Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.67 AVERAGE
4.67 AVERAGE
“Everything we are lives in our language. When our language was taken away in the residential schools, our people lost the connection to who we were.”
I know a lot of settlers, like me, are trying to educate ourselves about the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples and the effects of colonialism on all aspects of society and the land we live on. If you want to understand the intergenerational trauma of residential schools and colonial systems on Indigenous communities and individuals, this book is an essential read.
Elaine Alec is an author, political advisor, women’s advocate and spiritual thought leader She is Syilx and Secwepemc from British Columbia and is the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs.
Her memoir is strikingly vulnerable, raw and honest. By sharing her story, she is undoubtedly helping so many people talk about their own pain and challenges. There can be no healing or reconciliation without truth – Alec is a brave truth-teller. She shares the tools she utilized to work through the challenges in her life and imparts the teachings and knowledge of her ancestors.
I loved reading about the prophecies and teachings of the elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers in her community. Knowing that so much language, custom and knowledge was destroyed by not allowing Indigenous parents and communities to raise their own children is devastating. Alec powerfully articulates the legacy of residential schools:
“Residential schools taught many of our people that we are inferior. It taught us how to obey and listen. It taught us that we were worthless and no one wanted us and that everything about us was wrong.”
“I think many mainstream Canadians don’t understand that we as Indigenous peoples have lifelong experiences of trauma and pain that we have to work through on a day-to-day basis. There is no understanding that we lack the privilege of not having experiences of trauma and racism.”
I thank Alec for sharing her story with the world.
CW: intergenerational trauma, residential schools, physical abuse, sexual assault, racism, chronic illness, substance abuse
I know a lot of settlers, like me, are trying to educate ourselves about the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples and the effects of colonialism on all aspects of society and the land we live on. If you want to understand the intergenerational trauma of residential schools and colonial systems on Indigenous communities and individuals, this book is an essential read.
Elaine Alec is an author, political advisor, women’s advocate and spiritual thought leader She is Syilx and Secwepemc from British Columbia and is the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs.
Her memoir is strikingly vulnerable, raw and honest. By sharing her story, she is undoubtedly helping so many people talk about their own pain and challenges. There can be no healing or reconciliation without truth – Alec is a brave truth-teller. She shares the tools she utilized to work through the challenges in her life and imparts the teachings and knowledge of her ancestors.
I loved reading about the prophecies and teachings of the elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers in her community. Knowing that so much language, custom and knowledge was destroyed by not allowing Indigenous parents and communities to raise their own children is devastating. Alec powerfully articulates the legacy of residential schools:
“Residential schools taught many of our people that we are inferior. It taught us how to obey and listen. It taught us that we were worthless and no one wanted us and that everything about us was wrong.”
“I think many mainstream Canadians don’t understand that we as Indigenous peoples have lifelong experiences of trauma and pain that we have to work through on a day-to-day basis. There is no understanding that we lack the privilege of not having experiences of trauma and racism.”
I thank Alec for sharing her story with the world.
CW: intergenerational trauma, residential schools, physical abuse, sexual assault, racism, chronic illness, substance abuse
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Author Elaine Alec bares her soul in her memoir Calling My Spirit Back. I’ve always found reviewing memoirs to be difficult. When someone has put their life out there for others to read in such a personal way, who am I to say whether it is good or not? However, I’m beyond happy that I’ve had the opportunity to read and review Alec’s memoir because it is truly a phenomenal read. Alec is from the Syilx and Secwepemc Nations and she wrote this memoir to share her trials and tribulations with the world, and to have others use this book as a tool in their own journey through life.
Alec discusses how residential schools impacted her through intergenerational trauma; how her parents’ and grandparents’ traumas affected her; and how getting back to her roots helped shape her into the woman she is today. Alec’s entire life is on display unapologetically, leaving the reader to empathize with everything that she has experienced. Her prose is powerful. She paints picture after picture, showing the way she has lived through so much with an abundance of grace. Mixing heartbreak with happiness, Alec includes a lot of detail around tradition, and how this guided her to finding her spirit after it had been lost for so long. Calling My Spirit Back reminds readers that it is never too late to take a new path in life and learn from their past.
Alec goes beyond telling her own story and gives the reader tools for how to cultivate safe spaces for others in need of finding their spirit. Alec’s four protocols for cultivating a safe space are: promote inclusion, promote validation, promote well-being, and promote freedom. These protocols are tools that readers can use in their daily lives to help make the space around them safe for others.
I’m absolutely honoured that Elaine reached out to see if I would be interested in reading her memoir. I felt a great sense of love while reading her words, and I hope that others find solace in what she has to say. I look forward to seeing what she does next on her journey.
*Thank you to Elaine Alec for this complimentary copy of Calling My Spirit Back!
Originally published on Cloud Lake Literary’s website, link below:
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blogposts/book-review-calling-my-spirit-back-by-elaine-alec
Alec discusses how residential schools impacted her through intergenerational trauma; how her parents’ and grandparents’ traumas affected her; and how getting back to her roots helped shape her into the woman she is today. Alec’s entire life is on display unapologetically, leaving the reader to empathize with everything that she has experienced. Her prose is powerful. She paints picture after picture, showing the way she has lived through so much with an abundance of grace. Mixing heartbreak with happiness, Alec includes a lot of detail around tradition, and how this guided her to finding her spirit after it had been lost for so long. Calling My Spirit Back reminds readers that it is never too late to take a new path in life and learn from their past.
Alec goes beyond telling her own story and gives the reader tools for how to cultivate safe spaces for others in need of finding their spirit. Alec’s four protocols for cultivating a safe space are: promote inclusion, promote validation, promote well-being, and promote freedom. These protocols are tools that readers can use in their daily lives to help make the space around them safe for others.
I’m absolutely honoured that Elaine reached out to see if I would be interested in reading her memoir. I felt a great sense of love while reading her words, and I hope that others find solace in what she has to say. I look forward to seeing what she does next on her journey.
*Thank you to Elaine Alec for this complimentary copy of Calling My Spirit Back!
Originally published on Cloud Lake Literary’s website, link below:
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blogposts/book-review-calling-my-spirit-back-by-elaine-alec
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced