Description
Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City recounts with clarity and honesty the truths surrounding the lives of seven Indigenous teenagers who lost their lives while attending high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Jethro Anderson, Curran Strang, Robyn Harper, Paul Panacheese, Reggie Bushie, Kyle Morrisseau, and Jordan Wabasse attended secondary school to further their education because their northern home communities lacked such basic facilities. Between 2001 and 2011 these seven students lost their lives in circumstances that that many readers will conclude are unacceptable.
In setting the stage to present the facts the journalist begins with the story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack (January 19,1954 - October 23, 1966) was an Ojibwe boy who ran away from Cecelia Jeffrey Residential School where he boarded for three years while attending public school in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. He died of hunger and exposure while trying to walk 600 km (370 mi) back to his home, Ogoki Post..
Suitable for secondary and college level readers. Highly recommended.
Finalist, 2017 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction; Finalist, 2017 Speaker's Book Award; Finalist, 2018 B.C. National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction. Tanya Talaga wins the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize for her book Seven Fallen Feathers.
Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City has been selected in the Young Adult/Adult Category for the First Nation Communities READ 2018 Award. Teaching Guide: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0276/4619/files/Seven_Fallen_Feathers_...