The work of renowned indigenous author Tomson Highway, Kiss of the Fur Queen is one of the highlights of 2021. This topical and poignant story follows two Cree brothers living in Northern Manitoba who are ripped from their family and forced into the Catholic residential school system.
With revelations about Canada’s history in terms of residential schools and abuse towards First Nations people on the rise through 2021, this novel could not be better timed. Kiss of the Fur Queen provides a voice to the generations of children silenced in these institutions.
This title provides perspective on the foundation of Canada as a country, as well as allows listeners who may not be familiar with these stories a chance to learn, grow, and experience what it meant to be Cree in a time of Catholic oppression and residential school mandates. This audiobook is at once of the moment and timeless in its ability to shed light on stories not heard enough through Canada and the world.
This audiobook by Joshua Whitehead provides an important but rarely heard perspective on what it means to be queer and Two-Spirit. In his stunning debut, Whitehead tackles issues of identity, freedom, and the past as he explores what it means to be indigiqueer, both for himself individually and with regards to his ethnicity, and the context of living on or returning to a reservation.
Jonny Appleseed shines a light not only on indigenous life in Canada but shows how queer individuals find and use their own voice in a world that often does not historically have a place for them. This enlightening and powerful Canadian book is a coming-of-age of sorts, and is both inspiring and eye-opening.
Whether it helps others in a similar position find their own voice or simply proves a fantastic piece of storytelling, Jonny Appleseed is a powerful tale that will help open the listener up to new voices and new perspectives, hopefully encouraging listeners to do the same in their own lives.
Here we have another powerful audiobook about the impact of colonialism and trauma inflicted on Native people throughout Canada and North America. Using her voice as a Tuscarora person, Alicia Elliot explores deep and painful issues that have rocked Canada throughout much of 2021. By giving life to this story, Elliot provides a voice to her people and her past and shares experiences that are often hidden or erased from history.
Listening to this voice is important. Without understanding where we as a nation come from - no matter the listener's background - healing, reconciliation and improvement are borderline impossible. Listening to audiobooks and non-fiction like A Mind Spread Out on the Ground allows the listener to better understand and empathize with the world around them. Most importantly, it allows them to embrace a voice other than their own.
