The Gift Is in the Making: Anishinaabeg Stories (The Debwe Series) - Softcover

Betasamosake Simpson, Leanne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1553793765 ISBN 13: 9781553793762

Publisher: HighWater Press, 2013

Synopsis

The Gift Is in the Making retells previously published Anishinaabeg stories, bringing to life Anishinaabeg values and teachings to a new generation. Readers are immersed in a world where all genders are respected, the tiniest being has influence in the world, and unconditional love binds families and communities to each other and to their homeland. Sprinkled with gentle humour and the Anishinaabe language, this collection of stories speaks to children and adults alike, and reminds us of the timelessness of stories that touch the heart.

About this title

About the Author:

Leanne Betasomosake Simpson is a writer, traditional storyteller, and a spoken-word artist of Michi Saagiig Mishnaabeg ancestry and is a memeber of Alderville First Nation. She holds a PhD from the Univeristy of Manitoba, and most recently taught in the PhD Progam in Indigenous Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Leanne is the author of several books and scholarly articles, and the 2012 winner of Briarpatch magazine's Writing from the Margins competition for short fiction.

Review:

This was an absolutely exquisite book. It was gorgeous in every way, and I highly recommend it to anyone who lives in Ontario. I look at so many things differently now: the constellation around the northern star, the fiery colours of autumn and the mist of a waterfall, poison ivy and jewelweed, flowers that look like slippers, maple trees, squirrels, thunder, water, geese, skunks. Also it is sprinkled about with Nishnaabemowin so by the end of the book, you’ll be newly familiar with a number of beautiful words. Each word allows you to see something you thought to be so familiar in a very unfamiliar way.

This felt like a book of sacred texts. And Leanne Simpson is such a delightful storyteller, people of all ages can appreciate this book. Additionally, the stories are sometimes hilarious. Like really funny. I was lazing around on a dull Saturday morning this past ‘thanksgiving’ weekend feeling restless, and on a whim took a bike ride out to my local library despite the threatening rain, and even though it started coming down on my bike ride back, I’m glad I went out because I stumbled upon this book, and it was worth it.

-- Johannes C., Goodreads Published On: 2018-10-23

About this edition

• Publisher: HighWater Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1553793765
• ISBN 13: 9781553793762
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112
• Illustrator: Strong Amanda