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Just Another Indian: A Serial Killer and Canada's Indifference
The Forgotten Victims
Eva Taysup
Shelley Napope
Mary Jane Serloin
Calinda Waterhen
"It seems any time a Native is murdered, it isn't a major case. It's just another dead Indian." Justine English, sister of murder victim Mary Jane Serloin
John Martin Crawford is a serial killer who preys on native women. Convicted in 1996, Crawford is serving concurrent life sentences for brutally murdering Canadian Native women and is a suspect in the killing of at least one other Native woman.
Crawford has staked his claim as one of the nation's most prolific sex killers with little fanfare. He is anonymous, his deeds are virtually forgotten. Who is he?
Journalist Warren Goulding traces the crimes, prosecution, convictions, and media treatment surrounding Crawford and his victims. By raising disturbing questions about racism, police actions and policy, and the media, he draws the whole story out of obscurity and onto the public record. This disquieting book deaths of these four Native women and challenges all Canadians to consider the possibility that in this country, some lives are worth more than others.
Eva Taysup
Shelley Napope
Mary Jane Serloin
Calinda Waterhen
"It seems any time a Native is murdered, it isn't a major case. It's just another dead Indian." Justine English, sister of murder victim Mary Jane Serloin
John Martin Crawford is a serial killer who preys on native women. Convicted in 1996, Crawford is serving concurrent life sentences for brutally murdering Canadian Native women and is a suspect in the killing of at least one other Native woman.
Crawford has staked his claim as one of the nation's most prolific sex killers with little fanfare. He is anonymous, his deeds are virtually forgotten. Who is he?
Journalist Warren Goulding traces the crimes, prosecution, convictions, and media treatment surrounding Crawford and his victims. By raising disturbing questions about racism, police actions and policy, and the media, he draws the whole story out of obscurity and onto the public record. This disquieting book deaths of these four Native women and challenges all Canadians to consider the possibility that in this country, some lives are worth more than others.
219 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2001
6 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 3, 2012
i just wanted to say thank you to all those who read the book,. I'm glad you liked it. I really hope that the person who didnt deserve to live will really suffer in life. Sorry to say. But i feel sadned cause It was My Mother who was one of the victoms. Calinda jean Waterhen Is my mother and she gave birth to me in Prince Albert On October 11th, 1991. My name Is Amber D, Waterhen. I dont want to be crule or ignorant but it is what it is. Its his fault i had to grew up wit out a mother.. Anyway. I love this book and again i want to thank all those who read t and enjoyed it! <3 Much Love and Respect!
May 8, 2011
This book was unbelievable...At first, I was kind of turned off by the writing of it, but then the book came together and slaps the reader in the face as one puts it together. It tells much more of the story of the victims' families than I have seen in other true crime books. The other thing that slaps you and where the title comes from is that tech. under Canadian law, this serial kill could potentially(very unlikely)still yet potentially be released from prison at an age where he could kill again. HMMMMMMM!
April 11, 2019
Maybe not the greatest book ever, from a technical standpoint. But who cares? John Martin Crawford is one of Canada's serial killers who chose to target Indigenous women and was able to commit his crimes freely over the span of a decade (sometimes even while under police surveillance) because the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is so neglected in this country.
The issues discussed in this book are more important than a typo or two being missed in editing or the fact that the writing style is stark rather than flowery and decorative - let me remind you that this is a true crime account about a real serial killer, not a fictional work of artistic literature.
At least someone is writing about this deplorable man, the crimes he committed, and the ways in which Indigenous women in Canada are continuously failed and forgotten.
R.I.P Mary Jane Serloin, Eva Taysup, Shelley Napope and Calinda Waterhen.
The issues discussed in this book are more important than a typo or two being missed in editing or the fact that the writing style is stark rather than flowery and decorative - let me remind you that this is a true crime account about a real serial killer, not a fictional work of artistic literature.
At least someone is writing about this deplorable man, the crimes he committed, and the ways in which Indigenous women in Canada are continuously failed and forgotten.
R.I.P Mary Jane Serloin, Eva Taysup, Shelley Napope and Calinda Waterhen.
