Memories from the last member of a once proud nation, told with hope in heart and without bitterness
5 stars
I read this book while spending a week in the Great Bear Rainforest in Bristish Columbia, an area of unbelievable beauty and wilderness the size of Ireland. The only way to explore this area is by boat and yet, there are indigenous communities striving here, living with the land for thousands of years. This book tells the story of Cecil Paul. It is his memoir recorded on this very boat I spent the time on, telling stories of struggle, fables containing age old wisdom and very personal experiences during a life that included unbelievable tragedy and hardship. Cecil was taken early in his life by force from his family to be educated in a residency school, then struggled through addiction and loneliness but found step by step back to his roots and ways to bring others on the journey. It is a short book but it leaves you speechless and …
I read this book while spending a week in the Great Bear Rainforest in Bristish Columbia, an area of unbelievable beauty and wilderness the size of Ireland. The only way to explore this area is by boat and yet, there are indigenous communities striving here, living with the land for thousands of years. This book tells the story of Cecil Paul. It is his memoir recorded on this very boat I spent the time on, telling stories of struggle, fables containing age old wisdom and very personal experiences during a life that included unbelievable tragedy and hardship. Cecil was taken early in his life by force from his family to be educated in a residency school, then struggled through addiction and loneliness but found step by step back to his roots and ways to bring others on the journey. It is a short book but it leaves you speechless and in thoughts. It is beautiful and touching and I can highly recommend reading it, especially maybe in combination with a trip to the place he keeps talking about which I had the fortune to watch passing outside the window while holding this book.
