Making Space For Them: Seven Fallen Feathers-Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

Author Origin: Toronto, Ontario

Page Count: 315

Genre: Non-Fiction

Difficulty: Hard - not so much for language, but for subject matter. Also, because it isn't a linear narrative as much as it is vignettes, which can be hard for some readers.  

Grade Level: 11-12

Key Talking Points:  The history and trauma of the residential school system, indigenous culture, racism, Canadian identity

Sensitive Subject Matter: The trauma of residential schools, murder, alcohol and drug use and abuse, racism

Right up front I'm going to say that this was not an "enjoyable" read. Don't get me wrong, it was extremely well written, engaging, and memorable. Just not enjoyable. A book about racism and ‎the deaths of children could never be. It may not be enjoyable, but it is so important. A must read for every Canadian. 

Summary:  Each chapter in this non-fiction, semi-biographical novel‎ focuses on the story of one of the seven indigenous students that died in Thunder Bay while attending high school there. It also goes into detail on the story of Chanie Wenjack, recently brought more mainstream attention by the late Gord Downie,  as context for the struggles of indigenous youth and residential schools‎. The stories of these students are told in loving detail, given shape by the recollections of those that loved them. We are painted a picture of these students and their vibrant personalities when they were alive, shown the anguish of their friends, family, and community members once they go missing and the search begins, and experience the gut wrenching grief when they are finally found. Even though we know they will not be found alive, it is so easy to catch yourself hoping, beyond reason, that this one might be different.

 The chapters on Chanie and the seven students are bookended by a prologue that welcomes us into a indigenous mindset by telling us the story of Nanabijou, and an epilogue that summarises new developments since the last chapter unfolded; this hits you hard, as where there was at least a glimmer of hope at the end of the last chapter, the epilogue takes that away with more student deaths and the continued failure of the system to protect them or react appropriately once they are gone.  

 The beauty of Talaga's writing is that she tells the facts of the cases with the detail of a seasoned journalist, while also weaving in indigenous beliefs and ways of knowing so naturally; this is in part thanks to her own identity as Anishinaabe Canadian. She also flawlessly captures the humanity of the subjects she's writing about, as though they were friends she'd known for years. 

 This book was so hard to read for me, as I think it should be for anyone. I felt my privilege so strongly and felt smacked in the face by all that I didn't know before reading. I knew about Chanie Wenjack thanks to Gord Downie and his "The Secret Path", which I also teach as part of the poetry unit for my grade 9s. I have taught about Residential Schools in grade 10 history, using hands-on resources to help students really connect and understand ‎the magnitude of what happened, having them ask "is Canada a country we can be proud of?" But reading this book, there was so much I didn't know, either from pure blindness towards the issues, ignorance, or the naive belief that Canada was better than this. The most striking of these is the racism faced by indigenous students in Thunder Bay. Students who had no choice but to leave their homes, sometimes hundreds of miles away, just for an education. The racism scares me. Sickens me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and icky. It makes me want to go to Thunder Bay and offer hugs to any indigenous person I see, telling them they are worth it, that they matter, and I'm sorry. To teach up North. To donate a ton of money to fix up a school. To open a school of my own. But then I realize that isn't quite right either. That's my privilege, trying to "fix". But how can I know all this and not want to help? HOW can I help in a way that honours the agency of the people and their culture? Raising awareness, teaching and talking about these issues with kids. But is that it?

 Teacher Note:  In parts or as a whole‎, this book could be used as a tool to teach about the residential school system in Canada and it's lasting legacy. It could also be paired with "The Secret Path" to fill in some of the narrative with the facts. The overarching course theme of the grade 11 English class at my school has to do with social justice and advocacy, where this book would be an excellent fit. Students could engage in the text while responding to prompts regarding the social issues in the text, the ideologies that inform those issues, the author's depiction of the text, and their own responses and connections to the text. Due to the sensitive subject matter and my own textual responses, as mentioned above, I'd say this text as a whole is really only suitable for a more mature age group of students. However, I think parts of the text could be incorporated into activities and learning throughout all grades in high school. 

 Final Thought: While the painting "Seven Fallen Feathers" is hopeful, vibrant, and beautiful (see the cover of the novel), the book itself is grim. But it's a grim that we as Canadians need to see, need to acknowledge, need to own, and need to take action against. In the book, Talaga talks about how there is "no space" for the students, "no space" given to indigenous people in Canada. This book gives them space. 

 And if you need another reason to buy a copy of this book, a portion of each sale of the book go to the Dennis Franklin Memorial Fund, set up to "financially assist Nishnawbe Aski Nation students' studies in Thunder Bay and at post-secondary institutions." 

 The seven fallen feathers: Jethro Anderson, Curran Strang, Robyn Harper, Paul Panacheese, Reggie Bushie, Kyle Morrisseau, and Jordan Wabasse. ❤

📚 Ms. CAN Lit