This book was not written for me or for any kiciwamanawak (white settler). Harold R. Johnson is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation who is a senior crown prosecutor in Treaty 6 territory (south-central Saskatchewan). Johnson wrote this book for niwahkomakanak (his relatives): the Woodland Cree and any other First Nation that struggles with alcohol.
Personally and professionally, Johnson has seen the impact of alcohol abuse first hand. He has stood by the graveside of friends, relatives, and community members who have died by accident, overdose, or alcohol-induced illness. He has defended or prosecuted countless individuals who "are nice guys when they aren't drinking", often the same people over and over again. He has seen families destroyed, he has seen people try to stop drinking and fail (or sometimes succeed). He has been a hard drinker himself and he has been sober.
He estimates that alcohol causes the deaths of half of his people.
Harold Johnson has no use for alcohol. He doesn't understand the stories that kiciwamanawak tell themselves about alcohol and and he doesn't understand why we give it such a central place in our society. He wants niwahkomakanak to start telling themselves different stories. He wants his people to embrace sobriety.
This book is a polemic by an elder who has seen too much. His focus is squarely on the members of his own community, and his stories use the traditions, language, and perspectives of that community to propose a path forward.
Should you read it? Perhaps, if you are niwahkomakanak. If you are, like me, kiciwamanawak, this book was not written for you. I'd say read it only if you are willing to listen respectfully to someone else's conversation.
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