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Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconcliation
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Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconcliation

"series "Every River Poems"" series ##2

by R. Stacey Laforme
  • debut-poetry
  • from-ontario
  • indigenous

In Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation, Chief Stacey Laforme gives a history of his people through stories and poetry to let us see through the eyes of Indigenous people. Chief Laforme’s universal message is: “We should not have to change to fit into society, the world should adapt to embrace our uniqueness.”

Contributors

R. Stacey Laforme, author

Chief Stacey Laforme was born on a cold December morning into a life of alcoholism and abuse. At fifteen, he left home and lived on the street, eventually finding a home with both of his grandmothers. He started his first job at twelve years old, eventually going into the family business and joining the iron workers union. He attended college late in life. He ran and was elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe in December 2015. Chief Laforme says, “I am dedicated to my people, and to all the people who live within our treaty lands.” In 2017, Chief Laforme became only the third Honorary Senior Fellow of Massey College, Toronto, joining The Duke of Edinburgh and The Chancellor of Oxford University in the rarest honour the college bestows.

Reviews

  • "We cannot move forward without looking back" Laforme is convinced that, as Canada moves toward fulfilling the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its most effective vehicle will not be politics nor economics. "The future lies in the arts, and it lies in all our youth, not just the Indigenous youth," he says. "Arts make change. I could tell you facts and figures for hours but as soon as the test is over you're going to forget it: just like our kids do in school. But if we can share a moment through the arts — whether it's song, dance, poetry, painting — it transcends even language barriers." - Steve Milton, Hamilton Spectator Link to review
  • The poetry of Chief Stacey Laforme illustrates the wonderful state of being alive. His words compel us to improve our capacity to listen, to understand and learn to live together. It is a generous gift from one who cares deeply and looks for good in the world. - Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
  • All peoples learn from authentically written expressions about not only our struggles but hope and vision. Chief Stacey Laforme has eloquently written pieces which invoke our emotion and inspire reflection and change. - Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations

Rights Holder

Rights Holder: Durvile Publications

email: lorene.shyba@durvile.com

website: durvile.com

rights available: World

Additional Information

number of pages: 160

publication date: 12/01/2017

Original language of pub: English

Materials Available: finished book