b"FAMILY & COMMUNITY5.18758SPINE: 0.58 COVID SPOTLIGHT Campbell warns that there comes a time This thread, which ties togetherwhen all of those man-made medicines A new, fully restored edition of all of Campbells personal andarent going to work. They have nothing the essential Canadian classic. professional activities, is alsospiritual about them; theyre just things Originally published in 1973, Halfbreed is Mtis author Maria Campbells unflinchingMaria Campbell connected to her views about thewe use. When you take care of the things memoir documenting her childhood and early adult life. Haunted by poverty,ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.around you, you keep them strong, just addiction, and tragedy, and taking place in the margins of a society laced withhatred, discrimination, and mistrust, Campbells story of family ties and the searchWhat COVID has done forlike you keep yourself strong. Were related for identity is nevertheless marked by spare moments of love and joy, and defined by strength, resilience, and an indomitable spirit. me is show me that because weto the land, the rock, the water, and we all This definitive edition includes a new introduction written by Indigenoushavent been careful, becausehave the responsibility to look after each (Mtis) scholar Dr. Kim Anderson detailing the extraordinary work that Maria has undertaken since the books original publication, and an afterword by the author,we havent treated each otherother, and we have a responsibility to them, reflecting on what has and hasnt changed for Indigenous people in Canada today.just like I have to my grandchildren.Restored are the recently discovered missing pages from the original text of thiswell, because some people are in groundbreaking work. poverty and some people arent,For many people, observes Campbell, the MARIA CAMPBELLis a Mtis writer, we havent done what were playwright, filmmaker, scholar, teacher, communityCOVID shutdown of March and April organizer, activist, and elder. Halfbreed is regarded assupposed to do, which is to bebrought about a rare time for reflection: a foundational work of Indigenous literature in responsible for each other and all Canada. She has authored several other books andEven for meand Im one of those people plays, and has directed and written scripts for aof creation, she says.number of films. She has also worked with IndigenousHalfbreed who fasts and meditates a lotits really youth in community theatre and advocated for theforced me to focus on the work Ive been hiring and recognition of Indigenous people in the arts. She has mentored manyFrom the time were born, were Indigenous artists during her career, established shelters for Indigenous womendoing [and ask] Is there a better way to and children, and run a writers camp at the national historical site at Batoche,taught that we have to look after where every summer she produces commemorative events on the anniversaryeach other, continues Campbell,do this?of the battle of the 1885 Northwest Rebellion. Maria Campbell is an officer of the Order of Canada and holds six honorary doctorates. invoking the Cree word wahko- Campbell contrasts this with normal life, towin, which she defines as thewhen daily responsibilities pull women Front cover photo by Dan Gordon interconnectedness of everything Author photo by Ted Whitecalf MEMOIR CAN. $19.95 / U.S. $16.95 in creation, as a guiding principle.away from their families and exhaust them. Everything looks after us.During COVID, Campbells seen families McCLELLAND & STEWART Updated and with a new Afterword by the author Everything is born, everythinggetting to know one another again and her www.penguinrandomhouse.ca M&S dies, and everything has a respon- hope is that this will raise awareness in a sibility to look after each otherwider circle, encouraging us all to support Camp_9780771024092_cvr_all_r2.indd 1 Campbell's must-read 1973 memoir Halfbreed is7/30/19 2:53 PM so we can have miyo pimatisowin,parents and children and improve wages and social supports.considered a seminal work in Indigenous literature a good life. Thats foundational in our culture. Thats the wahkotowin law. When weRecalling the message of the notokwewak, It means old woman, and in ourdont do that, we ignore everything else. Wewho were her mentors, Campbell says: dont take care of the plants, the medicinesYou try to make your community as P R OT E C T I N G F U T U R E culture, when you say notokwe, it meansthat were put there to take care of us. Wevehealthy and as strong as you canthats youve earned your place and youre nowbeen told by our Elders, and scientists havewhat miyo pimatisowin is about. We have to the protector of children and futuretold us, that we have to change our lifesomehow make family and community the generations, she says. Those womeninbut nobodys listening. number-one priority again.English I guess you would say the matri-archs, and its also the grandmotherswe GENERATIONS governed our people and our families.NIAGARA CHAPTER - NATIVE WOMEN INC.We kept culture, we were the law keepers. We were the first circle of protection around the children and the old people. ncnw.net(905) 871-8770With colonization, these societal struc-tures were intentionally dismantled, saysinfo.ncnw@gmail.com NCNWCampbell. When the role of women wasNCNWhasbeenofferingafriendlyconnectingplacetosupporttaken away, the role of the old women wasNative/Indigenous women and their families through access to culturallytaken away. Along with language, storiesrelevant programs and services for over 38 years. Our organization hasand songs, these practices were forced to go underground.been noted as an exemplary Chapter ofNCNW Holiday Celebration, 2019theOntarioNativeWomen'sIt had to be kept hidden, and now thatsAssociation.Besuretocheckusoutcome out. Women, and especially oldonline for membership details, currentwomen and women leaders, are comingupdates, and the latest programs andout, and our people are listening andservices offered. You can support usworking with us, and our communitiesbydonatingtoourannualHolidayare slowly becoming more balanced,Celebration - details on our website!because its not a question of Who is the leader? Its that all of us have a roleServing Indigenous families involved with child welfare forto play in order for our people to have aover ten years. We walk with you working to keep familiesgood life. I want whats best for my great-grandchildren, but I also want whats bestunified. NCNW puts you and your child(ren) first.for your children.Ontario Native Womens Association23"