The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle Vol. 1
by Kent Monkman
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle (1)
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"From global art superstar Kent Monkman and his longtime collaborator Gisèle Gordon, a transformational work of imagined history that will remake readers' understanding of the land called North America. For decades, the singular and provocative paintings by Cree artist Kent Monkman have featured a recurring character--an alter ego of sorts, a shape-shifting, time-travelling elemental being named Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. Though we have glimpsed her across the years, and in countless show more canvases, it is finally time to hear her story, in her own words. And, in doing so, to hear the whole history of Turtle Island anew. The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island is a genre-demolishing work of genius, the imagined history of a legendary figure through which a profound truth emerges--a deeply Cree and gloriously queer understanding of our shared world, its past, and its possibilities. Volume one, which covers the time period from the creation of the universe to the confederation of Canada, follows Miss Chief as she moves through time, from a complex lived experience of Cree cosmology to the arrival of the first settlers, many of whom will be familiar to students of history. An open-hearted being, she tries to live among those settlers, and guide them to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and the world itself. As their numbers grow, though, so does conflict, and Miss Chief begins to understand that the challenges posed by the hordes of newly arrived Europeans will mean ever greater danger for her, her people, and, by extension, all of the world she cherishes. Blending history, fiction, and memoir in bold new ways, The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle are unlike anything published before. And in their power to reshape our shared understanding, they promise to change the way we see everything that lies ahead."-- show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Originally rated a 4.75 rounded down to 4.5 for LibraryThing
I could hardly put this book down! The first of two volumes in Monkman and Gordon's True History of Turtle Island series, I felt so strongly informed and amused and outraged and hopeful alongside Miss Chief every step of the way.
I think the world could heal a lot from literature from those who have been oppressed, especially Native and Indigenous literature. I felt even in just 250 pages (and the story itself is even less than that), Monkman, Gisele, and everyone who had a hand in making this book happen gave me so much knowledge of miskinâhk-oministik/Turtle Island. I highly suggest looking through all the glossary before reading (I made photocopies when flipping got tiring) show more as well as checking the supporting notes either alongside the story or after depending how you prefer to learn info. Skipping the notes at the end robs readers of so much extra context and history that was fascinating to learn.
I also think readers should note that most terms are translated on the page, but the book does expect you to memorize some of the basic or common terms in Plains Cree Y Dialect such as nêhiyaw/nêhiyawak (Cree people), miskinâhk-oministik (Turtle Island [the continent of North America]), askiy (earth, the world), etc. I was delighted looking through the glossary again how easy it seemed to pick up different word structures and grammar concepts and would love to learn more about the history and structure of the nêhiyawêwin/language of the Plains Cree people if they share with outsiders.
I only bumped off a half star rating because there were a few instances of tropes I can never get past easily;that of age gaps between a mortal/immortal or long-lived creature, between humans/animals even though the animals are sentient/consenting (or the human can shape-shift into said animal), and one painting with the word "rape" in the title in regards to the mortal/immortal age-gap. I don't think by any means Miss Chief or the others with her actually raped anyone, I imagine the title was a bit satirical as it was referencing Miss Chief and the others teaching a white young adult 18 year-old the joys of sex, but it still made me uncomfortable. There was also comments made by older women about wanting young "meat" that felt uncomfortable again with the age-gap implications, but outside of those instances I still absolutely loved this book and I can definitely understand a lot of cultures do this in various folklore.
Outside of that, Miss Chief was such a loveable character and I loved the way that Monkman's art and the Plains Cree language was blended into the story. Checking translations I'd forgotten took quite a bit of time which made the pace slower, but I think this is certainly a book to take your time with and absorb at a slow pace so that everything really sinks in and hits you hard. Be prepared for quite a bit of sexual content and a heaping dose of the best history lesson of Turtle Island you never knew you needed in this amazingly powerful, genre-bending series. I can't wait to start Vol. 2! show less
I could hardly put this book down! The first of two volumes in Monkman and Gordon's True History of Turtle Island series, I felt so strongly informed and amused and outraged and hopeful alongside Miss Chief every step of the way.
I think the world could heal a lot from literature from those who have been oppressed, especially Native and Indigenous literature. I felt even in just 250 pages (and the story itself is even less than that), Monkman, Gisele, and everyone who had a hand in making this book happen gave me so much knowledge of miskinâhk-oministik/Turtle Island. I highly suggest looking through all the glossary before reading (I made photocopies when flipping got tiring) show more as well as checking the supporting notes either alongside the story or after depending how you prefer to learn info. Skipping the notes at the end robs readers of so much extra context and history that was fascinating to learn.
I also think readers should note that most terms are translated on the page, but the book does expect you to memorize some of the basic or common terms in Plains Cree Y Dialect such as nêhiyaw/nêhiyawak (Cree people), miskinâhk-oministik (Turtle Island [the continent of North America]), askiy (earth, the world), etc. I was delighted looking through the glossary again how easy it seemed to pick up different word structures and grammar concepts and would love to learn more about the history and structure of the nêhiyawêwin/language of the Plains Cree people if they share with outsiders.
I only bumped off a half star rating because there were a few instances of tropes I can never get past easily;
Outside of that, Miss Chief was such a loveable character and I loved the way that Monkman's art and the Plains Cree language was blended into the story. Checking translations I'd forgotten took quite a bit of time which made the pace slower, but I think this is certainly a book to take your time with and absorb at a slow pace so that everything really sinks in and hits you hard. Be prepared for quite a bit of sexual content and a heaping dose of the best history lesson of Turtle Island you never knew you needed in this amazingly powerful, genre-bending series. I can't wait to start Vol. 2! show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle Vol. 1
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- Members
- 54
- Popularity
- 562,386
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