December 11, 2011
I could copy an essay into here to explain what this book did wrong.
The author shows nothing but contempt for the reader through the entire book - the tone assumes you're a racist white moron and you need to be lectured. Come on, a racist white moron isn't gonna read this book in the first place, so you're preaching to the wrong audience.
It does not follow a logical sequence of events; it jumps from date to date, back and forth through the timeline without indication.
It is completely one-sided, and often also very contradictory.
The author's portrayal of the victims and their families does not evoke the sympathy deserved for their tragedy.
Although the crimes themselves warrant attention and consideration, this book did not do justice to the victims or their families.
The author shows nothing but contempt for the reader through the entire book - the tone assumes you're a racist white moron and you need to be lectured. Come on, a racist white moron isn't gonna read this book in the first place, so you're preaching to the wrong audience.
It does not follow a logical sequence of events; it jumps from date to date, back and forth through the timeline without indication.
It is completely one-sided, and often also very contradictory.
The author's portrayal of the victims and their families does not evoke the sympathy deserved for their tragedy.
Although the crimes themselves warrant attention and consideration, this book did not do justice to the victims or their families.
May 9, 2019
I understand where a lot of reviewers are coming from about the non-sequential structure of the first half of this book. What I feel like Goulding did, instead of doing a day by day retelling of the events as they happened, he separated out key players and told the story person by person instead.
I was a little disorientated starting out too, but maybe 20 pages in I got into the flow of this and where the last book I read took me about a month to finish I zoomed through this in under a week!
I appreciate that while Goulding is a journalist by trade, he avoided making Just Another Indian into a longer version of a newspaper article. He writes from a layperson, or a generic Canadian's position and only uses his Journalist background to flesh out and give more meaning to the aspects revolving around the media.
It was a bit of a shock to finish this book and look up to realise Red Dress day had just passed, we live in a time where the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls epidemic is widely known about, but other than the women who have gone missing from my city this is the first I'd heard about Eva, Mary, Shelley, and Calinda by name.
Because these women and girls-- as Shelley was only 16 the night John Martin Crawford raped and murdered her-- all have names, every one of them. They have names and families and hopes.
Included in this book is a few letters than Shelley wrote her brother and mother while she was 15 and in detention. I cried when I read her words, her want for a better life, her want to know her mother didn't hate her because of the life she was living.
I really respect Goulding for bringing this book to light, and also for the photography included in the centerfold. How any human could see those women's faces and do what Crawford did to them is unthinkable. And Canada doesn't care.
I was a little disorientated starting out too, but maybe 20 pages in I got into the flow of this and where the last book I read took me about a month to finish I zoomed through this in under a week!
I appreciate that while Goulding is a journalist by trade, he avoided making Just Another Indian into a longer version of a newspaper article. He writes from a layperson, or a generic Canadian's position and only uses his Journalist background to flesh out and give more meaning to the aspects revolving around the media.
It was a bit of a shock to finish this book and look up to realise Red Dress day had just passed, we live in a time where the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls epidemic is widely known about, but other than the women who have gone missing from my city this is the first I'd heard about Eva, Mary, Shelley, and Calinda by name.
Because these women and girls-- as Shelley was only 16 the night John Martin Crawford raped and murdered her-- all have names, every one of them. They have names and families and hopes.
Included in this book is a few letters than Shelley wrote her brother and mother while she was 15 and in detention. I cried when I read her words, her want for a better life, her want to know her mother didn't hate her because of the life she was living.
I really respect Goulding for bringing this book to light, and also for the photography included in the centerfold. How any human could see those women's faces and do what Crawford did to them is unthinkable. And Canada doesn't care.
January 10, 2024
I highly encourage you to read this book. It is so important to understand history from the perspective and experience of others in order to continue building a better understanding of current times.
This book was such a powerful resource that not only analyzed the psyche and circumstances of John Crawford, but of the “race, geography, incompetence, economics” all at play that contributed to Canada’s indifference.
