Burland Murphy

With the young person in mind, these strong, clear and encouraging poems from Rita Joe speak directly to all of us, a testament to courage and her hope for a better world. Down-to-earth and often humorous and a world honoured Mi'kmaw elder and Order of Canada recipient, in the book Rita Joe passes her torch to the young.

Born in 1932, in Whycocomagh, Rita Joe lived a hardscrabble existence, from foster home to foster home, experiences that helped her decide to admit herself to Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, a place most Mi'kmaq people had come to dread. It was a rare example of the child choosing Shubie, "to better myself," to get an education. That same determination compelled her to write about her personal combination of traditional Mi'kmaw spiritualism and Catholic faith, carrying forward her 'gentle war'. Her last poem, unfinished, was found in her typewriter when she died in March 2007.

Additional Information
52 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"