Book Review: Speaking My Truth
Reviewed by Shirley Honyust/ Yenatli:yo
Speaking My Truth, available in printed and electronic versions, is a fascinating collection of narratives by a number of individuals sharing reflections on how their lives have been impacted by their quest for reconciliation.
Contributing authors such as Fred Kelly (Confessions of a Born Again Pagan), Madeline Dion Stout (A Survivor’s Reflections on Reconciliation), Drew Haydon Taylor (Cry Me a River, White Boy) and Jose Anaujaq Kusugak (On the Side of the Angels) are only a few of the popular names in this powerful collection of writings. This book stands out as an invaluable source of information with much to contribute to any course materials of First Nations Studies or research on the subject of reconciliation, as it does to the private collector’s library of Indigenous literature.
Dealing with such sensitive subjects as disconnection from family and community, and forced assimilation practices, this book periodically reveals the system of childhood analysis, lifting the veil of unexplainable pain as only the mind of a child can rationalize unequal differences, i.e. “Don’t talk back” snapped by confessor. “Well, don’t give me hell” I blurted unaware of my prophetic words (Fred Kelly, page 62).
Published in 2012, after the Aboriginal Healing Foundation ran its course, these true accounts are written with the unadulterated voices from childhood experiences translated through a wealth of First Nations adult vocabularies, finally able to reflect on horrific episodes in their young impressionable years.
Sparingly illustrated with photos from Library and Archives Canada; Janice Longboat; Glenbow Archives; the Shingwauk Project; Victoria University Archives and National Archives of Canada, each chapter includes notes and gives a brief bio of the contributing author. Finalizing the last chapter, the book includes a list of questions for reading for discussion. Concise and compact, these 248 pages convey a potent message to everyone open to Indigenous perspectives.
Speaking My Truth by Shelagh Rogers, Mike DeGagne, Jonathan Dewar ISBN# 978-0-9876900-4-3 (printed) #ISBN #978-0-9876900-5-0 (electronic)