I recently had the great honor of reading THIS PLACE: 150 YEARS RETOLD by Kateri Akiwenzi-Damm, Sonny Assu, and Brandon Mitchell. The graphic novel anthology is a collection of ten different stories spanning from 1867 to present day told by Indigenous authors/illustrators.

What makes this collection unique is its stories tell the history of when Europeans settled in North American (specifically Canada) through the perspective of Indigenous people based on a combination of first-hand knowledge, stories handed down, and research. 

The anthology is powerful and informative. At the beginning of each story, a historical timeline grounds the reader in the related historical events, making the stories easily meshed with what we already think we know about the time period. The graphic novel format makes these stories accessible and the added dimension of the illustrations act as a portal, transporting the reader directly into the stories. As Richard Van Camp, one of the anthology’s authors, described it here, it’s like “holding a movie in your hands…”

All the stories in the collection deeply affected me by drawing on strong emotions and opening up my understanding of the horrors and injustices inflicted upon Indigenous people during colonization through today’s continued struggles. One of the stories that really stuck to me is Peggy by Cree author David A. Robertson. It’s a biography of Francis “Peggy” Pegahmagabow, a First Nations soldier highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. It was interesting that Peggy’s Native “superstitions” and “magic” were scorned by the military, but during significant military action he was asked to control the weather. Despite the great respect he was shown for his bravery and skills during the war, Peggy struggled to settle in to home life afterward. He was denied loans to start a farm. He was badmouthed by an Indian agent who tried to turn his people against him. And he suffered from terrors induced by actions he’d experienced during the war.

Because it’s packed with a wealth of information and a thorough list of biographical references, the graphic novel is also a wonderful reference tool for those who want to research more. The graphic novel is an introduction to many Indigenous authors and I look forward to reading more of their work. THIS PLACE 150 YEARS RETOLD is available at bookstores and for request at your local library. If it isn’t stocked at your bookstore or your library, please request it. It’s an important addition for all high school and library collections. The stories in this collection are appropriate for ages 15+.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a review copy.

Here’s a short video from David Robertson, creator of “Peggy” about his story in the anthology.