Most importantly, this book tributes the lives of Shelley Napope, Calinda Waterhen, Eva Taysup, Janet Sylvestre, other victims, their families and communities. The book provides insight into how Aboriginal women have been and still are impacted by the negligence and ignorance of Canadian society. Through understanding the vulnerable positions of sex work and drug use that these women were subjected to, readers are able to form an educated perspective on ongoing issues of colonialism.
While this book is difficult to read in that it is emotional and heartbreaking, it is such an important piece of literature.
My heart is with all affected.
This book was such a powerful resource that not only analyzed the psyche and circumstances of John Crawford, but of the “race, geography, incompetence, economics” all at play that contributed to Canada’s indifference.
Most importantly, this book tributes the lives of Shelley Napope, Calinda Waterhen, Eva Taysup, Janet Sylvestre, other victims, their families and communities. The book provides insight into how Aboriginal women have been and still are impacted by the negligence and ignorance of Canadian society. Through understanding the vulnerable positions of sex work and drug use that these women were subjected to, readers are able to form an educated perspective on ongoing issues of colonialism.
While this book is difficult to read in that it is emotional and heartbreaking, it is such an important piece of literature.
My heart is with all affected.
January 29, 2017
I have mixed reviews about this book. I don't like the author's style of writing. That being said, this is an important story to tell. Far too many Indigenous women go missing in Canada every year. There's more knowledge of this nowadays thanks to social media. This is an important piece of Saskatchewan and Canadian history that is tragic and unjust. As a First Nation's woman myself, going missing is a very real issue I face albeit I don't live a high risk lifestyle, the threat is still there nonetheless. Families are ignored and mistreated by the police and justice system when voicing their concerns over missing daughters/aunties/mothers. The message is a critical one for anyone, it is too bad it jumps around so much. It is a haunting and needless tragedy.
September 23, 2021
Welp... if you weren't angry about MMIWG before, read this.
For something I found on the shelf, talking about a Canadian serial killer I knew nothing about... My personal notes for this book involve a lot of requests to punch people... specifically police-type people. Like a lot.
This story is a heartbreaking tale of police neglect, media indifference, and failures of both the mental health and criminal justice systems told by someone who truly cares about the case and the victims. That passion holds your attention for pages and only aids your anger in flying through this book.
For something I found on the shelf, talking about a Canadian serial killer I knew nothing about... My personal notes for this book involve a lot of requests to punch people... specifically police-type people. Like a lot.
This story is a heartbreaking tale of police neglect, media indifference, and failures of both the mental health and criminal justice systems told by someone who truly cares about the case and the victims. That passion holds your attention for pages and only aids your anger in flying through this book.
December 10, 2010
A thought provoking book. Its not just about the crimes of one of Canada's most prolific serial murderers, but also touches on why most Canadians have never heard of him. His victims may not have lived lives empathizable to the "average Canadian" (whatever that may be), but as bought out in the book, they still had hopes, dreams and people who loved them dearly.
May 9, 2016
This book had the potential to be great, but fell short. The story was a very interesting one and one that probably every person in the Saskatoon area should know about, but the writing style did not to it justice. It lacks any sort of flow, skipping from 1996 to 1991 with no warning at all and referring to people by different names without explanation so it's very hard to keep track of.
January 21, 2016
An infuriating look at official indifference in the face of evidence that a serial killer is preying on Cree women in an out-of-the-way corner of Canada. Made me want to go out and deck any Mounties I could find, particularly the stakeout team that watched their suspect assault a woman and leave her to escape on her own...then ARRESTED her.
September 9, 2021
We need to honour the women he admitted to murdering and the many more he wouldn’t admit to. amen.
August 10, 2022
A tough read but one every Canadian should get through. Thank you for bringing this to light.
October 25, 2025
Goulding didn’t just write a book about a serial killer; he brought light to the justice system in its continuous failings to protect the innocent; in particular, missing and murdered indigenous women – years before MMIWG was born.
The book is based on little-known serial killer John Martin Crawford who was accused of murdering four Canadian women over a ten-year span, and finally convicted of those murders in 1996. The expertly applied research, details, tact and skill used by the author in the writing of this story is unparalleled in this writer’s opinion.
