The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) weaves the stories of a group of women committed to helping one another. Despite abuse experienced by some, both in their own community and in residential schools, these women learn to celebrate their culture, its stories, its dancing, its drums, and its elders. Principal of these elders is Nina, the advisor at the women’s shelter. With the help of Sandy and Charlene, Nina uses Indigenous practices to heal the traumatized Mary Ann. This is a powerful novel—sometimes brutally violent, sometimes healing, sometimes mythical, and always deeply respectful of the Indigenous culture at its heart.

Cree/Dene writer and artist Carol Rose GoldenEagle was appointed Saskatchewan's Poet Laureate in 2021. She is the author of the award-winning novel Bearskin Diary. It was chosen as the national Aboriginal Literature Title for 2017. The French language translation, entitled Peau D'ours, won a Saskatchewan Book Award in 2019. Her first book of poetry, Hiraeth, was shortlisted for a 2019 Saskatchewan Book Award. Her second novel, Bone Black, was shortlisted for both the 2020 Rasmussen & Co. Indigenous Peoples’ Writing Book Award (Saskatchewan Book Awards) and Muslims for Peace and Justice Fiction Book Award. Carol's latest novel, The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik), won the 2021 Rasmussen & Co. Indigenous Peoples' Writing Award (Saskatchewan Book Awards), and her poetry collection Essential Ingredients was shortlisted for the 2022 SK Arts Poetry Award. Carol was also recently honoured with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Stations of the Crossed is Carol’s third poetry collection.

A visual artist, her work has been exhibited in art galleries across Saskatchewan and Northern Canada. A CD of women’s drum songs, Squaw’kin Iskwewak Wymyns’ Songs, in which Carol is featured, was nominated for a Prairie Music Award. Before pursuing art on a full-time basis, Carol worked as a journalist for more than 30 years in television and radio at APTN, CTV, and CBC. She lives in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan. www.carolrosegoldeneagle.ca

Carol Rose GoldenEagle's profile page

• Winner, Rasmussen & Co. Indigenous Peoples’ Writing Award

“Even though fiction, Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) is an authentic telling of Truth as its characters wrestle with the trauma of inter-generational violence and abuse rooted in the colonization of Indigenous peoples. It is also an honouring of language, of culture, of dreams, and of Spirit. A story of courage, of hope and healing, it is a welcome addition to the widening and strengthening of Circle for all. Hiy Hiy Osawa Mikisew Iskwew.”
—Lorrie Potvin, author of First Gear: A Motorcycle Memoir, and the forthcoming, Horses in the Sand

“Carol Rose GoldenEagle’s novel, The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) is a powerful and compelling novel about Aboriginal women reclaiming and celebrating our Indigenous culture, traditions, and ways of knowing. Collective knowledge can heal and strengthen humanity when women are given space to do so. A must read for all women!”
—Beverly Little Thunder, author of One Bead at a Time: A Memoir

“Strong women united in friendship and solidarity are an unstoppable force. These characters will stay with you. This story is haunting in all the good ways.”
—Katherena Vermette, author of The Break