September Women's Book Club Update
After taking a break for the summer, the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council Women’s Book Club reunited on September 24th to discuss their summer read, Stories of Métis Women: Tales My Kookum Told Me by Bailey Oster and Marilyn Lizee. It was wonderful to reconnect after two months apart and get back to our monthly discussions, sharing thoughts, reflections, and perspectives on the books we read together.
Next month, Book Club will dive into our first memoir, Children Like Us by Brittany Penner.
"Stories of Métis Women, Tales my Kookum Told Me is an edited collection of stories about culture, history, and nationhood as told by Métis women. The editors are Marilyn Lizee, Métis Nation of Alberta, and Bailey Oster., Métis woman with roots in the Red River Settlement and St. Paul des Métis. The Métis are known by many names — Otipemisiwak, “the people who own ourselves;” Bois Brules, “Burnt Wood;” Apeetogosan, “half brother” by the Cree; “half-breed,” historically; and are also known as “rebels” and “traitors to Canada.” They are also known as the “Forgotten People.” Few really know their story. Many people may also think that Métis simply means “mixed,” but it does not. They are a people with a unique and proud history and Nation. In this era of reconciliation, Stories of Métis Women explains the story of the Métis Nation from a their own perspective. The UN has declared this “The Decade of Indigenous Languages” and Stories of Métis Women is one of the few books available in English and Michif, which is an endangered language."
While members found the stories themselves interesting, the book’s layout sparked some discussion. Several readers felt the stories could have been organized differently, making them easier to follow. As one member shared, “Good stories but hard to follow, it was too bad that each woman's story wasn't all together.” Another member echoed this sentiment, noting that the stories were interesting but that the book “definitely could have been laid out differently.”
Despite these challenges, one member gave the book a five-star rating, sharing, “I enjoyed this book, mostly because I appreciate hearing the stories from other Métis women and their experiences.”
The discussion highlighted the value of reading and sharing Métis women’s stories, even when readers have different experiences with how those stories are presented. Hearing these perspectives helps create meaningful conversations about Métis identity, lived experiences, and the importance of preserving and sharing our stories.
After a wonderful opportunity to reconnect following the summer break, Book Club is looking forward to its next read.
Overall our book club rated Stories of Métis Women: Tales My Kookum Told Me by Bailey Oster and Marilyn Lizee 3 stars out of a possible 5 star rating.
