One Native Life

By: Richard Wagamese

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

One Native Life is a look back down the road Richard Wagamese has traveled - from childhood abuse to adult alcoholism - in reclaiming his identity. It's about what he has learned as a human being, a man, and an Ojibway in his 52 years on Earth.

Whether he's writing about playing baseball, running away with the circus, making bannock, or attending a sacred bundle ceremony, these are stories told in a healing spirit. Through them, Wagamese reveals to listeners how to appreciate life for the journey it is.

©2009 Richard Wagamese (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Adopted man's memoir. He reclaims his Ojibwa s

I really liked this book. I learned a lot. I really don't know much about the treatment of First People in Canada except for the horrible stories of the children raised in boarding schools and the secret graves on school grounds. The author of this book was removed from his parents (who were boarding school praised alcoholics. The author was placed in (white) foster care and adopted by a white family. He struggled to learn about his trueheritage. He read and sought out native people towhom he could emu
ate and learn.His description of his transformation to an Ojibwa tribesman is practically poetic. The narrator is excellent! it seemed like the writer was yelling us his story. I intend to read more of this author.

Inspiring

This performance was excellent.
I love the way the author explains his journey to find himself, good and awful, by going into little, important details about experiences. Throughout this book, he isn't just explaining his rich history and culture as a Native American, but as a human and how we all are connected, no matter what race. It's truly beautiful.

An excellent work

Very much worth one’s time. I thought the narrator was excellent. Wonderful vignettes that illuminate the author’s life but are universal in such a way that you can incorporate his wisdom into your own life.

Don’t Normally do this

I don’t usually write reviews, there are plenty of critics who write them. Or, people with writing skills who far surpass mine. This book was absolutely beautiful, even in the sad parts. I will be purchasing paperback copies for the family members I like, as birthday presents.

Fantastic First Nations Memoir

Like his One Story, One Song book, this is a collection of the author's anecdotes and observations which span the course of his life. One Native Life was written three years after One Story, One Song so I listened to them backwards. Richard Wagamese was a first nations author from Ontario. Sadly, he died in 2017 at the young age of 61.

The sixty-four chapters are divided in to four groups by subject matter: Ahki (Earth), Ishskwaday (Fire), Nibi (Water), and Ishpiming (Universe). There is a minute long introduction to each group explaining the significance of each title and chapters are all pretty short. I listened on Audible and most of them were about three to five minutes long.

Richard is a great storyteller. There is some overlap with One Story, One Song but not much. One Story, One Song covered more of his later years while One Native Life covered more of his youth and young adult life. Much of this was terribly depressing as life threw a lot of bad stuff at him during his difficult childhood. In this memoir some highlights for me were his meeting with Muhammad Ali, his appreciation of John Lennon, and his private off-the-record one-on-one conversation with Johnny Cash while working in the press which was as great as you would think it would be. He talks more baseball (yay) and nature. His return to the remote forested camp area where he spent his early years wrapped this collection up and was the highlight of the book I thought.

The Audible narration was again by the actor Christian Baskous. His very distinct voice and measured manner of speaking fit the tone of most of the stories really well.

Superb Writing and Narration

Rich, beautiful wisdom spun with the magic of a true, great storyteller. Highly recommended in every way!

Excelent story!

Really like it. Muy buena historia, recomendado. Narrator's voice complemented the story. Will look for more books from the author.

Excellent

Great life description. alot one can relate to i.e. PTSD. Not boring and an easy read.

A Peek Into A Piece of History

A well told story left to us by Mr. Wagamese and Narrated very well

I loved this

I LOVED this. Wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Could have listened to this if it was 2x as long. Absolutely loved it.