Gichigami Hearts: Stories and Histories from Misaabekong
By Linda LeGarde Grover
University of Minnesota Press, 2021. $14.95
Reviewed by Serenity Schoonover
Gichigami Hearts: Stories and Histories from Misaabekong is an eclectic memoir by Minnesota writer, Linda LeGarde Grover. Organized into four thematic sections, flash essays, re-telling of myths, poems and family photographs unveil a complex collage of stories that weave between Ojibwe history and the author’s family lore.
LeGarde Grover’s historical expertise shines as she explains the significance of 19th century federal treaties that forever altered her family, and countless others, as legislative precedents set into motion removals and disruptive relocations of Ojibwe communities onto reservations (73). She also shares personal insights regarding the influence of French and other European ancestry in many Ojibwe families (3), and, the horrifying legacy left by white supremacist policies that forced Ojibwe children into government boarding schools (25). Most informative is the author’s brief but powerful discussion regarding the ancestral migration of the Ojibwe people. Inspired by visions, the Ojibwe left the North Atlantic Coast for the Arrowhead region of Minnesota, specifically to present-day Duluth, or Misaabekong, known as “the place of the giants” for its impressive rock cliffs overlooking the shoreline of Lake Superior.
The inspiration behind Gichigami Hearts, of a modern-day life rooted in oral tradition and the memory of elders, deserves a wide readership. While the author’s emphasis on rumination feels like a missed opportunity, it is worth noting that narratives infused with nostalgia may not aways create the most compelling story arcs. However, given the captivating narratives found in LeGarde Grover’s Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year, it is surprising that Gichigami Hearts did not meet the same level of cultural impact. Nonetheless, I eagerly look forward to the author’s future work and hope it will capture the innovation and ingenuity that readers have come to expect from this award-winning author.
Serenity Schoonover has an MA in History, is a fellow with the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and teaches writing classes to adults and teens. She was recently selected to teach at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN. Her work has aired on National Public Radio and appeared in Women’s Independent Press, Cross-Country Skier, Bella Grace, CALYX, among others.