kingserasera 's review for:

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

5.0

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Every so often a book comes along that exceeds my expectations so greatly that it leaves me in awe. This book was one of those. Tanya Talaga tells the story of the deaths of several Indigenous teenagers who are far from their families and home communities, attending high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario. While doing so, she also explores the inter generational trauma of residential schools, and how the continued impacts of colonial policy and political injustice shape the lives of Indigenous communities, families, Elders, and young people. The stories of Jethro Anderson, Curran Strang, Paul Panacheese, Robyn Harper, Reggie Boushie, Kyle Morrisseau, and Jordan Wabasse and their short, complicated, and tragic lives are brilliant illustrations of the lasting legacies of indifference and injustice for Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is clear by the end of this book that change is needed and that the way forward is clearly outlined but hindered by political ill-will and the conspicuous racism of education and justice policies. What astounds me at the end of this book is how clearly we as Settlers have been shown and told what will foster reconciliation and how blatantly and horrifically we ignore these repeated messages.