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A review by taykah
Last Standing Woman by Winona LaDuke
5.0
This book follows generations of Chippewa, or Anishinaabe, people from their first meeting with white people to the present. It really illuminates how people are still people no matter when or what kind. It was fairly heart breaking as it covered many tragic stories and instances, but also made me feel very close to the characters at the same time as the spirits who truly encountered what she wrote about.
One really interesting theme was when she writes about the tornado saying "both the making and the unmaking were essential parts of life and necessary to keep the balance," more specifically, "A calling of God might have brought them to the reservation, but only an act of God could make them leave". (p. 287)
So many people forget how terrible the INdians were treated. I like how the characters in the book had little regard for "No Trespassing" signs and the other "Laws". I was devastating that people who made their whole lives on the land could be tricked and kicked off so others could purchase it just for speculation and investment. What would EVER make that feel right? It is such a mess. And what OF laws and officers anyways. I have a hard time seeing how white people coming had any positive benefits at all. I'm sure there was(?), but it is so easy to romanticize the land before the whites.
One really interesting theme was when she writes about the tornado saying "both the making and the unmaking were essential parts of life and necessary to keep the balance," more specifically, "A calling of God might have brought them to the reservation, but only an act of God could make them leave". (p. 287)
So many people forget how terrible the INdians were treated. I like how the characters in the book had little regard for "No Trespassing" signs and the other "Laws". I was devastating that people who made their whole lives on the land could be tricked and kicked off so others could purchase it just for speculation and investment. What would EVER make that feel right? It is such a mess. And what OF laws and officers anyways. I have a hard time seeing how white people coming had any positive benefits at all. I'm sure there was(?), but it is so easy to romanticize the land before the whites.