Description
This is an Honour Song: Twenty Years Since the Blockades is an anthology of 33 narratives, poetry, personal reflection pieces, and essays that were collected and edited by Leanne Simpson and Kiera Ladner in honour of the 1990 event known as the Oka Crisis. The editors are clear in their discussion of why they felt compelled to solicit works that celebrate the commitment, sacrifices, and achievements of the Kanien'kehaka individuals and communities involved. The work contains a special epilogue by Ellen Gabriel; a drama piece by Douglas Raymond Nepinak; an essay by Patricia Monture; conversations addressing the protection of lands by Jacob Ostaman, Paula Sherman, and Leanne Simpson; and an essay by Peter Russell about the necessity of flashpoints such as Ipperwash and Oka. Additional contributors include: Greg Hill, Neal McLeod, Wanda Nanabush, Clayton Thomas-Miller, June McCue, Harmony Rice, Wab Kinew, Robinder Kaur Sehdev, Rebecca Belmore, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Michael Orsini, and Kate Monture. Art works about the resistance at Kanehsate:ke are featured and include the works of Robert Houle, Gerald McMaster, Rebecca Belmore, Greg Hill, Jane Ash Poitras, and Shelley Niro. This excellent collection contains an extensive index. Highly recommended.