Deschutes Public Library

A two-spirit journey, the autobiography of a lesbian Ojibwa-Cree elder, Ma-Nee Chacaby with Mary Louisa Plummer

eng

Includes bibliographical references

autobiography

mapsillustrations

no index present

non fiction

A two-spirit journey

bibliography

927382779

Ma-Nee Chacaby with Mary Louisa Plummer

Critical studies in Native history, 18

the autobiography of a lesbian Ojibwa-Cree elder

A Two-Spirit Journey is Ma-Nee Chacaby's account of her life as an Ojibwa-Cree lesbian. From her early, often harrowing memories of life and abuse in a remote Ojibwa community riven by poverty and alcoholism, Chacaby's story is one of enduring and ultimately overcoming the social, economic, and health legacies of colonialism. As a child, Chacaby learned spiritual and cultural traditions from her Cree grandmother and trapping, hunting, and bush survival skills from her Ojibwa stepfather. She also suffered physical and sexual abuse by different adults, and in her teen years became alcoholic herself. At twenty, Chacaby moved to Thunder Bay with her children to escape an abusive marriage. Abuse, compounded by racism, continued, but Chacaby found supports to help herself and others. Over the following decades, she achieved sobriety; trained and worked as an alcoholism counsellor; raised her children and fostered many others; learned to live with visual impairment; and came out as a lesbian. In 2013, Chacaby led the first gay pride parade in Thunder Bay. Ma-Nee Chacaby has emerged from hardship grounded in faith, compassion, humour, and resilience. Her memoir provides unprecedented insights into the challenges still faced by many Indigenous people

My grandmother's and my family's history in Manitoba and Ontario (1863-1952) -- First discoveries, joys, and sorrows: My early childhood in Ombabika (1952-1958) -- Seasonal activities, first friendships, and the beginning of addiction (1958-1960) -- School, teenage friendships, and having two spirits (1960-1965) -- Losing my grandmother and mother, becoming a parent, and surviving an abusive marriage in Auden (1965-1970) -- Living and parenting in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie before sobriety (1970-1975) -- Sobriety and single-parenting in Thunder Bay (1975-1980) -- Working with addicted mothers and raising foster kids with Nate in Winnipeg (1980-1987) -- Coming out, falling in love, and living with Leah in Thunder Bay and Boston (1987-1991) -- Meeting Grace and building a life together in Kaministiquia (1991-2004) -- Recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder and becoming an elder in Thunder Bay (2004-2014) -- Afterword / Mary Louisa Palmer