Conference ssdevo::native_americans

*Song of Rita Joe:  Autobiography of a Mi'kmaq Poet* (University of 
Nebraska Press, 1996) is an eloquent, moving story of this writer's life, 
growing up Mi'kmaq in the Canadian Maritimes, enduring all manner of 
hardships, eventually becoming an internationally acclaimed poet and 
spokeswoman for her people and their heritage.  

From the book's blurb:  "Straight from her heart, Rite Joe tells the story 
of her remarkable life: her tumultuous childhood in foster homes, education 
in an Indian residential school, turbulent marriage and daily struggles 
with prejudice, sexism and poverty....[her] timely message of 'gentle 
persuasion' has enriched the life of a nation."

It's available in paperback - I found it in the public library in Belmont, MA.

There's also a brief but very nice introduction by Ruth Holmes Whitehead,
who is an assistant curator at the Nova Scotia Museum and a longtime friend
of Rita Joe. 

Dorian