Winipek: Visions of Canada from an Inigenous Centre contains a group of short essays by Nigaan Sinclair, Indigenous writer and Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, concerning the relationship between First Nations and Canada. He uses Winipek ie Winnipeg because that is where the greatest percentage of Indigenous live in Canada and because it is representative of how Indigenous are treated throughout the country. This includes the horrors of and cross-generational effects of the residential school system linked to high rates of abuse, addiction, and homelessness among Indigenous. He talks of the large numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and two- spirit people and the refusal of the Winnipeg Police Board to authorize the search of a landfill for bodies siting high cost. He discusses the yearly flooding of many Reserves resulting in the displacement of their populations and leaving their homes unsafe.And he writes about the overarching problem caused by the Indian Act and the slow process of the Truth and Reconciliation Act. And he discusses how all of this is exacerbated by the high rates of racism against First Nations in Canada.

But it is not all bad. He also talks about changes that give him hope for the future for First Nations and for Canada as a whole including the revival of Indigenous languages and cultural practices. He shows how Indigenous especially youth have taken a lead in the fight against climate change as Water Protectors although, even here, the Canadian government and police forces always seem to side with the oil and logging companies. He also points to the recent election of Wab Kinew as the Premier of Manitoba, the first Indigenous Premier ever elected in Canada

The issues discussed in Winipek are complex and important but Sinclair discusses them clearly while avoiding the pedantry or legalese too often used to outline Canada's treatment of Indigenous. He also doesn’t pretend to be an objective observer which is, frankly, a good thing. These are and should be treated as ethical issues, too long put aside as in the past and no longer relevant. Too often issues like the ongoing search for unmarked graves of Indigenous children who died at Residential Schools has led to debates in which Residential School denial is treated as valid. This is a very interesting, very informative, very important and very readable book and should be taught in schools not only in Winnipeg and Manitoba but all across Canada and, really, in all settler colonial countries no matter where.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review

This is a superb book. Not only is it on a fundamentally important topic for Canadians and really anyone living in a settler colonial society, but it's also just really really accessible. Many good books have been published in recent years on reconciliation and Canada's history with Indigenous people, but this one felt different. It is a series of essays which makes it feel quick and easy to absorb, and it's also really contemporary which I think is helpful to readers. Sinclair gives as much historical context as is needed, but really emphasizes the current struggles we all have if reconciliation is going to work at all. That said, it's a very hopeful and positive book. Sinclair pulls no punches when it comes to trauma, and ugly history, but the overall tone is one of hope and encouragement that we can make things better, settlers and Indigenous people alike. I will be recommending this a lot to people especially as an introduction to the topic. Also, as a former Winnipeger myself I found this hit particularly close to home and extremely relevant.

When I first saw this book, I immediately was drawn to it because I realized that I didn’t actually know very much about Manitoba and wanted to learn more. While I learned a lot about the history of Manitoba and more about current Manitoba, this book has so much more to offer. Sinclair gives so much information about Indigenous topics- past, present, and future- in such an elegant and meaningful way. He handles very difficult topics like MMIWG2S, residential schools, and mental health crisis with such care that you can just feel how much effort and love went into this book.

Something I really loved was that Sinclair used lots of Anishnaabemowin within the sections. Seeing Indigenous languages in books fills my heart with so much love and joy. I don’t know much of my own language, so I know just how much time, love, and effort has gone into maintaining this knowledge.

An incredibly impactful part of the book is when Sinclair talks about names. There’s a section about naming missing and murdered Indigenous women, including a long list of these women, which is so impactful. However, he also talks about names when discussing the importance of traditional names/Indigenous names, which is also such an important thing. He mentions how laws have changed, in order for Indigenous symbols to be in legal names, but he also tells the reader about how some Indigenous folks don’t share their names to protect them. I love that he shared numerous perspectives on name sharing and how there is validity in both keeping them close and reclaiming them publicly.

An amazing section of the book is about Indigenous youth and their activism and care for others/the world. So often, we talk about the negative things that Indigenous youth go through, so it’s incredible to see their strength and kindness being highlighted. Indigenous babies deserve to be loved and celebrated. They deserve joy.

I could go on and on, but overall, this book is a must read!! It is super informative in a very accessible way, but is also so eloquent. 10/10.

Sinclair is a Winnipeg inhabitant and Indigenous person who teaches Indigenous Studies at the university and also publishes a column in the newspaper. Here he gathers together an essay collection at a point at which truth and reconciliation seem at the point of actually becoming reality and addressing the many injustices meted out to the groups of Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba.

So both these injustices, from land grabs and, yes, slave-owning (practised in Canada and affecting both Black and Indigenous communities) through the horror of the "schools" children were forcibly removed to to the institutional racism that still prevails today, and also the many small and large acts of kindness and community are covered in this book which I would say would be vital to read for all Canadians, anyone living in a country that has Indigenous populations, and anyone with an interest in the topic in general.

