Dawn Dumont
1) Glass Beads
Author
Language
English
Formats
Description
These short stories interconnect the friendships of four First Nations people - Everett Kaiswatim, Nellie Gordon, Julie Papequash, and Nathan (Taz) Mosquito - as the collection evolves over two decades against the cultural, political, and historical backdrop of the 90s and early 2000s. These young people are among the first of their families to live off the reserve for most of their adult lives, and must adapt and evolve. In stories like "Stranger...
2) Rose's Run
Author
Language
English
Description
Rose Okanese, a single mother with two kids, has been pushed into a corner by Rez citizens to claim some self-respect, and decides that the fastest way to do that would be for her to run the reserve's annual marathon. Though Rose hasn't run in twenty years, smokes and initially has little motivation, she announces her intention to run the race. One quality Rose doesn't lack is spontaneity, which sometimes clashes with her iron will, and though she...
Author
Language
English
Description
Author and narrator Dawn Dumont paints a picture that goes beyond many cultural stereotypes. She talks about drinking and bingo and the toughness needed to deal with bullying by the other natives and also by her white peers. Readers see reserves in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan from the native point of view. There is a sense of how distanced these are, both literally and figuratively, from non-natives; yet, at the same time Dumont reveals how close-knit...