b'When asked about the present-daythese apocalyptic moments, Rice says.of community members as they venture response to the pandemic, Rice notesSo I decided I wanted to write a storysouth to see what is left of the world how strange it has been to see some ofabout that. that used to exist, Rice reveals. In the events in Moon of the Crusted SnowPersonal influences also helped shapegeneral, I am inspired by our old stories play out in real time. He recalls similar- the book, including a conversationof Anishinaabe migration and how those ities to the power blackout in August ofRice had with his grandmother Aileen,have defined our history and culture 2003, which was the original inspirationwhich is also the name of a characterprior to being colonized. for the novels premise. While visitingin the book. She told me about howAs for other projects, Rice says he his brother on Wasauksing that day inher grandparents explained how theirhas been contributing essays and short August, Rice figured it was nothing moregeneration was removed from the landstories to a few anthologies due to be than a bit unusual to experience a powerthey (had) travelled and inhabited sincepublished next year. Aside from writing, outage in the middle of sunny summertime immemorial, he says. She told himhe also says he is working towards prop-day. As the day went on without restoredabout land and resource exploitationerly learning Anishinaabemowin.power, Rice and his family decided to(in this case, the loss of trees), how theWhile we head into the winter months check in to Parry Sound. After talkingcommunity witnessed child apprehensionwith the pandemic still looming over our to some people we ran into, we foundfor residential schools, and the destruc- heads, it would be wise to monitor the out it was a widespread catastrophetive effects of the Indian Act. I think wesafety measures and precautions taken by affecting millions of people, he says.need to keep that experience in mind andIndigenous nations, both in reality and We went back to the Rez and startedunderstand that Indigenous people areRices work in fiction. Practicing land making a plan of how wed cope if theresilient enough to survive the end of thesovereignty is perhaps one of the strongest power was out for good.world and revive our cultures.takeaways so far, both to keep our most Conversations about how to sourceA spring announcement revealed avulnerable populations safe and to not food and who to connect with to get helpsequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow isoverwhelm already under-funded health shaped some of the characters in Moon ofin the works and has a release date ofcare systems. Reintroducing traditional the Crusted Snow. The whole experi- 2022. While Rice says he is paying closeteachings, such as learning Indigenous ence made me think of end-of-the-worldattention to how society adjusts to thelanguages, practicing land-based know-stories I had read and watched up to thatcurrent pandemic, the sequel will takeledge and listening to our older genera-point, and it was clear Anishinaabeg haveplace ten years after the first book lefttions, will also aid us into the next phase a very different outlook and approach tooff. (The sequel) will follow a groupof the pandemic. Reach your highest potentialAt Western University, we offer: Indigenous StudiesMaster of Professional Education Program(Aboriginal Educational Leadership)Access pathways and admissions supportAcademic and personal counsellingVisiting Elders and cultural programmingDesignated Indigenous Learning SpacesPeer mentoring and leadership opportunitiesindigenous.uwo.cais.access@uwo.caI ssue1 2020C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne l 19'