"We're dealing with a society of children": Cherie Dimaline meets Jully Black | Canada Reads 2018

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Jully Black and award-winning author Cherie Dimaline discuss her book 'The Marrow Thieves' and its themes of family, resilience, and hope. Cherie shares the inspiration behind the title, drawing from both personal experiences and Indigenous teachings. They also talk about the strange research Cherie conducted for her books, including visiting a life-size replica of Noah's Ark. Jully reflects on her connection to the book's characters, while both women highlight the importance of compassion, learning, and perseverance even in dark times.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jully Black introduces her soul sister, Cherie Dimaline, an award-winning author of *The Marrow Thieves*.
• 💼 Cherie shares that the book's title was inspired by a conversation with an Inuit elder, who taught her about compassion toward those who have lost their elders and wisdom.
• 👶 Cherie also mentions a conversation with a friend about pregnancy, which led to the metaphor of fetuses as 'marrow thieves' leeching vitamins from their mothers.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jully connects with *The Marrow Thieves* on a personal level, especially with themes of family, perseverance, and hope in the face of trials.
• 📚 Cherie is currently researching evangelical churches and revival tents for a new book, which led her to visit a life-size Noah's Ark in Kentucky.
• ⛪ Cherie describes the Noah's Ark experience as a unique attraction, complete with mannequins, animals, and a laser show.
• 📖 Jully joined *Canada Reads* to challenge herself by reading books outside of her usual choices and to rekindle the feeling of being a student.
• 💡 Jully expresses the joy of learning new perspectives and how reading for *Canada Reads* has positively impacted her.
• 🌍 Cherie hopes readers of *The Marrow Thieves* take away hope, even though the story is dark and apocalyptic, dealing with themes like the re-emergence of the residential school system.
• 💪 Cherie emphasizes that despite grim circumstances in the book, humanity is resilient and capable of finding strength and hope.

Q & A

What was the initial inspiration behind Cherie Dimaline's book title 'The Marrow Thieves'?

Cherie Dimaline was inspired by an Inuit elder's suggestion to show compassion for the people they were angry at, and later by a friend's description of a fetus as a 'marrow thief' during a conversation about the hardships of pregnancy.

How does Cherie Dimaline describe the society that the Indigenous community is dealing with?

Cherie describes the society as a group of 'children' who have lost their medicine people and teachings, leading to a society that can be brutal when left to its own devices.

What was the context in which the idea of 'marrow thieves' was introduced in the conversation?

The idea of 'marrow thieves' was introduced during a discussion between Cherie and a group of Indigenous women writers about the difficulties of pregnancy, where her friend compared the fetus's survival instincts to those of a thief.

What aspect of Cherie Dimaline's book did Jully Black connect with the most?

Jully Black connected with the story of family, the distinction between family and relatives, and the perseverance through trials and tribulations, finding hope in the characters and the narrative.

What was the strangest research Cherie Dimaline did for her book?

Cherie Dimaline visited a life-size Noah's Ark in Kentucky, which included replicas of Noah, his wife, and the animals, as well as a laser show, as part of her research for her book.

Why did Jully Black decide to participate in Canada Reads?

Jully Black decided to participate in Canada Reads to challenge herself to read不同类型的书籍 and to re-experience the learning process and growth she associated with being a student.

What impact did participating in Canada Reads have on Jully Black?

Participating in Canada Reads had a positive impact on Jully Black, exposing her to a variety of books she wouldn't have chosen herself and broadening her literary horizons.

What message does Cherie Dimaline hope readers take away from 'The Marrow Thieves'?

Cherie Dimaline hopes that readers take away a sense of hope from 'The Marrow Thieves', despite the book's dark and apocalyptic themes, showing that even in the worst circumstances, there is inherent goodness in people.

How does Cherie Dimaline describe the future depicted in 'The Marrow Thieves'?

Cherie Dimaline describes a future in 'The Marrow Thieves' that includes an apocalyptic setting with a re-emergence of the residential school system and people running for their lives, but ultimately, it is a story of strength and hope.

What was the significance of the life-size Noah's Ark visit for Cherie Dimaline's research?

The visit to the life-size Noah's Ark was significant for Cherie Dimaline's research as it provided her with firsthand experience of a setting that could inform her writing about evangelical churches, missionaries, and revival tents.