Johnson is a Cree living in northern Saskatchewan. This book takes place in the future when global warming has pushed most people out of southern latitudes, and when agricultural systems are collapsing due to genetic modification and pesticide use.
It is a bit of a preachy book, a book of ideas more than of characters, but Johnson explores and contrasts different world views in an effective way. The main groups/views within the book are: corporate consumer culture; an isolated native band living a traditional way of life; a self-contained community outside the main town living communally. Issues discussed include wealth disparity, climate disaster, justice system, sustainable agriculture, native spirituality and culture, consumerism as madness.
A very interesting section at the end has a former radical protestor discussing the uselessness of protest. Some good quotes:
"Protesting against war is like standing in front of a mental hospital with a sign that says, "Stop being insane" p. 273
"What about the environment? Don't you think that is something worth protesting for?
..."If we cannot raise our level of sanity to the point that we care about other humans, about our own species, we will never learn to care about all the other species we share the planet with." p. 274
An author with some provocative ideas.
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