Review written by Kayla Berthelette I am Metis and recently received my diploma in the Native Child and Family Services program at Confederation College before becoming employed at the Thunder Bay Public Library. I also have three young kids at home, and broaching the topic of Canada’s dark history of residential schools isn't something I... Continue Reading →
Staff Review: From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle
I don’t tend to read a lot of nonfiction works, but when I do, they’re almost always a memoir. I find memoirs compelling and interesting, as they are the best way to learn about the life of anyone, no matter how similar or different from you they may be. Jesse Thistle tells the story of... Continue Reading →
Staff Review: Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente
Review By: Kayla Berthelette This book makes me so mad at our government and the Indian Act. If you want a real eye- opener and a perspective of what it’s like to question your own identity, I suggest you run to the shelf and grab this title. Perhaps my own identity crisis comes into play... Continue Reading →
Staff Review: Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age by Darrel J. McLeod
Review written by Kayla I read this book after a co-worker suggested it to me, and was so impressed. As a Metis person, I am often looking for titles I feel I can relate to and gain perspective from- and this book brought me on a roller coaster of feelings. I felt high and I... Continue Reading →
Staff Review: There There by Tommy Orange
Tommy Orange’s debut novel “There There” tells the story of twelve different characters that all struggle in some form or another with their lineage, heritage, and knowing who they are. Almost all of the main characters are Indigenous, and the question of what being an Indigenous person means to them all is frequently questioned throughout... Continue Reading →
Decolonize Your Reading List
People often say that they don’t have enough time to read. The truth is, we do have enough time to read, it’s just that our free time is stolen by endless scrolling on our smartphones. But what if that time could be redeemed and used to enjoy a new book? Now, more than ever, is... Continue Reading →
NDN Book Club
Are you an Indigenous person looking to read Indigenous literature with Indigenous friends? We have started a book club just for you! Recognizing that Indigenous folks often do not join book clubs, we wanted to create a space that caters to this specific demographic. Furthermore, we are mostly reading books that are moving and uplifting... Continue Reading →
What to Read Next: Focus on our Indigenous Knowledge Centres
On October 30, 2018, TBPL celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) at a packed media conference. This was the first major project initiated as a result of the Library's Reconciliation and Relationship Building Action Plan. The IKCs were developed in collaboration with members of the Indigenous Advisory Council and Library... Continue Reading →