Book review: The Reason You Walk: A Memoir

Reviewed by Marina Plain

The intense storyline of The Reason You Walk: A Memoir, by Wab Kinew, includes similar circumstances to my own, which includes a parent and the healing that can occur while travelling through inevitable ups and downs of life. It is an amazing process when it comes to reconciliation with one’s past, present and future.

Wab Kinew writes about how his relationship with his father, Tobasonakwut (Peter Kelly), was tumultuous at times, but the father and son are able to reconcile differences and go on a healing journey as the father endures his cancer journey and ultimately, leaves a better path not only for his son but the entire  family and broader society

Ceremony and language played a significant part of this story, the author describes the Sun Dance, fasting and other traditional adoption ceremonies that he both participated in and led. The Sun Dance is a healing ceremony, which requires commitment, endurance and dedication.  The vision quest includes fasting and is a rite of passage for the Midewin Lodge members that provides enlightenment from the Creator to help an individual regarding their purpose and things to come.

Language is included throughout this book and refers to the language that was lost/broken during the process of colonialism and the era of residential schools. Anishinaabemowin was another way that the father and son bonded along their healing journey and to reconciliation with each other.

Traditional adoptions are also referred to throughout the book; it describes the process of the extended family placed into the role of parents due to various life events. It also refers to bringing in members that attend the same ceremonial events, regardless of if the person may or may not be Indigenous, but due to the level of respect and connection, the group accepts the person as they have made a significant contribution to a family or community.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding how the residential schools affected an individual, a family and society in general.

Miigwetch for reading my review of this powerful book!

Kinew, Wab. The Reason You Walk: A Memoir. Viking Press: New York, New York. ISBN: 978-0670069347