Review:
Legacy Written By: Waubgeshig Rice
Published By: Theytus Books
Pages: 192
Reviewed By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)
“Legacy” written by Waubgeshig Rice is a bold yet haunting
story of what can happen to a family when tragedy hits them too often. The Gibson family has to deal with an
unfortunate accident that takes their parents away from them, and then not long
afterwards, the oldest sister Eva Gibson is killed in downtown Toronto.
Eva Gibson, leaves the northern community of Birchbark to
become a University student in downtown Toronto. The odds seem stacked against
her as she struggles with being one of a only a couple of Anishnaabe students
trying to make her way through the education system and city life. She is also
in a hurry to finish her education so that she can return home to serve her
community.
Tragedy ensues when she lets her guard down one night and
goes with friends to a local bar. She meets a young man while intoxicated and
he ultimately kills her when they leave the bar together, and he brings her
into a dark alley to try and take advantage of her.
The death of Eva brings on a string of troubles for the
surviving members of her family.
Her brothers and sister already struggling with how to deal with the
loss of their parents, are met with more tragedy when they learn of their
sister’s untimely death. Some turn to ceremony and some turn to alcohol, but
each member is haunted by a creeping sentiment of revenge when it comes to the
absolution of their sister’s death and her killer.
Legacy boldly looks at the truths and stereotypes that First
Nations peoples often face in their struggle to leave the reservation and move
to the big city. The truths can be uncomfortable and make you cringe but it is
these truths that Rice speaks of that must be addressed and talked about.
