Mamaskatch

A Cree Coming of Age

By: Darrel J. McLeod

Narrated by: William C. Wikcemna Yamni ake Wanzi

Growing up in the tiny village of Smith, Alberta, Darrel J. McLeod was surrounded by his Cree family's history. In shifting and unpredictable stories, his mother, Bertha, shared narratives of their culture, their family, and the cruelty that she and her sisters endured in residential school. McLeod was comforted by her presence and that of his many siblings and cousins, the smells of moose stew and wild peppermint tea, and his deep love of the landscape. Bertha taught him to be fiercely proud of his heritage and to listen to the birds that would return to watch over and guide him at key junctures of his life.

However, in a spiral of events, Darrel's mother turned wild and unstable, and their home life became chaotic. Sweet and innocent by nature, Darrel struggled to maintain his grades and pursue an interest in music while changing homes many times, witnessing violence, caring for his younger siblings and suffering abuse at the hands of his surrogate father. Meanwhile, his sibling's gender transition provoked Darrel to deeply question his own sexual identity.

The fractured narrative of Mamaskatch mirrors Bertha's attempts to reckon with the trauma and abuse she faced in her own life, and captures an intensely moving portrait of a family of strong personalities, deep ties, and the shared history that both binds and haunts them.

Beautifully written, honest and thought-provoking, Mamaskatch - named for the Cree word used as a response to dreams shared - is ultimately an uplifting account of overcoming personal and societal obstacles. In spite of the traumas of Darrel's childhood, deep and mysterious forces handed down by his mother helped him survive and thrive: her love and strength stayed with him to build the foundation of what would come to be a very fulfilling and adventurous life.

Cover design courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre, (2013) Ltd.

©2018 Darrel J. McLeod (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Stellar Story telling

I loved this from start to finish and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy really engaging and beautifully written memoir. The Cree and Queer dimensions enrich this seamless story that allows you to live in it. I'd give the narrator more than five stars. Amazing.

More like a powerful classic novel than memoir

I am nearly at a loss for words. None that come to mind do justice to the like-you-were-there performance of the reader. The praising words that come to mind for the author seem trite and tame. I wonder if, in time, this book will be recognized as a classic. I, for one, experience it as one of the ten best I've encountered. And I'm grateful for the encounter. This one's special. This one I'll not forget. McLeod somehow manages to be specific and immediate regarding his life while consistently hitting notes that resonate with all lives. Characters, including himself, are laid bare with dignity intact -- and so, as our pain mixes a bit with theirs (as happens when you are drawn into a great book), we feel safe and encouraged. His mother's monologue is extraordinary and extraordinarily performed by the reader -- a sort of magnificat. As a foster parent myself, I do well to hear that segment as a canticle of lives that differ so much from mine. And not so much.

Harsh story that shows reality through beautifully written story

Now more than ever, we need to recognize the different world we all come from. This first person story from the perspective of the boy (and later man) who fought to make reason of all the chaos of his life is a valuable lesson of the subjectiveness of how life should be and the damage of transgenerational trauma that goes ignored. It’s a harsh story that is wonderfully told, even in the ugliest parts. The author is an exemplary human in his own story and that of his family and community.