Born on the banks of the majestic Harricana River, in the Abitibi region of Quebec, young Dominique Rankin was intended to succeed his father as Hereditary Chief and Medicine Man. But colonial encroachment on Indigenous Lands and efforts by the Canadian government to assimilate Dominique's people radically changed the course of the boy's life. Torn away from his parents and his culture at a young age, he grew up in a boarding school for Indigenous youth--one of many such establishments operating within the notorious Canadian residential school system--before regaining his freedom and reconnecting with his people and his origins. In this memoir, the former Grand Chief of the Algonquin Nation bares all--the light and the dark alike--to share the wisdom of an Oral Tradition that dates back millennia, and to offer a vibrant testimony on respect, forgiveness, and healing. Known for his great sense of humour and boundless energy, former Algonquin Grand Chief Dominique Rankin has taken on another role these last years--that of spiritual leader in the Anicinape tradition. A seasoned leader, teacher, and communicator, he has participated in a number of commendable ventures, including museology projects, developing and protecting ancestral sites, and promoting the revival of Indigenous traditions. Journalist and apprentice Medicine Woman Marie-Josée Tardif has become well known in the media as a television and radio news anchor, and has worked closely with Vivre magazine for several years. Twice, in 2007 and again in 2015, she was presented a Peace Pipe by Algonquin Elders, a great gesture of recognition and respect. She has since devoted her efforts to accompanying those who wish to walk the path of self-knowledge.
