By Tiffany Miller
I didn’t know what a trade nonfiction piece of work by Leanne Betasamosake would be like, having been introduced to her in academic literature, but it blew my expectations out of the water and has become a treasured, transformative piece of art that will remain on my shelf. I’m not really a person who likes to read anything more than once and likewise, I also don’t collect books—I like to read them and then give them away. However, there is always an exception to every rule and Noopiming is a book that will eternally have a place on my bookshelf, and I plan to read it this fall for the 3rd time.
This story is circular, which means it can be started at any point in the book, not just read traditionally from page one to the end. This book is about seven characters/spirits/entities navigating life in seven various colonized spaces. Noopiming challenges settler society in every way, especially in the way we tell and interpret stories; the ones we tell ourselves and about others. As a philosopher, lifelong learner, anti-racist, Indigenous woman this book warms my heart in so many ways. I love the way this book humorously pokes fun and the ridiculousness of colonialism and settler society. I love the way it shows kindness, humility, and community in the characters. But most of all, I like that every time I read this book I see a new perspective, learn something about the world I’m living in, and learn something about myself.
I think it’s also important to note that Leanne has a spoken word album called Theory of Ice that accompanies the book and one-stop motion video titled “How to Steal a Canoe” and animation born and bred out of parts of this story. I recommend this book to anyone with an inquiring mind and open heart. Furthermore, I would encourage any readers to listen to this Noopiming lecture on YouTube by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson talking about the book, because I guarantee after you listen to her speak, you will want to read it again and again and again.