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Ojibway Tales
The Ojibway Indians' sense of humor sparkles through these stories set on the fictional Moose Meat Point Indian Reserve, connected by a dirt road to the town of Blunder Bay. If some of them seem "farfetched and even implausible," Basil L. Johnston writes, "it is simply because human beings very often act and conduct their affairs and those of others in an absurd manner."
These twenty-two stories were originally collected under the title Moose Meat and Wild Rice . Among the most memorable of the stories is "They Don't Want No Indians," in which all attempts are made to circumvent bureaucratic red tape and transport a dead Indian to his home for burial. One of the funniest is "Indian Moose Smart," which pits a moose in a lake against six Moose Meaters in two canoes. "If You Want to Play" and "Secular Revenge" are the result of misunderstanding or imperfect communication. Still other stories, like "What Is Sin?" and "The Kiss and the Moonshine," reveal the clash of different cultural approaches. All show the warm-heartedness and good will of the Ojibway Indians. If they are gently satirized, so are the whites who would change them, and with good reason. Government ineptitude and rigid piety are foisted on the Moose Meaters, who have only thirty thousand acres to move around in.
These twenty-two stories were originally collected under the title Moose Meat and Wild Rice . Among the most memorable of the stories is "They Don't Want No Indians," in which all attempts are made to circumvent bureaucratic red tape and transport a dead Indian to his home for burial. One of the funniest is "Indian Moose Smart," which pits a moose in a lake against six Moose Meaters in two canoes. "If You Want to Play" and "Secular Revenge" are the result of misunderstanding or imperfect communication. Still other stories, like "What Is Sin?" and "The Kiss and the Moonshine," reveal the clash of different cultural approaches. All show the warm-heartedness and good will of the Ojibway Indians. If they are gently satirized, so are the whites who would change them, and with good reason. Government ineptitude and rigid piety are foisted on the Moose Meaters, who have only thirty thousand acres to move around in.
- GenresNative American
188 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
About the author
Basil Johnston
29 books53 followersBasil H. Johnston (13 July 1929 to 8 September 2015) was a Canadian writer, storyteller, language teacher and scholar.
For his work in preserving Ojibwa language and culture, he received the Order of Ontario and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Toronto and Laurentian University. Basil also received the Aboriginal Achievement Award for Heritage and Spirituality.
(from Wikipedia)
For his work in preserving Ojibwa language and culture, he received the Order of Ontario and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Toronto and Laurentian University. Basil also received the Aboriginal Achievement Award for Heritage and Spirituality.
(from Wikipedia)
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September 27, 2022
22 Ojibwe short stories set in Ontario. The writing style is playful and lighthearted, much like "Indian School Days." Some stories will have you laughing, and some are appropriate for high school students. Although Johnston does caricature white people, priests, and ministers, I didn't feel he was unfair about it because he caricatures Ojibwe people just as much - if not more so. Mind you, these were written decades ago when people didn't have to be as politically correct and woke as they are today. While "Indian School Days" is probably the most nonpoliticized firsthand account of Indian residential school life you can find, these may be some of the most honest Ojibwe short stories that you can find. Basil Johnston is quickly becoming my favorite Canadian author.
Displaying 1 of 1 review