Book review: Before the Usual Time: A Collection of Indigenous Stories and Poems

Reviewed by Carrie MacKenzie

The book, Before the Usual Time: A Collection of Indigenous Stories and Poems, is an emotional and moving collection of poems and short stories written by various Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island (North America) and Guahan (Guam, a territory of the United States of America). Darlene Naponse edited this collection.

These poems and stories deal with a number of themes including racism, cultural appropriation, feeling alienated from those around you, the healing power of reconnecting with your culture and land, and the preservation of rapidly disappearing Indigenous languages. This gives the reader a greater understanding of these issues and situations; situations that they may not have had to deal with themselves thus creating an awareness that may not have been there before.  If they had, this will let them know that they are not alone. This thought-provoking insight can lead to greater understanding and acceptance and lessen feelings of isolation. This understanding and acceptance can hopefully lead to greater respect for Indigenous peoples and their cultures. For Indigenous readers, it will optimistically lead to pride in their cultures.

Furthermore, having authors from various Indigenous cultures, backgrounds, and different experiences gives credence to the themes and situations found within this compilation. The result of this is that the writers are making these issues real and relevant to the reader. This engages the audience at a deeper level and makes them less likely to dismiss what they are reading as just entertainment and nothing more. It encourages them to actively think about the implications of what they are reading.

Before the Usual Time also gives the reader insight into the rich, diverse, and complex Indigenous cultures and spirituality. This is done in such a way as to create interest in these topics so that the reader is inspired to continue to study works by other Indigenous authors and artists, in turn learning more about Indigenous traditions and beliefs. There is also at times a mixture of Indigenous spirituality and Christianity throughout these stories, showing that mutual respect and understanding are possible. Hopefully, this has a positive impact on the reader.

The authors use stark and vivid imagery that is sometimes graphic without being gratuitous.  This increases the impact of what the authors are saying by allowing the reader to focus on the words and the message they are communicating. Given what is happening in the world today, a number of these narratives are very relevant and therefore extremely thought-provoking.

The language used by the authors is clear and simple, but simultaneously poignant. This makes the poems and stories accessible to a wider audience increasing its educational impact as it teaches the reader about the experiences of Indigenous peoples and the richness and diversity of their cultures.

The tone of this book is serious and bleak but filled with a sense of hope. The seriousness and bleakness come from the various themes found throughout this collection. These feelings of hope also come from these same concepts and in some cases, come from the same story or poem. This makes the themes and insights all the more real and moving to the audience. The sense of hope comes from the theme of the healing power of reconnecting with one’s culture and land. This may also mirror the feelings of some Indigenous peoples:

Before the Usual Time should be on everyone’s reading list and without hesitation, it would be an asset to any course on Indigenous studies.

Before the Usual Time, ed. Darlene Naponse, Latitude 46 Publishing: Sudbury, Canada.

ISBN 978-1988989150