The Chippewas of Georgina Island

In this unique book, John Steckley presents stories of the Chippewas of Georgina Island. For centuries, the people have lived not only on Georgina Island but also on Snake Island, another, smaller island located in Lake Simcoe. There they have educated their children, tended crops, gathered medicinal herbs, served in wartime, and built thriving communities. Drawing on a wealth of recorded stories as well as interviews with Elders, Steckley recounts the coming of the people to the islands, their farming ventures, their interactions with the often paternalistic representatives of the federal government, and their fight for self-government. Dozens of photographs bring the history of the people to life, and their stories-often leavened with flashes of humour-demonstrate the community's great and enduring vitality. As ­Steckley notes, "A people's true character comes out in its stories."