Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
On a journey to uncover her family's story, Spotted Fawn travels through time and space to reclaim connection to ancestors, language, and the land--creating a path forward in this essential graphic novel.
In the dreamworld she bears witness to a mountain of buffalo skulls. They stand as a ghostly monument to the slaughter of the Plains bison to near extinction-- a key tactic to starve and contain the Indigenous People onto reservations. On this path, Spotted Fawn knows she must travel through her own family history to confront the harsh realities of the past and reignite her connection to her people and the land. Her darkroom becomes a portal, and her photographs allow her glimpses into the lives of her relatives over the course of four chapters of this book, which follow the phases of the moon. Time and space become unlocked and unfurl in front of her eyes. Guided by her ancestors, Spotted Fawn's travels through the past allow her to come into full face--like the moon itself.
Adapted from the acclaimed stop-motion animated film of the same name, written and directed by Amanda Strong, Four Faces of the Moon brings the oral and written history of the Michif, Cree, Nakoda and Anishinaabe Peoples and their cultural link to the buffalo alive on the page. Deeply resonant and beautifully rendered, this graphic novel retelling is essential reading.
Backmatter by Dr. Sherry Farrell-Racette (Michif), an associate professor of Native Studies and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Manitoba, provides information on Michif culture and history and the injustices of colonialism.
Synopsis
- Unique visuals: This is a groundbreaking project with stunning spreads adapted from award winning stop-motion animation film of same name. Art is all manipulated and modified stills from the film, that itself uses elaborate sets and puppetry.
- Creator on the rise: Amanda Strong is an up and coming Indigenous artist. She's the founder of of Spotted Fawn Productions, an animation and media-based studio that provides mentorship and training opportunities for emerging and diverse artists. Her films have screened at Cannes and TIFF and show in art galleries around the world. She is a 2020 Fellow of the Sundance Institute Native Filmmakers Lab.
- Own Voices: author is a member of the Michif Nation
- Additional content: The book includes a note from the author. Strong did a lot of research about family and their involvement in historical events like the Red River Rebellion, discovering connections to personal and political history later in life. Additional resources at the end of the book by Dr. Sherry Farrell-Racette (Michif), an associate professor of Native Studies and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Manitoba, provides information on Michif culture and history and the injustices of colonialism. Includes information on:
- Moon - cycles, symbols, cultural ties
- What is a Michif? What is a M tis
- Historical events
- Timeline