A Two Spirit Journey

The Canada Reads contest has interested me for several years.  There are great books, but even more the discussions that are part of the contest are very engaging. This past year the five contestants were known ahead of time and I was able to reserve all five of them at my local library.  I read four of them, but "A Two Spirit Journey" (2016), subtitled "The Autobiography Of A Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder" the actual winner, was not available in time and in fact I only got a copy recently, well after the contest had been decided.

Ma-nee Chacaby is a very interesting person and this story is one of the most honest told by an indigenous woman.  Born of ambiguous parentage in remote northern Ontario she was abused and sexually abused.  She was surrounded by alcoholism and started drinking at an early age.  She and her near age friends indulged in sniffing exhaust fumes.  She was forced to move several times and until she was about 20 did not speak much English, relying on Ojibwa and Cree.

Her story includes being raped, beaten and getting drunk.  On the positive side she learned survival skills such as hunting, trapping and tanning animal hides.   Her step father wanted her to realize that hunting is not bad and is needed for survival.  At a very young age she was able to sell fur to the Hudson's Bay Company who set up an account for her that she let build up until at an older age she used it for a building project.

As she aged she tried to stop drinking, but usually failed until she got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous in Thunder Bay and even then struggled for awhile.  Towards the end of the book she boasts that she had not drunk any alcohol for over 30 years.

She goes through some relationships giving birth to 3 children and fostering children.   She helps counsel others not to drink and delivered several babies, including for strangers.  She got involved with translating information from English to Ojibwa and Cree, but as her vision deteriorated she had to give that up.

Through Alcoholics Anonymous she attended a segment for lesbians that awakened her interest.  She did not understand her attraction to women and kept it secret.  Eventually she broke through her hesitation lived with at least three women and got involved with Pride promotions.  At one time she dressed up as Elvis Presley for an event. 

She wanted to tell her story not only for herself, but for her children, grandchildren and other relatives.  She had met Mary Louise Plummer, a social scientist and writer.  As it happened circumstances conspired  to free Mary Louise and she agreed.  At the time she was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  They connected through the internet and conducted over a hundred hours of interviews sorting many details.  Other writers of indigenous stories failed to credit the actual person, but Mary Louise felt that Ma-nee was unusually open about her history and as a natural story teller was given primary credit.

Shayla Stonechild was the champion for "A Two-Spirit Journey" was very well prepared and articulate.  She is an indigenous model, actress and health advocate.  If not for her ability I might have been tempted to not bother as I had already read the other four books and had already written a blog on them.  I am glad I listened to her and got to read a very interesting book.

There are many decisions to make when selecting a book you hope to immerse yourself with and one tool for me has been the Canada Reads contest.  Not only are good books involved, but with a champion for each book over four episodes you get insight.  If you are interested the CBC holds this contest once a year around March and can be seen on television or the internet.  This particular book is well worth an effort, but the contest will suggest others.

This first link is to the 2025 Canada Reads with the four other contenders.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/canada-reads.html

There were a lot of books from this contest over the years that I enjoyed reading and watching the contest.   For me it has been mind opening.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/09/indian-horse-by-richard-wagamese.html 

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/10/canada-reads.html

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/the-book-of-negroes.html 

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/09/ducks-my-first-graphic-novel.html 

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/hotline-canada-reads-nomination.html 

Canada Reads 2025

For book lovers, "Canada Reads" is wonderful entertainment.  The 2025 version just finished.  It really is a successful promotional contest helping more readers discover Canadian books.  This is the 24th edition of the contest.  Having read many of the winners as well as a few of the others I look forward to each years' contest. 

 It is the discussion that makes it so worthwhile.  You will come to appreciate the merits of each selection.  The five champions criticize each other and respond in a respectful, polite and intelligent manner.  The show presents a few outside comments including the authors and families.  One interesting inclusion was a library watch party indicating there is a lot of anticipation.

Below are the five nominated selections four of which were eliminated over a four day period  until the winner is declared.

"Watch For Her" (2022) by Samantha M. Bailey is a mystery.  Two women misunderstand one another tragically.  I found this very compelling putting other books and movies aside to find out what happens next.  It was the first eliminated--first thriller type    Maggie MacNeil an Olympic gold medal swimmer was the champion.

First book to be eliminated.

 

 

 

"Jennie's Boy" (2022) by Wayne Johnston is in effect an autobiography of his childhood in small town Newfoundland, Goulds.  He was very sickly and coughed so much it interfered with family activities.  They were very poor and his father drank too much.  Although educated his father was a poor manager of the money.  The dialogue from a sick youngster to the grownups in his life was interesting. 

Linwood Barclay, a prolific author of fiction was the champion.  Linwood thinks authors will get better- over time.  He has been nominated for literary awards himself, but never won.

2nd book eliminated

"Etta and Otto and Russell and James" (2015) by Emma Hooper is a story of relationships over several years.  Etta and Otto marry and Russell was a lifelong friend.   James was a talking coyote.  Otto had gone overseas to fight in he war while Russell stayed back and comforted Etta.  Etta who had never gone outside the Prairies took it in her elderly head to get to the Atlantic Ocean.  One form of dementia.  Different time lines.

Michelle Morgan, the champion is known for acting in popular CBC series, "Heartland" and has also been a director and producer.

Third eliminated-after a tied vote broken.

"Dandelion" (2022) by Jaies Chai Yun Liew is about the daughter of a Chinese immigrant (from Brunei) who goes to seek her mother who had abandoned the family a decade or so previously.  She married a Ukrainian and had a baby girl.  In reality the author was a lawyer working on immigration issues and lived in Ottawa. 

Said D'Homa was a neuro scientist who made a big switch to being a noted pastry chef.  As an immigrant himself he explained some of the issues involved.  As a pastry chef he pointed out that food is a way of communicating.

 

"A Two Spirit Journey" by Ma-nee Chacaby, assisted by Mary Louise Plummer was autobiographical of an Ojibwa woman who was visually impaired, alcoholic and later opened up as a lesbian.  She didn't learn English until age 20. As it happened I was able to read the four eliminated books, but am still waiting for this one.

Shayla Stonechild, an indigenous model, actress and health advocate was the champion.  Every book had its merits, but Shayla had done her research and articulated beautifully.   I look forward to reading the book.  After winner declared, the viewers were treated to a congratulation clip from the author.   

A bit later I got a chance to read and appreciate its merits:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/a-two-spirit-journey.html

 

 I enjoyed the discussions,  The drop outs were gracious and observant.    Lots of points were made about human relations and writing styles.  Each book was unique and each champion came from different perspectives.

 The current episodes are available using your Google.

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/10/canada-reads.html 

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/the-book-of-negroes.html 

 http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/11/two-trees-make-forest-canada-reads.html

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/11/two-trees-make-forest-canada-reads.html 

 http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/09/ducks-my-first-graphic-novel.html

http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/hotline-canada-reads-nomination.html