Book review: I Lost My Talk and I’m Finding My Talk
Reviewed by Karl Hele
I Lost My Talk is an illustrated poem by Rita Joe (1932-2007). I’m Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas is an illustrated poem inspired by Rita Joe’s poem. Both are lavishly and strikingly illustrated by Pauline Young. The words and images have a marvellous interplay that enhances the overall effectiveness of these two contemporary responses to residential school experiences, specifically the Mi’kmaq experience with the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in Nova Scotia. Both books are aimed at children younger than Grade 4. Each nicely broaches residential schools in a meaningful way for young children while ending with the fact that our cultures remain and are resilient.
Rita Joe’s poem addresses how by being forced to attend Shubenacadie, her language was replaced with English. At the school, she learned of the power imposed to compel children to read, write, and think in English. Yet, the poem is more than about loss; it is about seeking and reseeking what was lost in order to regain its power. It is about regaining what was lost in order to teach and grow both as individuals and as a society. Rebecca Thomas’ I’m Finding My Talk is both an ode to the inspiration found in Rita Joe’s poem and a personal journey in seeking to find what was lost. Unlike Joe, it was Thomas’ father who attended Shubenacadie. Through his attendance and loss, Thomas’ dad was unable to teach her about the language and culture of her people. Thus, the illustrated poem follows Thomas’ efforts to regain and relearn her culture, language, and (re)connect with fellow Mi’kmaq. Together, the two works speak to what was taken by the Indian Residential Schools and how people are working to regain, relearn, and reclaim. Both works are vivid and emotional expressions of resilience and survivance as well as lessons in the strength of the Mi’kmaq and Indigenous spirit.
Pauline Young’s illustrations are simple yet incredibly complex complementary pieces for both Joe’s and Thomas’ words. The Shubenacadie school is always painted in sombre browns, indicating loss, sadness, and general malaise. Young’s first illustration of the work by Joe, you see a happy girl surrounded by Mi’kmaq pictograms split between a yellow dress and dull brown school uniform with the accompanying text: “The talk you took away.” The vividness of the culture and sombreness of the uniform serves as a signpost to the work. Gradually, as Joe leaves the school, the dark brown begins to shift to a blue pallet and eventually returns to a colourful vibrancy as knowledge is shared. A similar colour shift is used alongside Thomas’ words; however, the sombre browns only appear when she reveals her dad attended Shubenacadie. The remaining images are vibrant, filled with life and joy as culture, language, and community is rejoined.
Together, I Lost My Talk and I’m Finding My Talk are excellent explorations of the failure of residential schools to destroy children and their cultures. Joe’s poem is drawn from her experiences as a student while Thomas’ work shows how the next generation is affected by their parents’ attendance at these institutions. Simply, both illustrated poems express personal experience and resiliency in relation to the residential school experience. The only significant difference between the two books is that the Rita Joe volume has a brief summary of the Shubenacadie school. Each also contains information about the authors that will help round out discussion and knowledge generated through the books.
These illustrated poems must be read together, in sequence, to first raise questions about the school experience and what was taken from the children and then to show that the culture and people are regaining their ‘talk’ albeit with great effort. Both books should be used in schools and at home to bring knowledge and awareness about the schools at age-appropriate levels. The text is easy and short while the colours sombre or vibrant will easily engage the youngest of readers and listeners in an educational journey. These works are highly recommended editions for both home and school libraries.
Rita Joe and Pauline Young, I Lost My Talk. (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 2019).
ISBN: 978-1771088107
Rebecca Thomas and Pauline Young, I’m Finding My Talk. (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 2019).
ISBN: 978-1771088114