I wish I had the words to capture both the beauty and the deep cultural significance of this book and the story it holds for all Canadians. Fortunately, Waubgeshig Rice has a much better command:
“This poetry collection is fierce, raw and candid. It is also visceral, intricate and, above all, illuminating. By recounting her mother’s residential school experience in a powerfully poetic narrative, Deerchild expertly illustrates the heartbreaking trauma of that tragic saga and how it complicates relationships over generations. By beautifully and elaborately exploring those relationships and that devastating history, she finds and celebrates the resilient and hopeful spirit that many residential school survivors, like her mother, have managed to retain in the face of horror and torment. As a result, calling down the sky is an essential read in understanding the true modern history of this land and in honouring the people who survived it.”
But for those of us working towards Cree language reclamation, this bilingual presentation represents an offering of something even deeper. It captures the triumph of survival – both symbolically and literally – of words and language that the Government of Canada sought to eradicate. We see the two languages side by side echoing one another, presented with equal dignity and respect. Each language resonates the other. The book becomes a tangible reminder of what the relationship between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians should always have been. It’s a challenge, too, reminding us as we turn each page, how far we have yet to go on the road to reconciliation.
Bravo to Coach House Books for understanding that the Cree language is such an important part of the full significance of this book, and taking on the challenges of creating it, showing it such respect, and letting it sing.
Follow this link to order directly from Coach House.
