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  • Unreconciled

  • Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance
  • Written by: Jesse Wente
  • Narrated by: Jesse Wente
  • Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (241 ratings)

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Unreconciled

Written by: Jesse Wente
Narrated by: Jesse Wente
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Publisher's Summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

WINNER of the 2022 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Non-Fiction
SHORTLISTED for the 2023 Speaker's Book Award

A GLOBE AND MAIL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Unreconciled is one hell of a good book. Jesse Wente’s narrative moves effortlessly from the personal to the historical to the contemporary. Very powerful, and a joy to read."
—Thomas King, author of The Inconvenient Indian and Sufferance

A prominent Indigenous voice uncovers the lies and myths that affect relations between white and Indigenous peoples and the power of narrative to emphasize truth over comfort.


Part memoir and part manifesto, Unreconciled is a stirring call to arms to put truth over the flawed concept of reconciliation, and to build a new, respectful relationship between the nation of Canada and Indigenous peoples.

Jesse Wente remembers the exact moment he realized that he was a certain kind of Indian--a stereotypical cartoon Indian. He was playing softball as a child when the opposing team began to war-whoop when he was at bat. It was just one of many incidents that formed Wente's understanding of what it means to be a modern Indigenous person in a society still overwhelmingly colonial in its attitudes and institutions.

As the child of an American father and an Anishinaabe mother, Wente grew up in Toronto with frequent visits to the reserve where his maternal relations lived. By exploring his family's history, including his grandmother's experience in residential school, and citing his own frequent incidents of racial profiling by police who'd stop him on the streets, Wente unpacks the discrepancies between his personal identity and how non-Indigenous people view him.

Wente analyzes and gives voice to the differences between Hollywood portrayals of Indigenous peoples and lived culture. Through the lens of art, pop culture, and personal stories, and with disarming humour, he links his love of baseball and movies to such issues as cultural appropriation, Indigenous representation and identity, and Indigenous narrative sovereignty. Indeed, he argues that storytelling in all its forms is one of Indigenous peoples' best weapons in the fight to reclaim their rightful place.

Wente explores and exposes the lies that Canada tells itself, unravels "the two founding nations" myth, and insists that the notion of "reconciliation" is not a realistic path forward. Peace between First Nations and the state of Canada can't be recovered through reconciliation--because no such relationship ever existed.

©2021 Jesse Wente (P)2021 Penguin Canada
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What the critics say

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

2023, Legislative Assembly of Ontario Speaker's Book Award, Short-listed

2022, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, Winner

A GLOBE AND MAIL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Unreconciled is one hell of a good book. Jesse Wente’s narrative moves effortlessly from the personal to the historical to the contemporary. Very powerful, and a joy to read." (Thomas King, author of The Inconvenient Indian and Sufferance)

“With Unreconciled, Jesse Wente proves himself to be one of the most influential Anishinaabe thinkers of our time. By telling his own story, Jesse provides Canada with an essential roadmap of how to move forward through the myth of reconciliation towards the possibility of a just country. There is much work to be done but reading Jesse’s words, soaking them in and letting them settle in your mind, will set us all on the right path.” (Tanya Talaga, bestselling author of Seven Fallen Feathers)

What listeners say about Unreconciled

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A must read/listen

Thank you, Jesse, for “The Truth” .

My 96 year old father in-law has always said to me -whenever I would despair about the evils of Colonialism; “It doesn’t work so it will stop”

Being a person of colour, I, too, have been subjected to the nonsense. My children will not tolerate the things I did. The insist that it stops.

Thank you for sharing this.

W Robinson

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Great book, a good discomfort

Excellent book. Half biography, half frank assessment of Canada today from an indigenous perspective. Gave me a greater understanding of what type of change is needed, especially on an individual level. Jesse speaks directly to the privileged white listener about the discomfort one feels listening to First Nations anger. Why one feels uncomfortable when racist symbols (such as sports team mascots) are highlighted as needing to go… even though one has never knowingly acted in a racist manner. I am part of the society that created these racist symbols, it makes sense to feel uncomfortable. There are deeper examples too. He helped me sit with my discomfort and keep listening. Very helpful in terms of processing howling feel on my personal truth and reconciliation journey. Thanks you Jesse. Highly recommended.

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Believe the hype!

I have never seen a book with a rating as high as this one, which is what prompted me to buy it, that and the fact that it was on sale. Wow! What an absolutely incredible book! I have also never finished an audiobook as fast as I have this one; less than 24 hours after I bought it. It is powerful, insightful and extremely relevant. Like all the other reviewers have said, EVERY Canadian needs to read or listen to this book. Jesse provides fantastic explanations of our past and present, our responsibilities and willful ignorance. My only criticism is that he gets very heavy handed at the end, treating Canada as if it were a sentient, evil being with truly malicious intent, which does serve the narration well and he gets his point across, but it would have been just as poignant and powerful without this final tirade, justified though it undoubtably is.

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A MUST read...

"If not NOW, then when?" This book is written to effect change.
Author's reading gave emotional depth, yet told with incredible strength and wisdom.

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No Truth No Justice

If you only read one book on truth and reconciliation, read this one. Courage Canada! Our hope lives in changed attitudes.

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Insightful Truths

Themes on narrative sovereignty and creativity as a tool of incredible impact .we’re amazing. Human impact on marginalized professionals.

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Fabulous. A must read!

Nobody could be honesty critical if they listened the whole way through. Some of it is hard to hear but nevertheless it is important to hear to understand.
Thanks Jessie for writing this.

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Critique I will

I loved the book . Almost everything we experienced has been said through an Indigenous lens. Both from an indigenous perspective and western view. When the points come from both sides who can say it’s not true. The book is an excellent resource that can be used, I sure will. When I listen to audible it also gives me an opportunity to also know this book is worth having.

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A Must Read for All Descendants of Settlers/Immigrants to Canada

With truth as his core and an appeal to action, Jesse Wente calls to action all who have settled in Canada for the change that is long overdue.

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A Must Read for all Canadians

Jesse Wente is brilliant and brings voice to so many thoughts Indigenous folks across Canada are trying to convey. He articulates all of his ideas clearly and with good stories. This book came at a perfect time for me and I am ever thankful. Read this book. Chi-miigwetch Jesse.

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