Literary suggestion: Kukum

Kukum by Michel Jean is a powerful novel inspired by the life of the author’s great-grandmother, Almanda Siméon. Orphaned and raised by her uncle and aunt, she falls in love with a young Innu man and later joins the indigenous community of Pekuakami. They accept her as one of their own: Almanda learns their language, adopts their nomadic lifestyle, and begins to break down the barriers imposed on indigenous women.

This book traces the profound transformation of Indigenous culture in Canada over a century, as Almanda and her family face the loss of their lands and confinement to reserves, as well as the ongoing violence of residential schools.

A poignant read about identity, resilience, and the fight for freedom of the Indigenous peoples of Canadian territory.