"Never let anything or anyone stop you from following where your Spirit says it belongs…"Spirit exists in everything on Mother Earth. If we are open to it, Spirit may guide us through even the darkest of moments, to experience the illumination of healing and connection. In this innovative blend of poetry and story, Ojibway and Mohawk Elder Dawn Smoke offers readers to share in all that lives in her heart, mind, and soul. With unwavering honesty, Dawn shares her life-story, and her passionate words of protection for Mother Earth and her people, while advocating against the ongoing violence faced by the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. As a young girl confronted with the loneliness, anger and pain of being scooped from her birth family, Dawn courageously discovers her truth and the path towards healing. Reclaiming what was taken is not an easy feat, yet in doing so, Dawn powerfully reminds us of the Spirit in all around us, and the importance of community—of the family and friends that fill up all the empty corners of life. Medicine Wheel Publishing is committed to sharing diverse voices and perspectives, creating a platform for stories that celebrate Indigenous cultures and inspire understanding and respect among readers of all ages.
