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  • The Reason You Walk

  • Written by: Wab Kinew
  • Narrated by: Wab Kinew
  • Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (122 ratings)

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The Reason You Walk

Written by: Wab Kinew
Narrated by: Wab Kinew
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Publisher's Summary

A moving father-son reconciliation told by a charismatic First Nations broadcaster, musician, and activist.

When his father was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Winnipeg broadcaster and musician Wab Kinew decided to spend a year reconnecting with the accomplished but distant aboriginal man who'd raised him. The Reason You Walk spans the year 2012, chronicling painful moments in the past and celebrating renewed hopes and dreams for the future. As Kinew revisits his own childhood in Winnipeg and on a reserve in Northern Ontario, he learns more about his father's traumatic childhood at residential school.

An intriguing doubleness marks The Reason You Walk, a reference to an Anishinaabe ceremonial song. Born to an Anishinaabe father and a non-native mother, he has a foot in both cultures. He is a Sundancer, an academic, a former rapper, a hereditary chief, and an urban activist. His father, Tobasonakwut, was both a beloved traditional chief and a respected elected leader who engaged directly with Ottawa. Internally divided, his father embraced both traditional native religion and Catholicism, the religion that was inculcated into him at the residential school where he was physically and sexually abused.

In a grand gesture of reconciliation, Kinew's father invited the Roman Catholic bishop of Winnipeg to a Sundance ceremony in which he adopted him as his brother. Kinew writes affectingly of his own struggles in his 20s to find the right path, eventually giving up a self-destructive lifestyle to passionately pursue music and martial arts. From his unique vantage point, he offers an inside view of what it means to be an educated aboriginal living in a country that is just beginning to wake up to its aboriginal history and living presence.

Invoking hope, healing and forgiveness, The Reason You Walk is a poignant story of a towering but damaged father and his son as they embark on a journey to repair their family bond. By turns lighthearted and solemn, Kinew gives us an inspiring vision for family and cross-cultural reconciliation, and a wider conversation about the future of aboriginal peoples.

Number-one Globe and Mail nonfiction best seller

A Toronto Star nonfiction best seller

Finalist for the RBC Taylor Prize

Shortlisted for the Ontario Library Service North 2017 Louise de Kiriline Award for Nonfiction

©2015 Wab Kinew (P)2017 Penguin Canada

What the critics say

"Witness the thrilling rise of not only a First Nations star but a Canadian one. The Reason You Walk points the way toward a new era of reconciliation and redemption - and shows us how a man who's anchored by his language, his culture and his family is unstoppable." (Joseph Boyden, author of The Orenda)
"Brutally honest, original, funny, uncomfortable, and compelling." (RBC Taylor Prize Jury Citation)
"This book combines Kinew's disarming personality and his willingness to share highly personal material - in this case, the life and death of his father, Tobasonakwut - to demonstrate the immense power of family and forgiveness as tools of reconciliation.... This is not just a memoir, it's a meditation on the purpose of living." ( The Globe and Mail)

What listeners say about The Reason You Walk

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Seeing a New Side of Colonialism

Read this book twice, and skimmed through it again last month - Absolutely loved it! Each time I read it, I see something new in Kinew's memoir that enlightens and surprises me.

Wab Kinew paints an incredible story of his and his father's life experiences. As a colonial Canadian, this memoir provided me rare insight into First Nations culture, knowledge, and perspectives. The abhorrence of residential school, intergenerational trauma, and continuing racism in mainstream Canadian society are present in this story. However, Kinew masterfully presents these terrible moments as apart of a larger, uplifting storyline of healing and reconciliation.

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An honest and heartfelt memoir

I loved his story. His honesty, humility, and authenticity. His story of how he has changed and grown was so moving. An exceptional writer and storyteller. I hope to see him as prime minister of Canada one day.

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Beautiful story told by the author

What a beautiful story of love, family and learning about the pain of residential schools and how brave the victims were. It’s also about family, tradition, healing and courage. It’s lovely hearing the language spoken and sung by the author as well. Highly recommend this book to every Canadian. I hope we all can learn about honouring our loved ones from this book.

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A great informative read.

This book has made a difference in my knowledge of the past indigenous experience and the current discussions of reconciliation. Well worth the time.

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The Reason We Should Listen

All people should read or listen to more books on our indigenous history and know with the coming of AI ChatGPT we have no reason to be isolated from the native population and our culture. To understand you must be understood- Francoise Sagan
Will done Mr Wab Kinew!

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Great read for context.

This is a great read. And I note two things.

Wab Kinew is now the Premier of Manitoba - 6 years after this was written. I'd love to sit a read the next book yet to be written.


Also - I am a now former United minister. I am ashamed at how much has NOT happened since the writing of the book. As such I don't share the eloquent optimism with which it ends.

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Everyone should listen to this book

This is what true reconciliation looks like. Beautifully written book. We are fortunate to have Wab leading the NDP and our province.

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An inspirational journey of heart & healing

As Wab Kinew sets off on his remarkable journey to become Manitoba's first First Nation premier, reading 'The Reason You Walk' takes on even greater significance. This book not only provides a profound insight into his personal journey but also serves as a testament to his wisdom, compassion, and the values he brings to his leadership. By immersing yourself in the pages of this book, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the person behind the political figure and the principles that guide him.

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An invitation to walk the path of reconciliation

Engaging, enlightening, uplifting! I was moved to tears more than once, as Wab recounted his experiences, reminded of my privilege, and our shared humanity!

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Please listen to this book

Thank you, Wab Kinew, for your honesty and your powerful insights. Your words will stay with me for a long time. The quest for self-knowledge is never-ending, and we all need examples we can look up to as we walk that path. Yours is one that I think many readers and listeners can learn from. Meegwetch.

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  • mindyop
  • 2021-10-18

Gorgeous

This is a Gorgeous and informative book! Thank you so much for writing it! Much appreciated

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  • Missy
  • 2020-03-19

Amazingly life changing!!

Words can not express how this book has given me new perspective to us as indigenous people. Ahehee

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