Recently I had the opportunity to hear Brandi Morin speak in recognition of Canada’s national day of Truth and Reconciliation. Brandi expertly spliced together news reels that she had covered about the Indigenous stories across the globe of their struggle for recognition and reparation. She finished her talk by reminding us that the Indigenous struggle is real and now and not only part of colonial history but colonial present.

Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising by Brandi Morin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a courageous outpouring of memory. Morin’s journalistic tone isn’t here but a different voice is emerging — she is so honest about her painful trauma that the result is like a visceral butchering of her own experience. There were many times reading this that I, like Joey with Cujo, I had to put it in the freezer for awhile so that I could make another attempt. As a settler Canadian I am still floored by the atrocities that our system has perpetuated and this book was a harsh reminder that the stories are present, and are happening every day not just part of colonial history. Brandi’s voice is as powerful here in non-fiction as Ruby Slipperjack is in fiction. This is a book about gender, poverty and strength because ultimately Morin is the warrior telling this story powerfully.

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