Author of Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance
Jesse Wente, a prominent Indigenous voice and CBC radio personality, explores the lies and myths that affect relations between white and Indigenous peoples and the power of narrative to emphasize truth over comfort.
A Globe & Mail "Best Book of the Year" and national bestseller, "Unreconciled" is part memoir, part manifesto—and a stirring call to arms to put truth over the flawed concept of reconciliation, with an aim to build a new, respectful relationship between the nation of Canada and Indigenous peoples.
Wente reveals the differences between Hollywood portrayals of Indigenous peoples and lived culture. Through the lens of art, pop culture, personal stories, and humour, he links his love of baseball and movies to such issues as cultural appropriation, Indigenous representation and identity, and Indigenous narrative sovereignty. Indeed, he argues that storytelling in all its forms is one of the best weapons for Indigenous peoples in the fight to reclaim their rightful place.
A Different Drummer Books will be onsite selling books for signing after the talk.
Presented in partnership with Penguin Random House
Jesse Wente is an Anishinaabe writer, broadcaster, and arts leader. Born and raised in Toronto, his family comes from Chicago and Genaabaajing Anishinaabek and he is a member of the Serpent River First Nation. Best known for more than two decades spent as a columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, he also worked at the Toronto International Film Festival for eleven years. In February 2018 he was named the first Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office. Wente was appointed Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2020, the only First Nations person ever to hold the position.
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