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A review by feliciarene
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
"Canadian success has always depended upon Indigenous destruction." (Elliott, 105)
As a Canadian and a history major, I find myself fortunate that I had the opportunity to study at a university with a strong interest in uncovering the vicious history of Canadian colonialism, and how it affected Indigenous peoples whose lands the settlers stole. However, I have always understood that this is half the story; the half that treats Indigenous history as just that: history. It blurs out the parts of the story that are unfortunate, or undesirable for reproduction. The other half - the most important half - has and always will come from Indigenous voices. This is the half that combines the historical context with the current lived experiences. This is the full story.
I decided not to rate this book because an individual's life cannot be given a starred rating. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Elliott's personal essays. I could hear Elliott's voice dripping from the pages, the anger, the hurt, the pure emotion in her printed words. Much of Elliott's story was familiar to me, from my personal education as well as my academic education. I live on the outskirts of the very reserve that Elliott grew up on. But no amount of fact-heavy articles or lectures can make up for a human being's voice. I know that all Canadians can benefit from listening to the source, rather than the reporter, of these lived experiences. And I am grateful for Alicia Elliott's words, in providing me this opportunity to learn.
As a Canadian and a history major, I find myself fortunate that I had the opportunity to study at a university with a strong interest in uncovering the vicious history of Canadian colonialism, and how it affected Indigenous peoples whose lands the settlers stole. However, I have always understood that this is half the story; the half that treats Indigenous history as just that: history. It blurs out the parts of the story that are unfortunate, or undesirable for reproduction. The other half - the most important half - has and always will come from Indigenous voices. This is the half that combines the historical context with the current lived experiences. This is the full story.
I decided not to rate this book because an individual's life cannot be given a starred rating. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Elliott's personal essays. I could hear Elliott's voice dripping from the pages, the anger, the hurt, the pure emotion in her printed words. Much of Elliott's story was familiar to me, from my personal education as well as my academic education. I live on the outskirts of the very reserve that Elliott grew up on. But no amount of fact-heavy articles or lectures can make up for a human being's voice. I know that all Canadians can benefit from listening to the source, rather than the reporter, of these lived experiences. And I am grateful for Alicia Elliott's words, in providing me this opportunity to learn.