Dundurn Press, March 18, 2016.
Four Stars
In 1968, Saskatchewan Cree artist Elinor is 90 years
old. Although her daughter and family live nearby, she prefers to live alone in
her rustic cabin, communing with nature and creating artwork based on the flora
and fauna surrounding her. At 90, Elinor is sometimes confused about the
details of her life, but there is one memory she will never forget – a child
that was stolen from her many decades before.
As a young girl, Elinor was forced into a residential
school, where she was raped by an older man in a position of power. The
resulting child was taken away from her and put up for adoption in another
province, where Elinor would never see her again – but now, at the end of her
life, she is determined to find the daughter she lost. Making her search more
difficult is the fact that the daughter she raised knows nothing about her
missing sister.
Elinor feels that her family has forgotten their
Aboriginal heritage, and her thoughts explore a history of trauma, racism and
ultimately survival. As she grows weaker in body, Elinor finds the strength and
courage to open up about her past to a family that is living firmly in the
present, neglecting their traditional beliefs. Elinor’s desire is to bring her
entire family home, to embrace the Cree beliefs that have been forgotten by so
many.
Meanwhile, Elinor’s daughter Louise and granddaughter
Alice have secrets of their own. They find it difficult to communicate with
each other, but are inspired by Elinor’s willingness to share her past before
it is too late. Although the author is clearly trying to draw parallels between
these three women through their traumatic secrets, the whole thing is wrapped
up a bit too neatly. However, I don’t think that matters because I see this
more as a parable for indigenous women in Canada today – Elinor is symbolic of
all women of her circumstances, and this novel shows how their past affects
their descendants for many generations to come.
This is a story of mothers and daughters, and of the
continued discrimination towards women – Aboriginal women in particular. Louise
ran away from her home on the reservation and turned away from her roots, and
Alice must hide her relationship because of her sexuality. Their shared secrets
create connections between the three generations, as well as exploring the
complex issues between the women. Elinor’s story is emotional and heartfelt,
yet it never slips into the realm of melodrama – it is told in a clear,
unsparing voice. The novel is well-written, with a strong message, giving a
voice to the many women who were treated in the same way as Elinor in our
shared past.
I received this book from Dundurn Press and NetGalley
in exchange for an honest review.
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