Edmund Metatawabin

8-year old Indigenous boy, Edmund, was forced to go to a residential school in Northern Ontario in the 1950s and ‘60s. He didn’t want to go but his mother insisted. His mother was very Catholic and trusted that they would take good care of him. Of course, while at St. Anne’s school, the nuns and priests were abusive to him and others. I was going to mention some of the abuses, but I’ve decided not to; a couple of things were not things I’d heard previously. And for Ed, it got worse after he left for high school in a bigger city.

He did marry and have children, and get a university degree, but he also became an alcoholic. In this memoir, Ed details all of this and more.

As mentioned in my summary, despite having read quite a bit about residential schools, there were still a couple of surprising things (not good surprising). Of course, when he finished school, he had issues (the alcoholism), but it was good to see how he got himself better and is doing good to help others, as well. I thought this was really good.… (más)

For those of us who are Canadian and not Indigenous, we need to know about our shameful history, and this book is a good way to start. Up Ghost River is a devastating look at the residential school system, intergenerational trauma, healing, and the ways in which the government still mistreats indigenous people today. Edmund Metatawabin also details some ways that you can get involved -- Canada has a sickening past, and there is still a lot that needs to change, and I think we all have a responsibility to make things better.… (más)

A beautiful and inspiring read. Edmund tells the tale of what went wrong in his life and his struggles in a detached manner. It makes you relate to the him the entire book. He possesses a sensitivity that makes you stand in his shoes and experience his life like how he experienced it.

The book was very gripping to me and I feel like I've learnt something out of the whole experience. I do hope their community keeps achieving proper freedom and the Indian Act and other laws get reformed for the better.… (más)

I have worked with the author, and know how difficult he found it, at times, to speak about his experiences even long after he left the residential school. This book is a testimony to his generous spirit in sharing his Knowledge to help others in their own search for healing.

This is a book about the modern-day Indian experience in Canada. It is an important lesson about our history that many should become more familiar with. It is written with honesty. Despite the many challenges Mr. Metatawabin faced, the book is a hopeful one as he works with young people to reclaim what has been lost by Aboriginal communities.… (más)