Reviews

Namwayut—We Are All One: A Pathway to Reconciliation by Chief Robert Joseph

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tobin_elliott's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is an exceptional, important book. It's not an easy read, as it's full of hard experiences and hard truths, but it is a book that every Canadian should read.

Hell, any person in any country that has seen any form of racism, misogyny, or hate...any really, can any country claim that has never happened?

Chief Joseph presents a look back at his life, showing the tough, yet mostly happy life he had before being mandated to a Residential School for deprogramming, the aftermath of those horrifying years, and his eventual path back to hope and forgiveness.

Along the way, we're shown the depths that humanity can fall to, as well as the heights they can achieve with love and the simple acts of kindness.

I am shamed that the country I live in perpetrated these hateful acts against our Indigenous population, aimed at literally wiping them out, and I am heartened that these brave souls have managed not only to overcome this genocide, but to find some peace and a path forward.

This is an incredible story, and I'm better for having experienced it.

kumipaul's review

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4.0

Reconciliation among all races, creeds, genders, etc. is the primary topic, but Joseph's reconciliation with himself was also important as he spent years struggling with his own physical & emotional balance. Once again we have first-hand reporting of abuses in Indian Residential Schools that resulted in lifetime damage to the children. But Joseph got involved from the local to the national level, and has been committed to seeing that reconciliation continues.

matthewrob's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

mamasquirrel's review

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challenging dark informative inspiring slow-paced

3.0

I have read a number of residential school accounts--and just watched Bones of Crows, which incidentally, is heartbreaking and important and we should ALL be watching it.

Joseph has important contributions to make the conversation but the genre of this book should be clarified. It IS part memoir, the story of Joseph's experience. But more more, it is the Joseph sharing his wisdom, his message, his visions for the future, his guidance for others, both Indigenous and otherwise.

skconaghan's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

For all peoples oppressed everywhere, and for the ones inadvertently, directly, or by association involved in acts of oppression—just read this. It is the balm of wisdom poured out in a humility we can all learn from. I will be bringing a copy to class this year to share with my students…

Chief Robert Joseph: Thank you very much…and in the two repressed languages of my own cultural heritage: Go raibh maith agat; Kanien’kéha…

Namwayut.