The Shagganappi

In the opening pages, a vivid portrait emerges of Tekahionwake, a Mohawk woman whose poise bridges two worlds. She is introduced at a private art viewing, where her keen eye and fierce pride instantly draw the narrator into a friendship that spans decades. Her insistence on being remembered by her own name, not a borrowed one, sets a tone of cultural affirmation that runs through the whole work.

The collection unfolds as a series of lyrical sketches that celebrate the spirit of Indigenous peoples— their connection to the land, the bravery of their warriors, and the quiet dignity of everyday life. From river rapids to birch canoes, each tale reverberates with the sounds of nature and the echo of ancient values, while also confronting the pressures of a changing world. Listeners will be carried along rivers of memory, feeling both the pride of a proud heritage and the melancholy of its fading echo.