Nínem

Author Sasha Eugene saw her first sunrise in Invermere, British Columbia. Her first gifted home was to the Sexwepmec’u’lecw. By blood she is Kinbasket, Secwepemc, and Russian. In the early 2000’s she moved to her second gifted home in Siksika, Alberta. Sasha enjoys being out in creation with her seven year old son. They practice hunting, berry picking, gathering traditional medicine, dancing, and playing lahal. Growing up she was fortunate to have many teachers and supporters to help teach and guide her along the Red Road. Sasha is grateful to have the chance to learn and practice the language of her two homes, Secwépemctsín and Siksiká.

This poetry collection walks us through a battle with grief and depression. Over the years grief and all the stages that accompany it have been no stranger to the author. Nínem is based on the author’s heart wrenching journey. Words strung together to portray the most somber times in the author’s life. Times when all the author had was words. They come together beautifully to share heartache, anger, and death. Throughout you can feel the diverse levels of emotions bringing you on a roller coaster of emotions leading you back to hope and love.

We offer this book as an acknowledgement that Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are foundational to outdoor learning, and in order to engage with this, and move towards reconciliation, we need to absorb the truth.