Stoney Creek Woman: The Story of Mary John

The final book I have to read for my Canadian Literature course on Residential Schools starting in the Fall (2015). The last, but definitely not the least, as the saying goes.
I really enjoyed the differing perspectives and narrative styles throughout the course of the reading material. Each has brought it's own unique style and take on a tragic and senseless part of Canadian history. What I liked most about Stoney Creek Woman was that only the beginning was really about Mary John's time in residential school. The rest of the story centers on the “what now” portion of Canadian history. What has changed in the years following her time there? What has changed for indigenous peoples? How has prejudice and racism affected their way of life? It focuses on a community's journey towards healing and recovery.
There was so much tragedy and hardship that Mary John and her community had to endure just to be heard, just to have a voice. Amidst that struggle is a beautiful overlay of hope for a better way of life.
I found myself torn between the feeling of guilt and shame for how the Carrier tribes were treated by white people and a sense of pride at how they persevered against all odds.
Stoney Creek Woman is a short, fast read but I left it feeling the weight and magnitude of all it represents. I thoroughly enjoyed this book (as much as it can be enjoyed considering the content) and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to know more on the impact of residential schools and the struggle for Indigenous peoples to reclaim their heritage.