Waswanipi

Jean-yves Soucy
Translated by Peter McCambridge
Introduction by Romeo Saganash
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Waswanipi

Jean-yves Soucy
Translated by Peter McCambridge
Introduction by Romeo Saganash
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Found in: Community & Culture, Cultural Conversations

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Overview

120 PAGESENGLISH

Promotional Details
  • Published date: Sep 01, 2021
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 120
  • Publisher: Baraka Books
  • ISBN: 9781771862530
  • Dimensions: 5.0" W x 0.28" L x 8.0" H

Jean-Yves Soucy (1945-2017) was a writer, editor, publisher, journalist, scriptwriter, and mentor based in Montreal. Award-winning author of eleven books (novels, historical accounts, biographies), his writings have been translated into English, Spanish, German, Turkish, Romanian and Armenian. His books in English include Family Secrets, The Controversial & Schocking Story of the Dionne Quintuplettes (with Annette, Ccile and Yvonne Dionne) and A Summer Without Dawn with Agop J. Hacikyan.


Romeo Saganash was born in 1961 on the shores of a lake in his parents? tent near Waswanipi in Northern Quebec. Cree was the only language he heard and spoke for his first seven years before he was taken away to residential school. First Cree in Quebec to graduate in law, he served as Deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Cree and was one of the principal authors of La Paix des Braves?a landmark agreement between the James Bay Cree and the Government of Quebec. He was the Member of Parliament for Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou from 2011-2019.


Peter McCambridge, originally from Ireland, holds a BA in modern languages from Cambridge University, England, and has lived in Quebec City since 2003. He runs Qubec Reads and founded QC Fiction, an imprint of Baraka Books. His translation of Eric Dupont's La Fiance amricaine, Songs for the Cold of Heart, was shortlisted for both the 2018 Giller Prize and the 2018 Governor General's Award for Translation. It has now been published worldwide, outside of Canada, by HarperCollins.

"The beauty of Soucy's Waswanipi, so brilliantly translated by Peter McCambridge, is that it recounts in the most human of terms, the eyes of youth, an important transformation of one of Quebec?s peoples. This is a tale steeped in friendship and understanding, too seldom heard in the polarizing politics of our day." Ian Thomas Shaw, The Ottawa Review of Books

“? short but very readable importance piece of historical literature (?) Soucy is adept at showing, not telling in his writing as he traverses water and land, villages and forest, contemporary white society and traditional Cree culture. He is an observer and learner.” Daniel J. Rowe, Montreal Review of Books

“Soucy's narrative vividly recalls a time when the traditional life--living off the land, hunting, fishing, gathering--was still possible for the Cree Community, before the residential school system and relentless extraction of resources changed everything.” Julie McGonegal, (Quill and Quire)

“(Waswanipi is a story brimming with big ideas to be savoured slowly. Soucy demonstrates great storytelling with an impressive memory for details and the translation is expertly handled by Peter McCambridge.” (The Nation (The Cree Nation News))

“I always had this fascination about how it was in the days to meet the Other for the first time. Young, my late Dad would tell me about his first encounters, and how he translated through those encounters the challenges to come for our people. Jean-Yves Soucy's story and encounter with my Dad provides a charming glimpse into a changing world, for us all. ” Romeo Saganash, Former Deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees

“an appeal to generosity and openness? This beautifully written?and witty?story becomes particularly significant through the encounter of two cultures, the overcoming of ignorance or distrust that separates them, and the prejudice that such ignorance can produce. ” Jean-Paul Beaumier, Nuit Blanche


Waswanipi is summer gift to be savoured, slowly; a timeless read that is like a walk in the forest when nothing else counts. ” Yvon Par, Littrature du Qubec


“A book that feels like a movie. Romeo Saganash has written a moving afterword, thus completing the story whose author passed away before completing it. ” Mathieu Lavigne, Radio Ville-Marie


Waswanipi is brimming with curiosity, tenderness and humanity an ode to friendship and reconciliation with our indigenous brothers and sisters. ” Christian Desmeules, Le Devoir

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