Description
I've Been Shot At, What's Your Excuse?: Lessons From My Life is a collection of 25 essays, short stories, and reminisces from Ojibwe storyteller and librarian Sherry Lawson from Mnjikaning First Nation. Part memoir and part oral tradition, the collection is her first volume of stories that explore her life, her family and friends and community members' interactions and local history. The rich collection contains stories with a dose of welcome humour mixed with serious topics that discuss reserve politics, veterans, education, and the role of grandparents and Elders. She generously shares her poignant recollections of her alcoholic mother, her special uncle, and beloved Nokomis. The title for this volume is taken from her story about the night she was accidentally shot at by her father. One story recounts her love of reading and libraries, while another explains the origins of Casino Rama. Throughout the book are black and white family photographs from Sherry's personal collection. Recommended.