Saturday, June 26, 2021

Five on Friday - June 26, 2021 ~ Fully Vaccinated, New Hair, Indigenous Peoples Day & Books, Summer, and Declutter

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you had a great week - it was a long week here, but happy for the weekend and it should be a good one! 

ONE 

Some books featured were received as review copies - this post contains affiliate links

This week I got my second Covid-19 vaccine - I'm doubled up on Pfizer and just awaiting my two weeks for it to kick in! I'm glad we were able to get number 2 before Summer time and am looking forward to Summer activities! I will be honest, the second one was a little rougher than the first - I had a fever and chills for about a day and a half the next day and was pretty tired, but still happy to have it done!

TWO

Also, did notice the new dark hair in my picture?! I forgot to take a picture of it freshly done, but I haven't cut or dyed my hair since October or November and I finally went to get it done! Only cut off an inch or so, but went back to the dark shade that I love and feeling refreshed for Summer! 

THREE


Ugh, the most devastating new this weeks of 750+ more unmarked graves at another residential school this week. Earlier this week it was National Indigenous Peoples Day and I shared a bunch of books, and honestly, now is the time to educate yourselves on what has been going on. Also, not all of these books are on residential schools, because some of my favourite indigenous authors write fiction and fantasy too! 

Some books by indigenous authors/on indigenous issues that I recommend are:
  • The Education of Augie Merasty by Joseph Auguste Merasty ~ a memoir of residential school and life afterwards 
  • Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline ~ an urban fantasy novel inspired by a traditional Metis story of the Rogarou - one of my best books of 2020! 
  • Son of Trickster by Eden Robinson ~ described as a "coming-of-age novel, in which everyday teen existence meets Indigenous beliefs, crazy family dynamics and cannibalistic river otters" - on my TBR this Summer! 
  • Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq ~ described as "veering back and forth between the grittiest features of a small arctic town, the electrifying proximity of the world of animals, and ravishing world of myth" - this sounds so good! 
  • For Joshua by Richard Wagamese ~ true story of letters on life to the authors estranged son 
  • Carrying the Burden of Peace by Sam Mckegney ~ a critical examination of indigenous masculinities 
  • The Break by Katherena Vermette ~ this is a fictional story of everyone connected to a specific crime and it reads like it is real - one of the best written books I've ever read! 
  • Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King ~ described as "the story of five Blackfoot Indians whose existences connect in ways that are at once coincidental, comical and cosmic" - this author has been high on my TBR list! 
  • Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin ~ a memoir of the author's time at a residential school 
  • Sugar Falls by David A. Robertson ~ a graphic novel inspired by Betty Ross's time at a residential school 
  • Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga ~ a look at the school system in Northern Ontario and of 7 teens who lost their lives while having to leave the reservation for high school 
  • Red River Girl by Joanna Jolly ~ a look in to the death of a teenage girl in Winnipeg and the following police investigation 
  • Starlight Tour by Susanne Reber ~ an account of the death of a teenage boy in Saskatchewan, police violence, and "starlight tours" where people are driven outside of a city and dropped off to walk home 
  • The Outside Circle by Patti LaBoucane-Benson ~ a graphic novel about a young indigenous man overcoming his past through cultural healing - inspired by a healing lodge in Alberta 
  • A if for Anemone by Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd ~ a kid's alphabet picture book with indigenous art and West Coast inspiration 
There are so many more - but if you are looking to pick up more about indigenous issues or you just want to support more indigenous authors, this is a great starting point! 

FOUR 



Happy first week of Summer! It looks like we are going to welcome in some Summer weather right away, it's supposed to by over 30 degrees all weekend, but hit 37 and 38 during the week this week - yikes, we usually see that one or two days in August, but it is going to be melting out there! 

FIVE 


This month was a big declutter - some expired sunscreens, older nail polishes that I just don't have room for and don't use, and an older foundation that is discontinued. Nothing crazy or bad, just all older stuff! 

I hope you all have a great weekend! 

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