Content warning: mention of residential schools, COVID-19 related death
Title: Call me Indian
Author: Fred Saskamoose
Age Range: 14+
Length: 288 pages
Content warnings: violence, residential schools, racism, abuse
As the back to school season begins and we gain the anticipation of another year of learning, an exceptional novel comes to my mind, "Call Me Indian” is one of the most profound autobiographies written about an athlete. Fred Sasakamoose wrote “Call me Indian”, to document his experiences as the first treaty Indigenous person to play in the NHL. His participation in the league was extraordinarily significant, considering it occurred before Indigenous peoples obtained the right to vote in Canada. Throughout his traumatic experiences in the residential school system, hockey quickly became his only flicker of hope. His sheer determination and resilience lead him to becoming a member of the Chicago Black Hawks despite the severe brutality he faced through the residential school system. In this memoir, Sasakamoose recounts the ways in which his culture and family were torn from him through the system and the many personal traumas that continued to follow him throughout his professional career. However, his story doesn’t end with his hockey career - Sasakamoose later established hockey initiatives for Indigenous youth, and dedicated years of service to his community as a Chief, Band Councillor, and Elder. “Call me Indian” is a story of perseverance, grit and the significance of cultural identity. Unfortunately, Sasakamoose passed away in 2020 after being affected by COVID-19. To honor his story and achievements, the city of Saskatoon dedicated May 18th as Sasakamoose Day.
Author: Maya Kaur, ITMP Blog Writer
Image Credits: Matthew Flute (cover design) and Jason Franson (cover image) via Penguin Random House Canada
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