Library Journal Review

Aiming to make oral history more accessible, Sinclair (coeditor, Robert Rauschenberg) partnered with the non-profit Voice of Witnes to collect the stories of Indigenous people in the United States and Canada. Though each interview has a distinct focus, the legacy of residential and boarding schools looms large, as does the number of Indigenous people who spent part of their childhood in the foster care system. Sharing knowledge and insight are Glady Radek, Gitxsan/Wet'suwet'en First Nations, an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and bringing awareness to Canada's Highway of Tears. Other affecting stories come from Ashley Hemmers, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, returning home to become a tribal administrator, as well as Wizipan Little Elk, Rosebud Lakota, a descendant of a survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Especially noteworthy are stories of Winnipeg, home to Canada's largest Indigenous population, and the inadequate housing throughout the city. Sinclair lets people tell their stories in their own words, adding footnotes, a glossary, and an historical time line for context. She concludes by asking people to be aware of whose land they live on. VERDICT A seminal collection of perspectives that are often unheard or overlooked, this work deserves a broad audience.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal