This Place: 150 Years Retold by Various Authors

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Title: This Place: 150 Years Retold
Author: Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Chelsea Vowel, Katherena Vermette, Jen Storm, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, David Alexander Robertson, Richard Van Camp, Brandon Mitchell, Sonny Assu, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Alicia Elliott, G.M.B. Chomichuk, Scott B. Henderson, Tara Audibert, Natasha Donovan, Kyle Charles, Scott A. Ford, Donovan Yaciuk, Andrew Lodwick, Ryan Howe
Published by: HighWater Press
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Format: Paperback
Pages: 287
Genres: Graphic Novel, Historical
Source: Library
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Fall, Lenoreo's 2021 Diversity Reading Challenge
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My rating:

Blurb:

Explore the last 150 years through the eyes of Indigenous creators in the graphic novel anthology, This Place: 150 Years Retold. Beautifully illustrated, these stories are an emotional and enlightening journey through magic realism, serial killings, psychic battles, and time travel. See how Indigenous peoples have survived a post-apocalyptic world since Contact.

This is one of the 200 exceptional projects funded through the Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter initiative. With this $35M initiative, the Council supports the creation and sharing of the arts in communities across Canada.  

My Review:

OVERALL: 4 stars — This was an interesting way to go through 150 years of history.  Sometimes it was a specific story from a time period, sometimes it was an example of something that might have happened at that time.  Sometimes it was a higher view of historical people/events, and sometimes we were given a character to follow to make it more personal (which are always my favourites).  I found that the part in the foreward that talks about how Indigenous people are already *living* in a post-apocalyptic world to be really eye-opening.  Most of the stories were very eye opening, and I find I really haven’t paid enough attention.  I sincerely hope to do better in the future.

ANNIE OF RED RIVER by Katherena Vermette, Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
3.5 stars — I had NEVER heard of Annie…and her story definitely made me feel a lot of things.  I loved seeing some of the juxtaposition between what “Canadians” thought vs reality, and also between their words and actions.  My problem is honestly just that violence is hard for me to take, even if that’s reality.

TILTED GROUND by Sonny Assu, Illustrated by Kyle Charles
4 stars — Interesting art style, I enjoyed the colours in particular.  I had no idea about potlatchs, or their banning.  I initially wondered if that is where our “potluck” comes from, but it seems it is just coincidental that they have some things in common.  I really loved seeing how Chief Billy was able to help his people adapt to the new world, while not losing their own customs…and at times circumventing the Indian Agents.  This story just reminded me of how much I hate the world my white ancestors brought, and desperately wish we had adopted a more community minded approach like Billy’s people instead.

RED CLOUDS by Jen Storm, Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
4 stars — Windigos!!!  I enjoyed that this one was both historical mixed with their own folktales/legends/beliefs about other creatures.  I loved the way the Windigo was depicted, both on its own and when it inhabited Wahsakapeequay.

PEGGY by David A. Robertson, Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
3.5 stars — I loved learning about Peggy, in bits and pieces…just the top level stuff.  It was a strange narrative though, b/c it was just like highlights, not a story necessarily.  This was on purpose, but it left me slightly dissatisfied because I really enjoyed learning about him.  It was heartbreaking to see how he was lauded abroad, but when he came home he reverted back to his “just another Indian” status.  So wrong.

ROSIE by Rachel & Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Illustrated by GMB Chomichuk
4.25 stars — Oooo, this one was fascinating.  I feel like I know nothing about the Inuit people and culture.  There were moments where I was confused, but I really loved the concept of the name protection, and the little otter/weasel? guy?  I’m probably not making sense.  I also liked the colours used because it kind of gave a red/blue 3D feel.

NIMKII by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Illustrated by Ryan Howe & Jen Storm
4.5 stars — Well this one broke my heart.  Mended it, but broke it real good first.

LIKE A RAZOR SLASH by Richard Van Camp, Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
4 stars — This was another one that felt more like just a glimpse of history, but I didn’t connect with a particular person.  All the same, yet again I learned about something in our past that I was completely ignorant of.  I enjoyed that we got to read actual parts of the speech, interlaced with different images.  It was effective.

MIGWITE’TMEG: WE REMEMBER IT by Brandon Mitchell, Illustrated by Tara Audibert
4 stars — Oh look, another event in Canadian history I really didn’t know anything about.  I appreciated that we got to experience it from the young boy’s perspective and how it affected his family and community.  It gave it a personal touch.

WARRIOR NATION by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Illustrated by Andrew Lodwick
4.5 stars — This one got me fired up.  I loved that Washashk grew as the story went on and he got to experience firsthand what it was like to help others who were struggling…and that he brought that home with him.  Obviously I loved the teeny tiny love story as well.  I at least remember hearing about Oka, but I appreciated getting a different view of it.

KITASKINAW 2350 by Chelsea Vowel, Illustrated by Tara Audibert
4.5 stars — Well, this was very different.  I think one of the lines that affected me the most was something about how the archives told a different story.  Uh, yeah.  Written history is very one sided most times.  It definitely affected me a lot too, especially seeing events that were happening practically in my backyard.  It fired me up as well.  As a side note, I seriously appreciated the pronunciation guides sprinkled here and there, because I try in my head, but I seriously have no idea.

COYER Scavenger Hunt #31: Read a book based on true events.