Book review: The Reason You Walk

Book review: The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew (Penguin Group, 2015) (5/5 stars)

   This is not just an autobiography of the well-known Manitoban political leader and current premier. It is also a tribute to his father, to the rest of his family, to his ancestors, and to the members of his Indigenous community. It is an homage to all those who have persisted in preserving their ancestral wisdom and spiritual traditions in the face of the pernicious racism that to this day still casts its shadow over all Indigenous lives. This is one of the books I highly recommend for anyone seeking a better understanding of Indigenous history and culture.
   The title refers to  an Anishinaabe ceremonial walking song. It is easy to imagine Anishinaabe people singing this as they were being driven off their traditional lands by heartless European invaders. The English version below is a translation by Wab's father.
   There is a constant argument over what does and does not constitute scripture, but if anything qualifies as inspired writing, this certainly does:

I am the reason you walk.
I created you so that you might walk this earth.

I am the reason you walk.
I gave you motivation
so you would continue to walk
even when the path became difficult,
even seemingly impossible.

I am the reason you walk.
I animated you
with that driving force called love,
which compelled you to help others
who had forgotten they were brothers and sisters
to take steps back toward one another.

I am the reason you walk,
for I am calling you home.
I am the destination at the end of your life
toward which you are walking.
Walk home to me on that everlasting road.