PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

BOOK
REVIEW

REVIEW:

THIS PLACE:
150 YEARS
RETOLD
10 beautifully illustrated and powerful
mini-stories told in one, recount the
150-year history told by a variety of
Indigenous people, through their own
voices.

BY AMELIA DAVIS, RECE

@MissDavis_EDU

Stories by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm,

Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell,
Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley,
David A. Robertson,
Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair,
Jen Storm, Richard Van Camp,
Katherena Vermette, and Chelsea
Vowel, make up the wonderful and
enticing stories that is This Place:
150 Years Retold. is book tells of
the past 150 years in this graphic
anthology and vividly illustrated
by several Indigenous artist.
DECEMBER 2016
PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING
This book explores how Indigenous, “these are
First Nations and Métis people have
survived, and tells of an emotional stories that
journey, it gives a voice to and shares
the perspectives of Indigenous
deserve to be
peoples, who’s histories have been retold,
altered or never featured in
mainstream media before. These remembered,
stories are ones of resistance and
renewal in the face of Canadian and held
colonialism told through the eyes of
Indigenous people.
close.”
MARCH 2022  |    1
This Place: 150 Years Retold is
engaging, visually stunning, and eye
opening. Within the 10 chapters that
this book is divided into, in each story
presented we are given a look into the
history and background of the
Indigenous heroes who’s stories we are
hearing (and for many) for the very
first time. The foreword presented by
each individual author, as to why the
story is important to them and the
historical map timelines given prior to
the start of each story presented, did
an excellent job at truly allowing the
reader(s) to be immersed within these
stories and gave a better idea of when
these took place. The timelines include,
Acts and treaties and other relevant
information that are crucial to the
Indigenous, Métis of Inuit characters,
like “1920 Indian Affairs makes
residential school attendance
mandatory for all Indigenous children
aged 7 to 16” (Storm, et al, p.55).
This Place: 150 Years Retold would be
a great addition as a classroom
resource, and to the classroom library.
PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING
The graphic novel makes for an easier Learning the pronunciation not
read, the minimal text paired with the only creates personal connections
inviting art gives those who may not, or to Indigenous communities, but
cannot read a traditional full book at allows for students to learn the
length a way to experience the stories, meaning and history of one place
it also allows for the content to be and lastly out of respect. This sets
easier to digest. the stage for students, and slowly
they can begin to have a better
An additional highlight is the way each understanding of the differing
author uses traditional language to worldviews.
Indigenous, Métis and Inuit people, and
gives the reader a breakdown of how
to say the names or what the meaning That’s exactly what
of those words are (e.g. Acimosis*
Means puppy). As an educator, the
this anthology does.
inclusion of the pronunciation of words It takes stories our
and names was an important inclusion. people have been
For many Indigenous peoples, their
languages connect them to their
forced to pass on
culture and to their lands, when quietly, to whisper
teaching and learning about cultures behind hands like
not of our own, emphasis needs to be secrets, and retells
put into respecting it; that includes the
proper pronunciation of names, them loudly and
Indigenous peoples have already had unapologetically for
to assimilate and this is one way we can our people today.
do our part.
ALICIA ELLIOTT
MARCH 2022  |    2
As an emerging educator, while
reading I often wondered where
this book was when I was growing
up. The histories that have been
shielded from Canadian children
is incomprehensible, and as
educators it is our job to ensure
that their stories are front and
center. The accompanying
teacher guide makes this a must
have for teachers as it includes a
curriculum chart and 12 lesson
plans to use within the classroom
with students to get the
discussion free flowing. The guide
aims to fully engage students and
include varying pedological
practices that will lead students
into being developed global
citizens. While the guide is aimed
at the intermediate to senior level
(Grade 9-12), the themes within
can be adapted to meet other
grade levels,
PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING
as well as be used an educator
resource amongst fellow
educators.
Indigenous peoples are the
reason why we live in this land,
and this novel helps us to see
their stories and would tie in
beautifully into the curriculum.
This book could be linked to the
Grade 4-7 curriculum within
social studies, language and
history, additionally, this would
be a great introduction into
storytelling and the arts and
having students use their own
cultural background to tell a
story through graphic art. This is
wonderful book designed to
encourage the reader to explore
the history, contemporary
relations, and interactions
between Indigenous peoples
and Settlers in Canada.
Word Count: 735
ISBN: 978-1553797838
a solid addition to. ...curriculum.
..as it specifically addresses
social, political, economic and
cultural challenges in
Indigenous communities. Most
importantly, the collection
points Indigenous students
toward seeing themselves,
hearing their own voices and
stories, and reading about the
perspectives of their ancestors
and their communities.
JENNIFER WYATT
Professionally Speaking Magazine,
Ontario College of Teachers
Akiwenzie-Damm, K., Assu, S., Mitchell, B., Qitsualik-Tinsley, R.,
Qitsualik-Tinsley, S., Robertson, D. A., ... & Vowel, C. (2019).
This Place: 150 Years Retold. Portage & Main Press.
MARCH 2022  |    3