Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age

This winner of the 2018 Governor General’s award for non-fiction details the author’s life from youth to adulthood, and his Cree family and heritage. It reflects the socio-economic reality of growing up in poverty, and the racial discrimination, sexual abuse, and neglect that he and his family experienced. Despite the hardships, with sheer determination and resiliency, he pursues his passions, discovers his own identity, and prospers. Suitable for grades 11-12, the memoir could be used in literature circles and to foster discussion, and focuses on perseverance through adversity, self-reflection, growth mindset, sexuality, and self-love, and is rooted in Aboriginal cultural and identity. Social considerations noted.