Selkirk Reads! 2024

Looking for a transcendent and trippy reading experience?

Nisga’a poet Jordan Abel’s debut novel Empty Spaces is a looping, atmospheric re-imagining of 19th-century The Last of the Mohicans from the contemporary perspective of an urban Nisga’a person whose relationship to land and traditional knowledge was severed by colonial violence.

Abel creates a powerful story of Indigenous place, identity and agency, recasting the past with new hope and understanding through his bold reconfiguration of the 19th-century classic’s settler fantasies of vanishing Indigenous Peoples and empty, barren land.  

Waubgeshig Rice says Open Space has a "rhythmic beauty to its movement ... that encourages the reader to observe and absorb the power and endurance of the land … a singular triumph of storytelling and literature.”

The All + Flesh is a collection of poems by Indigiqueer author Brandi Bird. It "explores the concepts of health, language, place, and memory that connect its author to their chosen kin, blood relatives, and ancestral lands. By examining kinship in broader contexts, these frank, transcendent poems expose binaries that exist inside those relationships, then inspect and tease them apart in the hope of moving toward decolonial future(s)." (House of Anansi Press, 2023)

Anti-racism has typically been led by American authors, but White Benevolence is a Canadian perspective on the colonial past and how it impacts settlers who work in helping professions like post-secondary institutions, hospitals, social work and more. 

It explores when helping can be harmful and challenges behaviours that may not help in the way they are intended. A great opportunity to engage in dialogue on racism in public sector professions.

In this gripping, horror-laced debut, a young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., is a captivating and chilling collection that brings together a diverse array of voices from Indigenous authors across North America. 

The anthology delves into the realms of horror, dark fantasy and the supernatural, all deeply rooted in Indigenous culture and traditions. The strength of this anthology lies in its diversity of stories, each offering a unique perspective on fear and the unknown. From eerie ghost stories to unsettling encounters with ancient spirits, the anthology covers a broad spectrum of dark fiction. 

The stories are not only meant to frighten but also to provoke thought and reflection on the complex relationship between Indigenous peoples and their histories, landscapes, and spiritual beliefs. This anthology is a haunting and thought-provoking journey into the shadows, and lives up to its double-entendre subtitle: Are You Ready to Be Un-Settled?

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

This is a visually stunning graphic novel anthology of ten stories, written and illustrated by Indigenous storytellers and artists. Contributors include Sonny Assu, Richard Van Camp, Katherena Vermette, and Chelsea Vowell

This is so much more than just another sports story. Another reader used this as part of their review..."It's about hard work, tragedy, family dynamics, emotional and substance abuse, and the difficulties that face any minority who strive to leave broken situations for a better life..." 

Come and join me to learn more about Jordan's journey!

I chose to read Medicine Walk for its powerful portrayal of redemption and forgiveness and its exploration of Indigenous culture. 

This novel offers an emotional journey and is a touching and insightful reading experience.