Sara Parks

As someone who has heard both Ray and Matthew speak many times over the years on Indigenous-Settler relations and on Canadians' need to heal their relationship to the Land, I was so happy to see this book in print, because it's a perfect starting place for settlers and newcomers (particularly to Canada) to begin a journey toward understanding where they fit into the country's many Treaties, and how to "walk well." The book quickly made its way onto recommended reading lists such as that of the United Church of Canada. So I was especially disappointed when this press, WoodLake, suddenly went out of business (except their e-books). But Ray and Matthew found a way to switch presses and come out with a 2nd edition, revised and expanded (find it on Amazon or the Friesen Press bookstore). The book contains material from many of their talks, along with freshly written material after the recovery of the residential "school" children's graves, woven into an organic dialogue, alternating one chapter by Ray and one by Matthew throughout. Although it is particularly written for Christians and makes references to theology and biblical texts, this is not done in such a way as to be off-putting to other readers. Ray's and Matthew's Christian contexts (one Cree, one Settler) do not overpower their knowledgeable -- and at times poetic, at times humourous -- writing about Treaty, about the role of literally walking one's Treaty Lands, about the vast distance remaining between here and reconciliation, about taking small steps to begin. Ray and Matthew have provided a gentle, witty, and enlightening beginner's guide to walking well in Treaty together. What's different in the new edition is a whole new chapter by Ray on restorative justice, and a longer and updated list of resources and further reading, along with new sources and stories woven throughout. And of course, the new moose cover art by Indigenous artist Cat Aldred is nothing short of a treasure! I recommend this book for all Canadians who want to know what happened in our past, so that we can build a new healthy future where we are all Treaty people and the Land is our relation.