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Biography & Autobiography Native Americans

E nâtamukw miyeyimuwin

Residential School Recovery Stories of the James Bay Cree, Volume 1

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau

with James Bay Cree Storytellers

Publisher
Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay
Initial publish date
Mar 2023
Category
Native Americans, Sexual Abuse & Harassment
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781989796238
    Publish Date
    Mar 2023
    List Price
    $29.99
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781989796245
    Publish Date
    Mar 2023
    List Price
    $39.99

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Description

In this quietly powerful and deeply human book, Ruth DyckFehderau and twenty-one James Bay Cree storytellers put a face to Canada’s Indian Residential School cultural genocide.
Through intimate personal stories of trauma, loss, recovery, and joy, they tell of experiences in the residential schools themselves, in the homes when the children were taken, and on the territory after survivors returned and worked to recover from their experiences and to live with dignity. The prose is clear and accessible, the stories remarkably individual, the detail vivid but not sensational.
Together they reveal the astonishing courage and strength of children along with the complexity and myriad methods of their oppressors. A tough, often funny, and ultimately uplifting book that’s not quite like anything else out there.
This book is published by Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and distributed by WLU Press.

About the authors

Ruth DyckFehderau has written two nonfiction books with James Bay Cree storytellers: The Sweet Bloods of Eeyou Istchee: Stories of Diabetes and the James Bay Cree (2017, 2nd Ed 2020) and E Nâtamukh Miyeyimuwin: Residential School Recovery Stories of the James Bay Cree, Vol. 1 (forthcoming 2023). Her work has been translated into five languages and she has won many literary awards. She sometimes teaches Creative Writing and English Lit at the University of Alberta. She lives in Edmonton with her partner. She is hearing-impaired. This is her first novel.

Ruth Dyckfehderau's profile page

James Bay Cree Storytellers' profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Independent Press Award
  • Winner, Foreword INDIES (Multicultural)
  • Short-listed, Independent Author Network Award

Editorial Reviews

These Cree stories, told with utmost respect and a feeling of safety, are gifts. They are medicine.

Joanna Campiou, Woodland/Plains Cree Knowledge Keeper

This is a difficult but necessary book. There’s a power to truth and to the realities of the Indian Residential School system, but for those wanting to see strength and movement toward hope, this is the book for you. These stories hold that hope close to the heart. What shines through is a love of the land, a love of community, a love of the Cree language, a love of family exactly what colonial forces like the IRS system tried to destroy but couldn’t.

Conor Kerr, Metis/Ukrainian author, Avenue of Champions, Giller Prize longlist

These previously unwritten stories of lived, traumatized experiences are testament to the storytellers’ courage and strength and resilience. When the rich Cree traditional and spiritual relationship with land and with family is harmed by separation, hatred, and fear - a harm resulting in anger and loss of values, identity, and self-worth - these storytellers find ways to heal. Through their stories, you learn about culture as treatment, about the power of forgiveness and love, and about peaceful co-existence in community as essential to healing, belief, and advancing true reconciliation.

Chief Willie Littlechild, Ermineskin Cree Nation, Former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, Former residential school student athlete, Order of Canada; Order of Sport, Member of Sports Halls of Fame, Canada and North America

Other titles by

Kimpirlii kuun utipaachimuwin mistisiniihch uhchiiu; Kimpirlii kuun utipaachimuwin, mistisiniiuiinuu; L’histoire de Kimberly Coon de Mistissini

The Story of Kimberly Coon of Mistissini

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Maakii haapiichaak kiyaah saaimin iitaap utipaachimuwiniwaau waawsaanipiihch uhchiiwich; Maakii haapiichaak kaye saaiman iitaap utipaachimuwiniwaau, waaswaanipiiuiinuuch; L’histoire de Maggie Happyjack et Simon Etapp de Waswanipi

The Story of Maggie Happyjack and Simon Etapp of Waswanipi

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translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Merii ni kaanikaapuu utipaachimu in aapimaakushtuhch uhchiiu; Merii ni kaanikaapu utipaachimu in, aapimaakustuiyiyiu; L'histoire de Mary Niquanicappo de Whapmagoostui

The Story of Mary Niquanicappo of Whapmagoostui

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Histoires en cours de route / Stories Along the Way

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Angela Etapp Waaskaa'iganishing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Angela Etapp of Waskaganish

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Kimberly Coon Mistisiniing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Kimberly Coon of Mistissini

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Raakel emiliin welsh utipaachimuwin wiiminichiihch uhchiiu; Rakel emilaain welsh utipaachimuwin, wiininichiiuiyiyiu; L’histoire de Raquel Emmeline Welsch de Wemindji

The Story of Raquel Emmeline Welsch of Wemindji

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Raquel Emmeline Welsch Weminjiing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Raquel Emmeline Welsch of Wemindji

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Maggie Happyjack gaye Simon Etapp Waswaanibiing Gaa-onjiiwaad Odibaajimowiniwaa

The Story of Maggie Happyjack and Simon Etapp of Waswanipi

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Victor Gilpin Eastmain Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Victor Gilpin of Eastmain

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
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Other titles by

Kimpirlii kuun utipaachimuwin mistisiniihch uhchiiu; Kimpirlii kuun utipaachimuwin, mistisiniiuiinuu; L’histoire de Kimberly Coon de Mistissini

The Story of Kimberly Coon of Mistissini

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Maakii haapiichaak kiyaah saaimin iitaap utipaachimuwiniwaau waawsaanipiihch uhchiiwich; Maakii haapiichaak kaye saaiman iitaap utipaachimuwiniwaau, waaswaanipiiuiinuuch; L’histoire de Maggie Happyjack et Simon Etapp de Waswanipi

The Story of Maggie Happyjack and Simon Etapp of Waswanipi

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Merii ni kaanikaapuu utipaachimu in aapimaakushtuhch uhchiiu; Merii ni kaanikaapu utipaachimu in, aapimaakustuiyiyiu; L'histoire de Mary Niquanicappo de Whapmagoostui

The Story of Mary Niquanicappo of Whapmagoostui

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Histoires en cours de route / Stories Along the Way

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Angela Etapp Waaskaa'iganishing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Angela Etapp of Waskaganish

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Kimberly Coon Mistisiniing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Kimberly Coon of Mistissini

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Raakel emiliin welsh utipaachimuwin wiiminichiihch uhchiiu; Rakel emilaain welsh utipaachimuwin, wiininichiiuiyiyiu; L’histoire de Raquel Emmeline Welsch de Wemindji

The Story of Raquel Emmeline Welsch of Wemindji

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Luci Bobbish-Salt, Louise Blacksmith & Valérie Duro

Raquel Emmeline Welsch Weminjiing Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Raquel Emmeline Welsch of Wemindji

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Maggie Happyjack gaye Simon Etapp Waswaanibiing Gaa-onjiiwaad Odibaajimowiniwaa

The Story of Maggie Happyjack and Simon Etapp of Waswanipi

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance

Victor Gilpin Eastmain Gaa-onjiid Odibaajimowin

The Story of Victor Gilpin of Eastmain

by (author) Ruth Dyckfehderau
with James Bay Cree Storytellers
translated by Patricia M. Ningewance