Road Allowance Era

Is enthralled the correct word when describing such a dark chapter in Mtis dispossession, along the road allowances in the western prairies? Or is enraging more apt? Or maybe brilliant blinding beauty? Because that's what Vermette has achieved here. Even as the graphic novel closed, I was reflecting on this staggering and respectful work. A swell in my chest, a pride in my spirit; you'll feel the strength of our people, the Free People, the Otipemisiwak, against the injustice of Canadian imperialism in the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries. -- Jesse Thistle This fourth volume in the A Girl Called Echo series rounds out the history of Mtis dispossession from their land and subsequent social marginalization brilliantly. While dealing with the hard issues of colonialism, Vermette sensitively points to the resilience, determination, and power of Mtis people. In Road Allowance Era, the stories of Ste. Madeleine and Rooster Town take their place alongside the more prominent stories of Mtis nationalism situating the power of Mtis family as the source of their survival. -- Brenda Macdougall, University of Ottawa Among CBC Books 22 Canadian comics to watch for in spring 2021 * CBC Books * Brilliantly mixes the portrait of a contemporary teen named Echo...with a time travelling adventure that takes her back to four key moments in the history of her people. Beautifully illustrated..., this concluding book offers a heart-wrenching look at how appallingly the Mtis were treated.... -- Jeffrey Canton * The Globe and Mail * Among The Globe and Mail's Spring break 2021 reading list: 15 new books for kids and young adults * The Globe and Mail * Among Penn GSEs Best Books for Young Readers 2021 list * Penn GSE * This series is relatable for many young readers faced with the same situations of fitting in, popularity, connection and finding their place in the world. These volumes draw out the realities of many Mtis who find their way home by finding strength and pride in their histories. * The Ormsby Review * Highly Recommended! -- Jean Mendoza * American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) * Among CBC Books Best Canadian Comics of 2021 * CBC Books *

katherena vermette (she/her/hers) is a Red River Mtis (Michif) writer from Treaty 1 territory, the heart of the Mtis Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2013, her first book, North End Love Songs (The Muses Company) won the Governor Generals Literary Award for Poetry. Since then, her work has garnered awards and critical accolades across genres. Her novels The Break (House of Anansi) and The Strangers (Hamish Hamilton) were both national best sellers and won multiple literary awards. She is the author of numerous other bestselling titles, including the A Girl Called Echo series (HighWater Press) and the Seven Teachings Stories series (HighWater Press). Scott B. Henderson (he/him) is a freelance illustrator, whose reputation for cultural sensitivity and an openness to listen and learn has garnered a large body of work in collaboration with Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ communities. His work spans several critically acclaimed graphic novels, including 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga (Indigenous history & Residential Schools); A Girl Called Echo series (Mtis history); A Blanket of Butterflies (2016 Eisner Nomination); a short story in Marvel Voices: Pride #1 (2022); and the post-apocalypse graphic novel, Last Breeds (fall 2024). Scott is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. He resides in Winnipeg with his partner. Since 1998, Donovan Yaciuk (he/him/his) has coloured books published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse comics, and HighWater Press including the A Girl Called Echo and The Reckoner Rises series, as well as select stories in This Place: 150 Years Retold. Donovan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Manitoba and began his career as a part of the legendary, now-defunct Digital Chameleon colouring studio. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with his wife and two daughters.