Native Canadiana: Songs from the Urban Rez

David R. Hutchinson, a professor in the Teacher Education Program at the
Arctic College in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has relocated to
Manitoba’s Peguis Reserve.

These two collections of poetry by Gregory Scofield represent a strong
contribution to the growing pool of contemporary aboriginal writing in
Canada. Many of the poems are centred on poignant childhood memories of
his mother’s abusive treatment at the hands of his stepfather. Other
poems speak to Scofield’s struggle to develop a meaningful bicultural
identity. Still others emphasize such themes as homosexuality and drug
and alcohol addiction. In the poems, Scofield combines Cree, English,
and “English as a Second Dialect” to create a unique cross-cultural
poetic form.

Scofield’s narrative and autobiographical poems are considerably more
successful than his attempts at political satire and sardonic social
commentary. Nonetheless, these poems carry a great deal of power and
substance. They will have particular resonance for young aboriginal
people who share Scofield’s perspective, and who require a healthy
outlet for feelings of anger, guilt, grief, sadness, and, conversely,
joy and love. I would recommend these collections to secondary and
postsecondary educators who strive to include the works of aboriginal
writers in their curriculums.