Inconvenient Skin / nayêhtâwan wasakay (IndigLits)

by Shane L. Koyczan, Joseph M. Sanchez (Illustrations), Jim Logan (Illustrations)

Inconvenient Skin challenges how reconciliation has become a contested buzzword filled with promises and good intentions but rarely any meaningful follow-through. While Canada's history is filled with darkness, these poems aim to unpack that history to clean the wounds so the nation can finally heal. Powerful and thought-provoking, this collection will draw you in and make you reconsider Canada's colonial legacy. The cover features the art of Kent Monkman, and the interior features work by Joseph Sanchez, a member of the Indian Group of Seven.

Genres: Poetry, Canada, Nonfiction, Childrens, Indigenous

80 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2019

About the author

Shane L. Koyczan is a Canadian poet and writer. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Koyczan grew up in Penticton, British Columbia. In 2000, he became the first Canadian to win the Individual Championship title at the US National Poetry Slam. Together with Mighty Mike McGee and C. R. Avery, he is the co-founder of spoken word, "talk rock" trio, Tons of Fun University (T.O.F.U.).

Koyczan performed a variation on his piece "We Are More" at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Reviews

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thought-provoking and hard hitting lines in this long poem. Complemented by the beautiful and powerful art included. Another piece of the reconciliation process that I think would be great for work in schools and with young people especially. Some quotes/samples below.

"history repeats itself / like someone not being listened to / like an entire people not being heard."

"it is not love / when an entire culture is told / stop whining / by a country still lining its pockets / with the profits of these broken promises"

"150 years / is just us putting birthday candles / on top of smallpox blankets, teen suicides / and missing murdered women"

"We can't spin our history / into something easy to accept because it isn't / it should never be / we are not free to shed our history / like an inconvenient skin" / "we are not free to turn our backs on the children /still swallowing the hollowness of poverty" "this nation is not so sturdy / that it can sustain the weight of this blind spot in our memory"

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Inconvenient Skin by Shane L. Koyczan through the AICL site. I was not sure what to expect when I chose to read the book. I ended up finding the spoken word recording of the book on Youtube. This picture book is meant for grades 10-12. The story seems to be a message to Canada about the past that the Indigenous people of Canada had to endure. The story mentions blankets infected with smallpox and its residential schools for First Nations children. The message questions how all the horrible things could happen when they were forcing religion on the Indigenous people that focused on love. The artwork was very moving in certain parts. There was an illustration referencing the molestation of the children that were taken to stay at the churches. This story and the artwork can lead to discussions about the Indigenous people’s relationship with the settlers/colonizers to integrate social sciences. Since the author performed spoken word with the book, it is possible it could lend to a poetry unit.

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a narrative makes you uncomfortable, then I think the story has achieved its purpose. To make the reader think, question and digest.

The 'words' by Shane L. Koyczan in Inconvenient Skin is infused and given added emphasis by the wealth of art from Indigenous artists such as Kent Monkman, Joseph Sanchez, Jim Logan, and Nadya Kwandibens.

Truth and Reconciliation is not a fleeting topic in Canada. History has painful truths and it takes courage to voice the truth.
"we can't spin our history... into something easy to accept because it isn't ... it should never be....we are not free to shed our history ... like an inconvenient skin"

The message is powerful and this is a book that will lead to a deeper comprehension for anyone seeking the truth.

Highly Recommended for every library.
FIVE STARS

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inconvenient Skin is a great book for MG/YA readers who are learning about Canada's treatment of Indigenous people throughout history and into the present, and it would work well as a companion piece in a broader lesson on the subject.

There's some great art from Indigenous artists that really add to the narrative and messages, and also provide a great sampling of modern Indigenous artwork. The poetry throughout the book helps to shape the story of this history and present and to encourage movements towards change. The poetry itself is good and makes for lovely reading, providing profound statements on a painful subject. The Cree translations appear to be quite thorough, and I imagine this would make for a good piece for kids learning to speak and read Cree.

Recommended.

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is amazing, and I appreciate that this is bilingual, but I'm not sure who the audience is. It's vague enough that you need some background knowledge to follow what the art and poetry is referring to, but it also doesn't go into a lot of depth or specifics. There are some good lines and great art, but I'm not sure how I would incorporate this into a class.

150 years
is just us putting birthday candles
on top of smallpox blankets, teen suicides
and missing murdered women

[Ada]

***who sucked me in***
Shawn The Book Maniac on YouTube in their [insert title and date]

There is this disconnect in my brain when I read poetry. Not that I don't feel but somehow poetry becomes this filter through which I can read about horrible things.

The subject matter and the art is about terrible things I can't read about. Not even in nonfiction although I'm getting better at that. But in poetry I can. It's not the same without knowing the history behind it but for me it's a good first step to learn more about people, their stories and their history.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful words and images exploring the colonization of Canada from the Indigenous perspective. 2017 was a polarizing year for Canada. A celebration of 150 years as a nation while we attempted to implement call to action changes from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report.
" To heal a wound you must first clean it...that is where we are right now: witnesses to the blood and pain".

[Bri Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful and heartwrenching artwork and writing. I've been a fan of Shane Koyczan's work for the last 15 years, and this is one of most evocative pieces of his I've encountered thus far. This should be mandatory reading in Canada.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library from the Truth and Reconciliation display, it is a powerful poem and has moving artwork. It might make you uncomfortable or upset to read but you should read it anyway. It may be short but it will stay with you long after you re done.

[HadiDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is not love
When an entire culture is told
Stop whining
By a country still lining its pockets
With the profits of these broken promises”

“Funny
How those standing up for water, the land
And everything that sustains us
Are told to stand aside
Are told to make way for progress”

[Rene Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, urgent, important. As the author states, “to heal a wound you must first clean it…” there is a cleansing in reading this and a call to do something to ensure these wounds don’t get inflicted again.

[Tammy Flanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to read this again.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful book.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard-hitting poem made stronger by the accompanying images. Only reason it's got 4 stars instead of 5 is the last line or so, which I found unclear so not as impactful as it might have been.

[Roxanne Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Shane. However I want to hear Shane say the words not read them myself. The whole Canadian residential school system is heartbreaking and some of the art in this book is hard to look at.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened and viewed this book on Youtube. Powerful words.

[Rebecca Plaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

With moving art and succinct words, this bilingual product of Canada refutes the happy sequcentennial story of that nation, and this one.

[Mieke Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books combines poetry and artwork in a very powerful way. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it. Shane Koyczan's poetry is complimented by incredible paintings and photography.