"I'm reminded that our Elders are our greatest resource, embodying our culture and community....They are a bridge between the Before and the Now, guiding those of us who will carry on in the Future."
The heart of this story is the community. There is deep love and understanding among the tribal members and a desire to help those who have made bad choices or struggle with addiction toward healing. Those ties are beautifully depicted.
There is also great injustice, misuse and dismissal. Some of it within the tribe, some of it from outsiders who sought to tamp out tribal tradition, belittle Indigenous people, are ignorant of their bigotry or cannot fight the laws that protect those who abuse and mistreat others.
The ways the women of the story support each other through their hurt is heartrending. From the blanket parties where they beat out their rage to the yellow pansy ceremony where their hurt is released to give themselves peace.
The book leaves you a bit heart sore for all the characters experience and the hardship of slogging through the knowledge of intentional hurt and lack of consequences, but there is a bittersweet twist in the soreness.
The heart of this story is the community. There is deep love and understanding among the tribal members and a desire to help those who have made bad choices or struggle with addiction toward healing. Those ties are beautifully depicted.
There is also great injustice, misuse and dismissal. Some of it within the tribe, some of it from outsiders who sought to tamp out tribal tradition, belittle Indigenous people, are ignorant of their bigotry or cannot fight the laws that protect those who abuse and mistreat others.
The ways the women of the story support each other through their hurt is heartrending. From the blanket parties where they beat out their rage to the yellow pansy ceremony where their hurt is released to give themselves peace.
The book leaves you a bit heart sore for all the characters experience and the hardship of slogging through the knowledge of intentional hurt and lack of consequences, but there is a bittersweet twist in the soreness.