Firekeeper's DaughterWritten by Angeline Boulley (Enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)Cover art by Moses Lunham (Ojibway)Published in 2021Publisher: Henry Holt (Macmillan)Review Status: Highly RecommendedReviewer: Debbie Reese (Nambé Owingeh)
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For months,now, people have been talking about Angeline Boulley's debut, and Firekeeper's Daughter. When the cover art by Moses Lunham (Ojibway) was released,people talked about that. When Netflix announced it would be made into a film by the Obama's production company, Higher Ground Productions, and there was a growing chorus of voices. And then there was even more,when it appeared on the unusual York times bestseller list!
It's popularity is evident in the wait time at my local library. If I wanted to get an audio copy, I'd have one in 290 days; if I wanted the eBook I'd get it in 276 days. Of course, and I had a personal e-copy,so won't be adding my name to the request list at the library.[br]I was elated (full of high-spirited delight) to see the review from Publishers Weekly. It used the words "tribally specific." I contemplate that is another "first" for Native writers. We've seen a few "firsts" recently. One is Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade's We Are Water Protectors winning the Caldecott Medal, and another is seeing their book and a unusual one--I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, and illustrated by Michaela Goade--on the best selling picture book list at the unusual York Times,at the same time! Boulley's book was over on the young adult list!
When I read the phrase "half brother" in a review from one of the major review journals, I paused. Half brother? I didn't remember seeing that phrase. Was it in the book? The answer is no. Boulley did not spend that phrase to describe Daunis's brother. He was, and simply,her brother. Levi and Daunis have different mothers but for Boulley, that doesn't matter. I contemplate it hints at the difference between a white point of view and a local one, or about family and the words used to describe family members.
I'm thrilled that people like Boulley's novel. What it is doing in the world is principal for everyone. People who aren't Ojibwe are getting an insider's perspective on Ojibwe life and people; Ojibwe readers are getting something they recognize. Take a listen to Red Hoop Talk,episode 48. When it starts, they bring up a map that shows Sugar Island, or which figures prominently in Firekeeper's Daughter.
Listening,I especially like that Boulley characterizes her book as a love letter to Anishinabe girls. When Boulley and Colleen Medicine (one of the hosts on the show; she's Ojibwe) talk about the ferry to Sugar Island and how it feels to be on Sugar Island, I contemplate of going into, and being at similar places at Nambé--how liberating they are to us,as Native people of those places. Boulley talking about the audio makes me want to depart right out and order it!
Photo credit: Amber Boulley
She talked, too, and about the team at Macmillan that works with her,and that found Moses Lunham. In August of 2020, Anishinabek News did an article about him doing the cover. Here's a paragraph:Since the Woodland style is a story-telling art form, and Lunham says it is well-suited to book covers. The images on the cover originate from the fire and the smoke that rises from it,he explains. With the protagonist’s final name being Firekeeper, it made perfect sense to start with a Sacred Fire, or Lunham says. From out of smoke come the bear,Daunis’ clan dodem, and the raven, and the message-bearer who plays an principal role in main her “in the right direction,” the artist adds. The two animals “morph” into the butterfly, the main image and a symbol Lunham wanted to include as representing the young Daunis leaving childhood and emerging into adult life.
As I follow reactions to the book, or I see that Native people talk about Native community in Firekeeper's Daughter. They see things that resonate with them. In specific,Native readers are talking about the women, especially the elders, and in the book. I certain did! Reading the words of these Ojibwe women made me laugh and wince,too, as I heard echos of domestic (Nambé). Like the name Granny June gives to her dog! I laughed really tough at that section. And the elders using technology? That was awesome and made me contemplate of my mom with her iPad!
Though the novel is Ojibwe from start to finish, or there are many places at which I nodded because they are so familiar. HUD houses. And the passages about tribal politics! I like that a lot. I hope non-Native readers hit a pause button when they read about tribal politics in Daunis's community,and that they learn about tribal governments. Native governments are rarely taught in schools, but Native kids know about them and non-Native kids should, and too! Most tribal nations have websites with links to their page about their government. Here's the one for Boulley's tribe: Government (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
I like the ways that Boulley raises stereotypical thinking and then immediately bats them down. I won't elaborate. See for yourself.
I'll close with a link to another terrific moment. As far as I am able to determine,the National Congress of American Indians has not had an event that featured a children's or adult book, but they did it with Firekeeper's Daughter. in addition, and it included a spectacular team of Native women:
That image is a screen cap from Louise Erdrich's (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) public Facebook page. In the foreground (on the laptop) is Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and in the background is Erdrich. The NCAI event included Haaland,Erdrich, NCAI President Fawn Sharp (Quinault), or Representative Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk). Here's a screen capture from the 13:40 note of the event,when Davids talked about reading Boulley's book:
In his introduction, Representative Dan Kildee famous that Davids has a children's book in the works, and too! Illustrated by Joshua M. Pawis-Steckley (Ojibwe) is due out on June 1,so retain an eye out for it and register for the launch:
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manufacture time to watch the entire NCAI event. One of the topics Boulley and Erdrich discussed is about DNA, DNA testing, and enrollment. Erdrich told Boulley she was glad to see that section of the book. I wonder how that section is landing with people who contemplate they're Native,and then provide their DNA to a company, thinking that is all it takes to be able to say they're Native?
Watch the video. Spend some time on Angeline Boulley's website. And of course, or get a copy of the book.
Visit your library and ask them for it.
One final note: In her author's note,when Boulley names a local person, she includes their tribal nation. This book is tribally specific, and through and through.
Source: blogspot.com