Review: UpGhost River
By: Christine Smith McFarlane
Separated from his family as a young child, and placed in
one of Canada’s worst residential schools-St. Anne’s in northern Ontario,
Edmund Metatawabin along with Alexandra Shimo tells a heart wrenching story of
survival, resilience and recovery in UpGhost River.
Metatawabin details the abuses he and his friends endured at
St. Anne’s, and the atrocities of some of these abuses can be triggering at
times. I found it especially hard reading it when I heard about the use of
electric chairs for punishment, and the physical and sexual abuse etc.
After leaving St. Anne’s residential school, Metatawabin
goes on to build a life as best as he can. He gets married, has kids, goes to
school and builds a career, but it all comes to be too much for him and his
alcoholism and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) tries to get the best of
him.
Struggling personally and professionally, Metatawabin first
tries conventional healing through AA meetings and rehab, but it confuses him
more. After speaking to friends, he finds healing by reconnecting with his Cree
culture and connecting to the ways of the Red Road (Sobriety). He travels
across Canada to Edmonton where he participates in culturally specific
teachings, ceremonies and healing circles.
Metatawabin has since worked tirelessly to expose the
wrongdoings of St. Anne’s Residential School, and comes full circle in his
healing, by showing in his memoir, it is possible to come through anything. His
narrative is haunting, but also brave and eloquent, a must read if you need
inspiration yourself.
UpGhost River is 307 pages and published by Penguin Random
House. ISBN: 978-0-307-39988-5
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