Fight or Submit is the memoir of Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson of the Westbank First Nation. It’s an amazing story full of his accomplishments as a businessman, a leader/advocate for his people, and those who fought against him (including as assassination attempt). Derrickson writes in a very straightforward way, laying out all the facts and figures and everything he’s accomplished. It’s not a memoir I would commend for it’s flowery, poetic language. However, I think it’s a perfect reflection of who he seems to be as an Indigenous man with decades experience as a businessman and one who essentially goes to battle with the Canadian government many times over. And I’m glad to have read his story. It had me thinking about all the ways our peoples are fighting for land and treaty rights across North America right now. It’s an inspiring story, and great motivation to never give up the fight. Colonization is designed to beat us down and make us feel small, but this memoir felt like a call to recognize our value to our communities, the land, and what we are capable of.