Kwändǖr

What keywords came to mind reading this book? culture, heritage, community, language, teaching, learning, colonization, the land, art, and sovereignty.

The summary is as follows "Indigenous Voices Award winner Cole Pauls returns with a robust collection of stories that celebrate the cultural practices and experiences of Dene and Arctic peoples Gathering Pauls’s comics from magazines, comic festivals and zine making workshops, these comics are his most personal work yet. You’ll learn stories about the author’s family, racism and identity, Yukon history, winter activities, Southern Tutchone language lessons and cultural practices. Have you ever wanted to learn how to Knuckle Hop? or to acknowledge and respect the Indigenous land you’re on? Or how to be an ally to Indigenous people? Well, gather around and hear this Kwändǖr!"

Much like the rest of his work that has been published so far, rather then being a straight forward graphic novel Kwändǖr is a collection of previously published material. Which isn't always my favourite thing, but is sometimes necessary to make sure that material continues to be available and perhaps even more widely so. I also felt like once I closed the book I wasn't left with any strong feeling that anything was missing. Although that is a pretty personal judgement. 

It is definitely a window into what makes Cole Pauls Cole Pauls. Which he can certainly describe better then I can, so pulling a bit from his afterword "I grew up in a communite where skidoos, moose meeat, and driving up the highway were a normal thing. I never realized how special my childhood was until I moved to Vancouver and discovered how different my upbringing was from everyone else. I hope this book Reflects that.

Even though I drew these stories, I know they are not mine. They are my community's stories, they are my family and friend's stories, they are my collaborator's stories, and they are stories for you to tell each other."

Looking at representation. Obviously this is a very personal work, which often limits the amount of diversity that ends up being included.

That said, the issue of race and the colonialist idea of blood quantum are explored through Pauls own experience with people assuming he is appropriating the culture he participates in.

Gender did see some diversity, although none explicitly labeled as outside the binary. 

And while none heterosexualness didn't come up, neither really did heterosexuality really. So it all seemed to even out in the end.

Class felt a bit less highlighted, although it continues to be impossible to ignore Pauls' grungey punk roots - in the best way of course.

Thoughts on disability and ability were the most lacking, although not unusually so.

To conclude, a collection that goes beyond the 101 and in a way that is highly personal. I look forward to picking up even more of Pauls work in the future. Five stars!