Positive action seems to be coming through younger people and some decent organisations which are listening to their Indigenous employees and users. There was a very interesting chapter on the solidarity between Indigenous communities and Ukrainian inhabitants of Manitoba which was very moving. I'm by no means an expert but the book offers a good and solid historical overview, a searing demonstration of what is happening to Indigenous Peoples today and a strong acknowledgement of the good work of young people and collectives which are working towards equity and community.

The book ends with a call for the four important pillars of Listen, Learn, Commit and Act, alongside a comprehensive list of sources which makes sure we know all the information is valid. An interesting and wide-ranging collection, thought-provoking and positive where it can be.

Review on my blog will be published 29 May https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2024/05/29/book-review-niigaan-sinclair-winipek/

"For over 150 years, Canada has pursued a violent and draconian relationship with Indigenous Peoples - with Winnipeg being ground zero for every step.

Yet, power, resiliency, and resistance also lives here."

Canada is in the midst of "reconciliation" right now - the process of acknowledging the horrific violence and negative impact of colonization on Indigenous communities, and taking concrete steps to positively change the experiences that Indigenous people have in Canada. It's a chance for the Canadian governments (and Canadian citizens) to renew their relationships with the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people (and in Manitoba, specifically the Anishinabe/Ojibway, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, Dakota and Métis communities) that have been torn apart and had their rights infringed upon again and again and again (and even continuing now). In Wînipêk, Niigaan Sinclair tackles that subject from ground zero, the centre of the country - Winnipeg, my own hometown as well.

"Racism isn't a Winnipeg problem; it's a Canadian issue that's seen most clearly in Winnipeg."

Sinclair engages with every aspect of Winnipeg/Manitoba life, from the ever spreading algae on the lake to slavery, in a conversational way, and ties everything together. This book is incredibly accessible, so if you're worried about endless pages of historical events and dates, don't be. The chapters stay fairly chronological, and Sinclair covers a lot of ground. It is horrific stuff - if you somehow have avoided learning about the atrocities committed by this country against Indigenous peoples, buckle in. Be prepared to assess your own internal biases and racism - if you come into this with an open mind, I think you can learn a lot about the resiliency and power of Indigenous communities.

While there are many chapters containing the bleak realities of Indigenous peoples in Winnipeg (like the chapter about the assisted living facility KeKiNan that was touted as the first of its kind to offer culturally specific programming, and ended up becoming no more than a neglected apartment block), Sinclair leaves room for small victories (a tour of the Interlake where students are openly speaking traditional languages and the people living there appear to truly be committed to reconciliation, and the 2023 trend of Indigenous mermen across social media). This book, like life in Winnipeg and Manitoba, contains the good and the bad, the despicable and heart-breaking but also the hopeful. Sinclair believes that Winnipeg is leading the way into a new era of Canadian reconciliation.

"This place is changing, and changing quickly," Sinclair says of Wînipêk. "Something special is happening in this place."

As someone who has lived in Winnipeg my whole life (barring two years where I moved South) I have seen the racism. I have seen the poverty and watched Indigenous people plead in the news to be treated as human, the absolute bare minimum that they aren't receiving. I've heard the comments, some from my own family, enforcing harmful and violent stereotypes. I've seen people online tell visitors not to visit the North End, where a large population of Indigenous Winnipeggers live. This is the lived experience of Indigenous people in Winnipeg, and the fact that we haven't made more of a dent in the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action is heinous.

Sinclair's book is necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand Indigenous struggles and joy, who desires for reconciliation to be more than just a buzzword. Wînipêk is a love letter to the land, a exploration of history and culture, and a call to do better.

I was SO excited when I found out I was approved for this book on Netgalley! As a Winnipegger and Social Studies teacher, this was right up my alley. I feel like I could write a university essay on this book and all of the interesting things I took away from it, but I want to start with a general review.

Sinclair's non-fiction text Winipek is made up of 4 sections representing the seasons in a year. Each section has several short pieces of writing each on different topics related to the city of Winnipeg, the province of Manitoba, the Red River, Lake Winnipeg, and the history of Indigenous people and the relationships they had with each other and the Canadian government, leading to both the extensive challenges and moments of positive change we are seeing in recent years. Sinclair does an incredible job of giving the background information on each topic in a way that is fluid, non-judgemental and with just enough detail to make this story accessible for readers of all ages and backgrounds. This book did not feel like a history lesson or a lecture on the harms and mistakes of our past, but yet it accomplished the same things. Although I would consider myself fairly well versed in the challenges Indigenous people face in my hometown, I learned SO much from this book. Topics I new tidbits about were suddenly fully filled in, areas I knew lots about had additional facts I wanted to share with everyone around me, and the things I new nothing about, I feel ready to take action and learn more. This book is a must read for all Manitobans. It could (and probably should) be a required read for High School and/or University students. It is enjoyable and interesting but more importantly, it is indepth, well written and informative.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review an advance copy of this book. I will definitely be lining up to get a physical copy as soon as it hits the shelves.