Just Another Indian doesn’t simply tell the tale of the what, the when or the where. It draws the reader in from the very first page. With the ease of a natural-born storyteller, Goulding injects the compassion he felt toward the victims and their families throughout.
It comes as no surprise that this author was honoured with the Social Justice Award from the Alberta-based Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, along with the Saskatchewan book award.
I’m a total fan and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The book is based on little-known serial killer John Martin Crawford who was accused of murdering four Canadian women over a ten-year span, and finally convicted of those murders in 1996. The expertly applied research, details, tact and skill used by the author in the writing of this story is unparalleled in this writer’s opinion.
Just Another Indian doesn’t simply tell the tale of the what, the when or the where. It draws the reader in from the very first page. With the ease of a natural-born storyteller, Goulding injects the compassion he felt toward the victims and their families throughout.
It comes as no surprise that this author was honoured with the Social Justice Award from the Alberta-based Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, along with the Saskatchewan book award.
I’m a total fan and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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September 13, 2020How To Handle A Serial Killer: A Guide By The Canadian Police
-ignore the problem for as long as possible
-refuse to give even a single shit if the victims are poor/racialized/sex workers
-avoid contacting the victim's families; put them off if they manage to get ahold of you
-keep the public in the dark at all costs
-scoff at profilers telling you you have a serial killer on your hands
-lie to the affected communities and assure them that they have nothing to worry about
-let the serial killer brutalize a few more people before you arrest him, as a treat
Congratulations! You are now qualified to run a homocide investigation in Canada. I hear Mark Saunders is retiring, maybe you can have his old job.
-ignore the problem for as long as possible
-refuse to give even a single shit if the victims are poor/racialized/sex workers
-avoid contacting the victim's families; put them off if they manage to get ahold of you
-keep the public in the dark at all costs
-scoff at profilers telling you you have a serial killer on your hands
-lie to the affected communities and assure them that they have nothing to worry about
-let the serial killer brutalize a few more people before you arrest him, as a treat
Congratulations! You are now qualified to run a homocide investigation in Canada. I hear Mark Saunders is retiring, maybe you can have his old job.
December 28, 2020
A fascinating, yet tragic read about Canadian serial killer John Crawford and the Indigenous women he killed and harmed.
Goulding presents the facts of the case in an engaging way. I appreciate his bringing this case to light and also the fact that the victims were not extended compassion, attention, and the appropriate outrage and spotlight by the media. This terrible treatment of Indigenous women needs to end now.
I recommend this book for all Canadians. May the victims and the terrible loss of their lives never leave our hearts and minds.
Goulding presents the facts of the case in an engaging way. I appreciate his bringing this case to light and also the fact that the victims were not extended compassion, attention, and the appropriate outrage and spotlight by the media. This terrible treatment of Indigenous women needs to end now.
I recommend this book for all Canadians. May the victims and the terrible loss of their lives never leave our hearts and minds.
November 24, 2022
Shameful.
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August 7, 2023I have vision problems and would love to be able to read this book in pdf or audible so it can read to me cant seem to find this ?
July 31, 2024
The topic is so sad, the prejudice and lack of concern both from the media , the police and public is the resounding takeaway from this book. The writing is journalism/documentary; not easy to read.
March 22, 2017
4.5
"Any comprehensive overhaul of the system will have to be driven by pressure from all sectors of society, not just Indians."
"Any comprehensive overhaul of the system will have to be driven by pressure from all sectors of society, not just Indians."
December 5, 2011
Hate being forced to read something for school, but besides that this book jumped around a lot. I didnt start to enjoy it or feel much until it came to the parts when the victims families were talking. The book started to make more sense at the end too when the trial was in place. It actually went in order from there on. A little less confusing to follow
December 6, 2011
Worst book ever... the timeline jumps around so much that it was difficult to follow. There is a documentary on Youtube that explains it much better. search John Martin Crawford - the lady killer if you are interested in this case.
December 3, 2008
It was hard to read at first. Its something we as Native women in Canada live with all the time but to see it on pages in another story.
October 9, 2011
The concept itself wasn't that bad, but the book was horribly written. It jumped all over the place and was hard to follow at times. My heart aches for these poor girls that were treated this way.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews