper dive into the cultural differences between settler Ukrainians and First Peoples. Is there any reason to believe that people separated for tens of thousands of years would be equally culturally suited to the pursuit of profit, for example?
However, on reflection, I realise that such questions are likely a lifetime area of study. And, regardless of the full milieu of factors at play, it seems sensible that Canada as a nation eliminates those systemic factors it can easily control for. The authors make a compelling case for what these factors are, and how to fix them.
The arguments gave me much food for thought. They were well articulated and logically self-consistent. And, thankfully, thanks to their masterful storytelling, I was engaged enough to read the book in a single sitting.
I suspect this will not be the last book from two authors who clearly have many more burning questions to explore, and the writing talent to make those explorations captivating to a wide audience.
September 21, 2022
A thought provoking true account of indigenous experience in Canada. This book outlines historical facts which account for, among other things , the educational underfunding of schools on reserves, and the poverty and inequality suffered by indigenous peoples in Canada. I highly recommend this book and hope that in reading it that non- indigenous Canadians learn from the mistakes that were made in the past, and strive to make their country more equitable to all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2023
Wow wow wow, is it possible to give a book 10 stars??!! This book is my top book I’ve read in 2023 for many reasons, not only is it PACKED with information and knowledge and history, it brings you back through time following families through their generational trauma. It focuses on education and debunks white racist ideologies. AHHH 100000% READ THIS BOOK 👏🏽👏🏽
November 7, 2025
Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White town, and the Road to Reconciliation by Andrew Stobo and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)
This is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of the devastating impact of colonization, the reserve system and The Indian Act. It uniquely parallels the experiences of Indigenous people with those of Ukrainian immigrants from the neighbouring community, revealing striking differences in treatment, opportunity and outcomes. Through meticulous research and personal stories, the authors illuminate how two communities - who have lived side by side for generations - have experienced vastly different paths due to colonization and systemic oppression.
The story is centred on the town of Rossburn, founded by Ukranian immigrants and the nearby Waywayseecappo First Nation, an Anishinabe Objibwa community. Divided by a beautiful valley and decades of racism and unequal treatment, these two communities become the back drop for a multigenerational story of inequality, oppression and the search for reconciliation. By following two families, one white and one Indigenous, the authors personify the enduring effects of colonization and governmental policies, revealing how systemic inequality was deliberately constructed and continues to impact communities.
One of the books most striking elements is how it parallels the experiences of Ukrainian settlers with those of Indigenous people. Both groups faced hardship, discrimination and displacement, yet their paths diverged dramatically due to government policies that intentionally privileged settlers while suppressing Indigenous autonomy.
Despite being familiar about the history of colonization I found this book profoundly impactful. Its clarity, transparency and precision make the connections between historical injustices and present day inequality vivid and obvious. I was horrified anew at how deliberate it all is. This book is one of the best books I’ve read. It brilliantly blends research with deeply personal storytelling that ensures readers understand the history but also feel it’s ongoing consequences.
This is more than a history book- it’s a guide toward understanding and action. It dispels common myths about the “benefits” Indigenous people receive, offering instead a framework for genuine reconciliation and partnership. This is a book that every Canadian should read.
This is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of the devastating impact of colonization, the reserve system and The Indian Act. It uniquely parallels the experiences of Indigenous people with those of Ukrainian immigrants from the neighbouring community, revealing striking differences in treatment, opportunity and outcomes. Through meticulous research and personal stories, the authors illuminate how two communities - who have lived side by side for generations - have experienced vastly different paths due to colonization and systemic oppression.
The story is centred on the town of Rossburn, founded by Ukranian immigrants and the nearby Waywayseecappo First Nation, an Anishinabe Objibwa community. Divided by a beautiful valley and decades of racism and unequal treatment, these two communities become the back drop for a multigenerational story of inequality, oppression and the search for reconciliation. By following two families, one white and one Indigenous, the authors personify the enduring effects of colonization and governmental policies, revealing how systemic inequality was deliberately constructed and continues to impact communities.
One of the books most striking elements is how it parallels the experiences of Ukrainian settlers with those of Indigenous people. Both groups faced hardship, discrimination and displacement, yet their paths diverged dramatically due to government policies that intentionally privileged settlers while suppressing Indigenous autonomy.
Despite being familiar about the history of colonization I found this book profoundly impactful. Its clarity, transparency and precision make the connections between historical injustices and present day inequality vivid and obvious. I was horrified anew at how deliberate it all is. This book is one of the best books I’ve read. It brilliantly blends research with deeply personal storytelling that ensures readers understand the history but also feel it’s ongoing consequences.
This is more than a history book- it’s a guide toward understanding and action. It dispels common myths about the “benefits” Indigenous people receive, offering instead a framework for genuine reconciliation and partnership. This is a book that every Canadian should read.
January 20, 2024
Valley of the Birdtail is a great book on reconciliation and exploration of Canadian history through the example of individuals from Waywayseecappo and Rossburn in the Valley of the Birdtail. The book weaves narratives and history, as the authors have stated in interviews, to show how we got here and also ends with their view of steps toward reconciliation. It's not an easy book to read, I've continuously been surprised by how upfront the officials in the Canadian government have been about what they were doing to the Indigenous peoples. It's one thing to learn the general history in high school, but it felt different to see quotes and quotes of genocidal rhetoric and measures. At times it does read more like a history textbook with the discussion of the history of these policies but the authors do try to focus on narrative to show the effect of those policies through time. As mentioned by the authors, the book also engages in good faith with arguments that most would label "racist" and move on, instead, the authors take the time to deconstruct them [x]. Near the end of the book, the authors discuss their view on steps towards reconciliation such as redistributing territorial jurisdiction (a recent example) and how it fits into Canada's equalization formula (in Chapter 18: "A Great Nation"). Overall, the book does a fantastic job of exploring the relationship between Indigenous Canadians and non-Indigenous Canadians and how government policies have historically sabotaged it.
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December 2, 2024This was great. I read it after hearing the two writers give a talk and they were so thoughtful and considered that I knew this book had to be added to my TBR pile. Not only added but actually read. And I'm so glad I did. As a Canadian, we hear a lot about reconciliation and making things right, but growing up our social studies classes taught us little more about indigenous culture than how to make a weir. (I've never needed to make a weir?) Reading about the mistreatment and manipulation of indigenous peoples, which we know about in theory but about which I learned so much more about here, was infuriating and also necessary. I appreciate that the authors tried not to make the moral of this story about finger wagging so much as about what we could do next if reconciliation and reparation is really part of the path forward, and how even in the dark history (and murky present) it's still possible to spot a glimmer of hope for the future.
January 29, 2025
Although I've read a fair amount of Indigenous-themed books, I likely wouldn't have picked this one up if it hadn't been for book club. And that would have been a shame. Using the communities of Rossburn and Waywayseecappo, MB, the authors paint a picture of the Canadian macrocosm, including the history, politics, and economics of Indigenous-settler relations. They point out, rightly, how wrong it is that inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians still exist in the areas of education, health, and the distribution of wealth, and that our understanding of Indigenous peoples and why there are so many issues on reserves is flawed. They offer suggestions for how to improve the situation, and while these will take time to implement and see results, they mostly require political will and changed attitudes. Rossburn and Waywayseecappo prove that both are possible.
A worthwhile read.
A worthwhile read.
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