Anishnaabe World, by Roger Spielmann
A (Survival) Guide for Building Bridges between Canada and First Nations
Illustrated by Perry McLeod-Shabogesic and Tim Steven
In every walk of Canadian life—from the business world to the everyday world—the reality is that increasingly you will be in contact with Anishnaabe World. Knowing something about Aboriginal people and their reality not only gives you an advantage over those who don't, it’s just plain polite in this country now called Canada.
In the spirit of Thomas King, Drew Hayden Taylor and Tomson Highway, Roger Spielmann’s Anishnaabe World is an irreverent, teasing, hilarious, yet cross-culturally astute “Survival Guide” for a Canada increasingly aware of its chequered past relations between Natives and non-Natives.
Praise for Anishnaabe World:
“Anishnaabe World (not to be confused with DisneyWorld) raises the bar for those wanting to become more familiar with Canada and its history. For a White guy writing about Native people, Spielmann has potential. Instead of a Wannabe, he's what we call a Shouldabeen.”—Drew Hayden Taylor, author of Funny, You don't look like One: Observations of a Blue Eyed Ojibway; editor of Me Funny
“Dr. Spielmann is a close buddy of mine and I challenge the reader to really listen to what he’s saying. We can all learn a lot together and make this country of Canada a great country—if Canada is ready to listen.”—Chief Ovide Mercredi, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (1991-1997)
“It’s what’s inside the book that really pushes the envelope when it comes to Native/White relations and what can be done to make this a better country for everyone… Even more than that, the book captures the essence of the author himself, and how one can be literally transformed by living with Anishnaabe people.”—Chief Gordon Polson of the Algonquin First Nation
“I've always thought of Canadians as kind, fair and progressive. After reading Anishnaabe World, I would suggest they have a lot of explaining to do.”—Roger Ebert, film critic
“Maybe it's time we learned to talk about ourselves in the vernacular—academic language hasn't seemed to cut it. And maybe we need to tell our ill-informed European brothers and sisters that we're just grateful Columbus wasn't looking for Turkey!”—Maurice Switzer; Director of Communication, Union of Ontario Indians
...and check out the great blog review by Sunshine Morningstar, in the file below!
Now Available!
Book Details
September, 2009; 2nd printng Dec. 2009
ISBN 978-1-896350-37-0
205pp. softcover
18 b/w illustrations
Price $18.95
About the Author and Illustrators
Roger Spielmann, PhD, is from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, where he has been a member of the Native Studies department at the University of Sudbury (federated with Laurentian University) since 1990. He is currently an Associate Professor. Though he is non-Native, he lived for 11 years in the Algonquin community of Pikogan (1979-1990) where he was involved in a number of research, teaching and curriculum projects and was fortunate to become conversationally fluent in the Algonquin language. From 1983-1990 he served as the Coordinator of the Algonquin Language and Culture Program at Amo Ososwan School in the community of Winneway. The University of Toronto Press published his book, “You’re So Fat!”: Exploring Ojibwe Discourse in 1998, and reprinted it in 2003.
Perry McLeod-Shabogesic of the “Crane Clan” is an Ojibway Anishnaabe from N’biising (Nipissing) First Nation (nfn) located on the north shores of Lake Nipissing in Northern Ontario, Canada. Perry has been an artist, cartoonist, writer, traditional helper, medicine harvester and cultural resource person in and around his community for many years. Perry’s spirit name is “Aandzooked,” which means “Teller of sacred stories” in Ojibway. Perry’s comic strip Baloney & Bannock has slowly become a cult favourite among many Anishinabek communities. He worked closely with world renowned cartoonist Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), helping her develop story lines for her strip as well as improving his own techniques. From politics to culture, he loves to poke fun. His sense of humour has even caused him to get into a little controversy along the way. On this matter Perry says “If you can’t laugh at yourself and the world around you, then I’m more than willing to help ya!”
Tim Steven is an illustrator and fine artist living near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His work has been recognized at local, national and international levels, and hangs in many private and corporate collections, including the permanent collection of The University of Western Ontario. In the period from the mid 1980s to mid 1990s Tim owned a mid size graphic design studio in London, Ontario. From the mid 1990s to 2002 he worked from his home/studio as well as teaching drawing and illustration courses part-time at Fanshawe College in London. Since then he has moved freely between commercial assignments and painting.
Related Files
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