Description
Stacey Laforme was born into a life of alcoholism and abuse. At 15, he lived on the street, eventually finding a home with his grandmothers. He started his first job at 12 years old, eventually joining the Ironworkers Union. He attended college late in life. He ran and was elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe in December 2015. He is an honourary Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto and he recently led a delegation to the UK, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. He was the first Giima (Chief) to meet with the British Monarch in over 160 years. Chief Laforme lives on the Anishinaabe New Credit Nation, near Hamilton, Ontario.
Chief Stacey Laforme, an esteemed Indigenous leader and storyteller, breathes life into every poem and story, drawing upon his deep cultural roots. Rich with the essence of his soul, the poems in Beneath the Surface capture the moments and emotions that have shaped him, offering a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and hope. Through humour and pain, Laforme invites readers to not just read, but to truly feel the weight and wisdom carried within each verse.
This collection goes beyond poetry, providing rich backstories and leadership insights that contextualize the verses. As in his earlier collections, Living in the Tall Grass and Love, Life and Loss, Laforme once again extends an invitation to readers, encouraging them to see the world through Indigenous eyes. Themes of peace, humanity, grief, and trauma are woven throughout the book, creating a tapestry of reflection, healing, and ultimately, hope.
Beneath the Surface serves as both a deeply personal reflection and a call for greater understanding and connection, illuminating the complexities of life through the lens of Indigenous wisdom and storytelling.
At the end of this book, this journey, Laforme seeks to help you better answer the following questions. Who was I, Who am I, and Who do I want to be? As a person, a people, a country, a world, who do we want to be?