• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Drama and humour combine in Goodbye Buffalo Bay by award-winning Cree author Larry Loyie. The sequel to the award-winning book As Long as the Rivers Flow and the award-finalist When the Spirits Dance, Goodbye Buffalo Bay is set during the author's teenaged years. In his last year in residential school, Lawrence learns the power of friendship and finds the courage to stand up for his beliefs. He returns home to find the traditional First Nations life he loved is over. He feels like a stranger to his family until his grandfather's gentle guidance helps him find his way. New adventures arise; Lawrence fights a terrifying forest fire, makes his first non-Native friends, stands up for himself in the harsh conditions of a sawmill, meets his first sweetheart and fulfills his dream of living in the mountains. Wearing new ice skates bought with his hard-won wages, Lawrence discovers a sense of freedom and self-esteem. Goodbye Buffalo Bay explores the themes of self-discovery, the importance of friendship, the difference between anger and assertiveness and the realization of youthful dreams.

Larry Loyie was born in Slave Lake, Alberta. He lived a traditional Cree life until he was eight years old, learning from his elders, many of whom he has written about in his childrenâ??s books. He has a website abailable here: www.firstnationswriter.comThe â??Lawrence Seriesâ? books are based on Larry Loyieâ??s traditional Cree childhood. The Moon Speaks Cree (Theytus, 2013) is a winter adventure, a traditional time of family, learning and imagination, when toboggan dogs were part of everyday life.From the age of eight to 14, Larry Loyie attended St. Bernard Mission residential school in Grouard, Alberta. At 14, he entered the work force, fighting fires, working in an oil camp and a mountain sawmill.He writes about his years in residential school and moving on in Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus, 2008). This engaging chapter book is the sequel to As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood), winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Childrenâ??s Non-Fiction. Goodbye Buffalo Bay is a popular choice for novel and classroom study.Larry Loyie is an invaluable resource on the history of residential schools in Canada. He is a survivor who has spent many years researching and writing about this hidden chapter in Canadian history.When the Spirits Dance, A Cree Boy's Search for the Meaning of War(Theytus, 2010), set during the Second World War, is based on the authorâ??s traditional Cree childhood when his father left the family to serve with the Canadian Army. It is a family story of universal interest in the discussion of the effects of war.The Gathering Tree (Theytus, 2005) is a bestselling work of fiction informed by Larry Loyieâ??s first-hand knowledge of Aboriginal culture and approaches. Winner of the 2012 Silver Medal (Health Issues) from Moon beam Children's Book Awards, The Gathering Tree encourages HIV awareness and prevention. Impressive, authentic illustrations by Heather D. Holmlund enhance the story. Included are 15 questions and answers in reader-friendly language prepared by Chee Mamuk, the Aboriginal education arm of the BC Centre for Disease Control.Larry Loyieâ??s books have been honoured by the First Nation Communities Read program and other awards and award-nominations. They are Highly Recommended by CM Magazine, Books in Print and other publications. His books are found on curriculums and recommended reading lists across Canada. Study material for each book is included on his website: http://firstnationswriter.comLarry Loyie went back to school at the age of 55 to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a writer. He is an active proponent of literacy and learning. With his partner, writer and editor Constance Brissenden, he launched Living Traditions Writers Group in 1993 to encourage Aboriginal writing. Together Larry and Constance have given more than 1,400 workshops, talks and presentations in schools, libraries, at writerâ??s festivals and conferences. Larry Loyie is also available for Skype school visits.

Larry Loyie's profile page

Constance Brissenden, BA (UofGuelph), MA (UofAlberta, Theatre) has written with Cree author Larry Loyie since 1993. A non-fiction writer and editor of more than 14 books of history and travel, she was a writing instructor in Simon Fraser University's Writing & Publishing program for 18 years. Constance Brissenden met Larry Loyie in a creative writing class at the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. She directed Larry Loyie's first play, Ora Pro Nobis, Pray for Us, performed in Vancouver as well as five federal prisons in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. In 1993, Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden launched Living Traditions Writers Group to encourage writing in Aboriginal and other communities. A lifelong freelancer, Constance Brissenden continues to write, edit and teach writing and theatre. Together with Larry Loyie, she gives presentations on his books and co-teaches writing workshops

 

Constance Brissenden's profile page

Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Goodbye Buffalo Bay refers to the location of the residential school where Larry Loyie spent six years. The book’s first half is a series of anecdotes about his experience at the school and the second half follows Loyie in his life after he leaves the school. He returns to Rabbit Hill and tries to reintegrate into life there. His grandfather tries to help him be “Cree again” and takes him to an illegal tea dance. He eventually goes with his sister to McBride where he works at the sawmill. He recounts stories of physical and mental abuse and loss of Native culture at the school. An epilogue gives a brief history of residential schools in Canada.

Previous books are The Gathering Tree, When the Spirits Dance and As Long as the Rivers Flow. Loyie has received the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction and the First Nation Communities Read Honour Book Award.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Goodbye Buffalo Bay refers to the location of the residential school where Larry Loyie spent six years. The book’s first half is a series of anecdotes about his experience at the school and the second half follows Loyie in his life after he leaves the school. He returns to Rabbit Hill and tries to reintegrate into life there. His grandfather tries to help him be “Cree again” and takes him to an illegal tea dance. He eventually goes with his sister to McBride where he works at the sawmill. He recounts stories of physical and mental abuse and loss of Native culture at the school. An epilogue gives a brief history of residential schools in Canada.

Previous books are The Gathering Tree, When the Spirits Dance and As Long as the Rivers Flow. Loyie has received the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction and the First Nation Communities Read Honour Book Award.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay

Lawrence has spent five years in a residential school – a time of grueling physical, mental and emotional abuse. His Cree culture has been demeaned, and his self-worth and even physical safety have been in jeopardy at the hands of the school’s priests and nuns – the majority of whom are heartless and cruel. They lack the very love and respect at the heart of the Christian faith they claim to uphold. Life for everyone at the school is unjustifiably harsh. Education is substandard, and fostering joy in learning is a foreign concept. Lawrence is homesick and aching to be with his family and live a peaceful life in harmony with nature. Attempts to run away from the school fail, and the only blessings that keep Lawrence sane are the bonds he shares with his friends and with Sister Theresa – the one nun who treats him with love and encourages his dreams.

When Lawrence finally returns to the community within which he was once most comfortable, he is shocked to find that he feels like a stranger among his own First Nations People. The support and guidance of Lawrence’s grandparents help him begin to heal and reconnect, and the freedom to explore and make his own choices, to do hard work and make money, gives him back his dignity.

Lawrence’s life after residential school is full of adventure. Before he is even 16 years old, he experiences young love, fights a forest fire, has his first experience of flying, takes on a dangerous job on the green chain at a sawmill, and makes his first non-Native friends. He also learns how to constructively confront discrimination and stand up for himself, and how to begin dealing with his anger about injustice.

In Goodbye Buffalo Bay, Larry Loyie gives readers an engaging story about living in painful circumstances, growing up, and reclaiming life and self-respect. This memoir is at times a difficult read. It does not shy away from retelling dark moments of abuse during a cruel period in Canadian history, but it is also at times delightfully humourous. An important book for mature readers, it shows that joy can be found even in the midst of trouble. Complete with a brief history of residential schools and a glossary of Cree terms, this story will get readers thinking not only about First Nations history, but also the broad theme of injustice in its many forms.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay

This story is based on Larry Loyie’s six years at a residential school. Upon his return home, Lawrence finds his beloved traditional First Nations life gone. He feels like a stranger in his own family, until his grandfather’s guidance helps him find his way.