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

CBC

21 Mar 201805:28

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Interview Insights on 'The Marrow Thieves'

In this engaging conversation, Jully Black, a renowned personality, interviews Cherie Dimaline, an award-winning author, about her book 'The Marrow Thieves'. The discussion begins with a light-hearted exchange about carrying Cherie's wisdom in a purse, symbolizing the value of her insights. Cherie shares the profound origin of her book's title, stemming from a conversation with an Inuit elder who suggested showing compassion to those causing injustice, as they are likened to lost children due to the historical eradication of their cultural elders. This theme resonates with the book's exploration of societal collapse and the human capacity for brutality and hope. The interview also touches on the personal connections Jully makes with the book's characters, drawing parallels to her own family and friends, and the universal theme of perseverance through trials.

05:02

🔍 Unconventional Research and Literary Impact

The second part of the dialogue delves into Cherie Dimaline's research process for her current book, which includes a visit to a life-size Noah's Ark replica in Kentucky. This unusual research site, complete with a laser show, highlights the author's commitment to immersive and detailed storytelling. The conversation shifts to Jully's experience with Canada Reads, a program that challenged her to expand her literary horizons beyond her usual preferences. The segment concludes with Cherie's hope for her readers to derive hope from 'The Marrow Thieves', despite its dark and apocalyptic themes, emphasizing the enduring human spirit even in dire circumstances.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Compassion

Compassion refers to a deep awareness of the suffering of others coupled with the desire to alleviate it. In the video, Cherie Dimaline recounts an encounter with an Inuit elder who challenged her and her peers to show compassion even to those they were angry at. This concept is pivotal as it underpins the theme of understanding and forgiveness, suggesting that even those who have caused harm may be acting out of their own pain or lack of guidance.

💡Indigenous

Indigenous refers to the original inhabitants of a land or their descendants. The video script features discussions about Indigenous experiences, highlighting the unique cultural and historical perspectives of these communities. Cherie Dimaline, as an Indigenous author, weaves her heritage into her work, which is evident in the themes and characters of her book 'The Marrow Thieves'.

💡Marrow Thieves

The term 'Marrow Thieves' is the title of Cherie Dimaline's book and metaphorically represents the exploitation or extraction of something vital. In the context of the book, it refers to a dystopian future where individuals are after the marrow of Indigenous people, who possess the ability to dream. This concept is central to the narrative, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for cultural preservation and the resilience of Indigenous peoples.

💡Residential School System

The residential school system refers to the institutions established by colonial governments and religious organizations to assimilate Indigenous children into dominant cultures. In the video, Cherie mentions the re-emergence of this system in her book as a dark, apocalyptic element, reflecting the historical trauma and ongoing impact on Indigenous communities.

💡Hope

Hope is a central theme in the video, as Cherie Dimaline expresses her desire for readers to take away a sense of hope from her book, despite its dark and apocalyptic setting. The presence of hope amidst adversity is a powerful message, suggesting that even in the face of great challenges, there is potential for resilience and positive change.

💡Evangelical Churches

Evangelical Churches are a branch of Protestant Christianity known for their emphasis on the conversion of non-believers and the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In the script, Cherie Dimaline discusses her research into these churches for her book, indicating their role in the narrative and possibly as a reflection of the cultural and religious tensions within the story.

💡Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark is a biblical story where God instructs Noah to build an ark to save his family and animals from a great flood. In the video, Cherie recounts her visit to a life-size replica of Noah's Ark, which she visited for research. This anecdote serves to illustrate the lengths authors will go to for authenticity in their work and adds a humorous and light-hearted element to the conversation.

💡Canada Reads

Canada Reads is a Canadian literary competition where panelists defend books they believe all Canadians should read. Jully Black's participation in Canada Reads is mentioned as a turning point in her reading habits, leading her to explore a wider range of literature and learn from diverse perspectives, which is a testament to the power of literature to broaden one's horizons.

💡Apocalyptic

Apocalyptic describes a vision of the end of the world or a final catastrophic event. Cherie Dimaline's book is described as having apocalyptic elements, which serve to heighten the stakes within the narrative and provide a backdrop against which themes of survival, hope, and the human spirit are explored.

💡Family vs Relatives

The distinction between family and relatives is a recurring theme in the video. Jully Black discusses how the book resonated with her because of its portrayal of the dynamics between family members and the broader concept of kinship. This theme is explored through the relationships and interactions of the characters, highlighting the complexities and nuances of familial bonds.

Highlights

Jully Black expresses a desire to carry Cherie Dimaline in her purse for guidance.

Cherie Dimaline humorously agrees to 'live in Jully's purse', referencing a Louis Vuitton bag.

Jully introduces Cherie as a prolific writer and award-winning author of 'The Marrow Thieves'.

Cherie shares a story about an Inuit elder teaching the importance of compassion towards those one is angry with.

The concept of 'marrow thieves' is born from a conversation about the survival instincts of a fetus.

Jully connects with the story of family and perseverance in 'The Marrow Thieves'.

Cherie discusses the process of character development and how real people inspire her characters.

Cherie recounts researching for a book by visiting a life-size Noah's Ark in Kentucky.

Jully is intrigued by the idea of a Noah's Ark with a laser show and expresses a desire to visit.

Jully explains her decision to participate in Canada Reads to broaden her reading horizons.

Cherie hopes readers find hope in 'The Marrow Thieves' despite its dark and apocalyptic themes.

Cherie discusses the importance of showing compassion even in the face of historical and societal injustices.

Jully reflects on the impact of participating in Canada Reads and how it has changed her as a reader.

Cherie shares her unique research methods, including visiting evangelical churches and revival tents.

The conversation highlights the theme of hope and resilience in Indigenous literature.

Jully and Cherie discuss the importance of representation and diversity in literature.