“A bold and brilliant new indigenous voice in contemporary literature makes her American debut with this kinetic, imaginative, and sensuous fable inspired by the traditional Canadian Métis legend of the Rogarou—a werewolf-like creature that haunts the roads and woods of native people’s communities.” From Harper Collins.
This episode begins quietly, with the Spoilers in a contemplative mode, as they feel their way through the dark forest of Dimaline’s intriguing new novel about a young Métis woman’s search for her missing husband. White occasionally pausing to ponder theoretical subjects such as human morality, culture, belief, and the architecture of consciousness, the spoilers do their best to figure out the mysterious rougarou, bone salt, where Victor is, and the post-booty-call rustle at the door that concludes the book. The end result is an always intriguing, increasingly hilarious exploration of connectedness, identity, and the wildness inside us all (we see you, Cecile).
Mentioned in the Episode
Resources on Métis history and culture
- Angela Carter, The Bloody Chamber
- Fatal Attraction (Staring Glen Close — NOT SHARON STONE)
- Neil Gaiman, American Gods
- Métis Nation of Ontario
- Archival Collection of primary sources from the Virtual Métis Museum
- Métis Politics and Governance in Canada By Kelly Saunders and Janique Dubois
- The North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, the Métis Nation by Jean Teillet
- Our Home on Native Land (From web site: This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question.)
- A broad overview of Métis language and culture, including a short explanation about “le rou garou”, an important character/legend in Empire of Wild
What we're reading, watching, listening to, eating, etc:
- Adriana — Grey’s Anatomy (new season)
- Todd — The Wire; S.A. Cosby, Blacktop Wasteland
- Crystal — Nicole Dennis-Benn, Patsy
- Anita — Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life
