Book Review: Making the Carry: The Lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater

Making the Carry: The lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater by Timothy Cochrane is a gripping biography that details the amazing lives of John Linklater, a highly skilled game warden and woodsman of Cree and Scottish descent, and his wife Tchi-Ki-Wis, a member of the Lac La Croix First Nation in the territory of the Annishinaabeg (also referred to as Chippewa or Ojibwe).

This is a well-researched and detailed account of the lives of the Linklaters and includes numerous footnotes organized by chapter. The footnotes give the reader resources to access and read to get more information about this period in history and the Linklaters themselves. This is just one of the educational aspects of this book. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers can use these resources to further educate themselves as there are numerous interesting and exciting events in the Linklaters’ lives. This keeps the reader interested and reading and by extension, learning valuable historical information.

The book also highlights Indigenous and Métis culture, artistry, and beliefs. Pictures are included of Tchi-Ki-Wis’ bead work and cedar mats, as well as photos of the Linklaters going about their daily lives. As a result, the reader becomes invested in learning about the Linklaters and through them, Metis and Indigenous culture. This is further strengthened by the respectful way Cochrane writes about the Linklaters, and Métis and Indigenous cultures. This is also relevant given the current worldwide climate crisis and conservation of wildlife and their habitat. It shows the knowledge and respect that Indigenous people have of and for the natural world. It is something that everyone should take note of and learn from.

Cochrane also talks about the personalities of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis, so the reader learns who they are. Therefore, the Linklaters come across as more than one dimensional. The Linklaters are further brought to life through the informal pictures included in the book. Thus, the reader has insight into who John and Tchi-Ki-Wis were both as individuals and as a couple. This is further enhanced by the numerous photographs throughout the book. These photos increase the connection the reader feels to the Linklaters, allowing them to put faces to the names that they are reading about. The photographs also help the reader picture the landscape and the locations mentioned in the book.

This biography also mentions about the discrimination Indigenous people faced (and continue to face) serving to remind and/or educate the reader about this. It is made more impactful due to the personal connection the reader feels to the Linklaters. At the same time, there is a counterpoint, the fact there were white people, including scientists, who respected them and valued their knowledge of nature to the extent of having John Linklater help them with their scientific field work. This highlights John Linklater’s intelligence and even suggests that his knowledge of the natural world was superior to the white academics. Cohrane also mentions that John Linklater was aware of these 76 unfavourable stereotypes and as a result, he conducted himself in such a way to distance himself from these stereotypes and ensuring they would not apply to him. Cochrane also mentions that in many ways, their white friends protected the Linklaters from the effects of this discrimination.

Making the Carry: The lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater is an informative and entertaining biography of a couple and their lives and a particular period of time. It also serves as a resource for those who want to educate themselves.

Timothy Cochrane, Making the Carry: The lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater.Winnipeg: The University of Minnesota Press, 2023.

ISBN: 1517913888