Indigenous Authors Share Wisdom for the New Year’s Journey

As the new year approaches, many are seeking guidance and inspiration. In 2025, Unreserved engaged with several acclaimed Indigenous authors who shared insights and lessons drawn from their works. These reflections encompass a range of themes, from personal struggles to cultural reconnection, offering valuable perspectives for navigating the complexities of life in 2026.

Reflections on Ancestors and Wholeness

katherena vermette, a Métis writer, invites readers to consider their roles as future ancestors in her poetry collection, titled Procession, published by House of Anansi Press. Vermette emphasizes the importance of small acts of kindness towards future generations. “Caring for our children or those people who come behind us… is the greatest action of the revolution,” she shared with Unreserved host Rosanna Deerchild. Her belief is that such actions can create lasting change, no matter how incremental.

In her debut work, On Wholeness, Quill Christie-Peters explores the concept of wholeness through the lens of Indigenous relationality. She articulates that “wholeness is our ability to have access to our expansive relationality as Indigenous peoples,” highlighting how colonization has interrupted these connections. Christie-Peters finds reconnection through parenting, art, and activism, indicating that her journey towards wholeness is a continuous process.

Navigating Mental Health and Cultural Identity

In All the Little Monsters, David A. Robertson, a Swampy Cree author, reflects on his experiences with anxiety, referring to his challenges as “little monsters.” In discussing his mental health journey, Robertson emphasizes the need for self-compassion. “Sometimes it’s OK to go out and get yourself a little treat,” he noted, illustrating how small joys can help mitigate the struggles of mental health. He advocates for normalizing discussions around mental health to foster acceptance and long-term solutions.

Another powerful voice, jaye simpson, presents her second collection of poetry, A Body More Tolerable. Through her work, she confronts themes of desirability, love, loss, and the anger stemming from her experiences as a queer, trans, Indigenous person. Simpson describes her poetry as a reflection of her sharpness, stating, “It’s by design, and it’s not by a consensual design.” Her writings serve as both a personal catharsis and a call to action for better representation and rights for marginalized communities.

In her debut poetry collection, A Bow Forged From Ash, Melissa Powless Day addresses her journey of reconnection with her Anishinaabe and Kanien’kehá:ka heritage. Powless Day expresses the feelings of not belonging due to her upbringing away from the reservation and her struggles with identity. She aims to provide comfort to others with similar backgrounds, stating, “This is not something that’s on you; it’s really on settler colonialism.”

Cultural Revitalization and Community Support

In We Are Dancing For You, Cutcha Risling Baldy examines the revitalization of the Flower Dance, a Hupa coming-of-age ceremony. Growing up without the ceremony, she felt shame when she began menstruating. Now, she observes a cultural shift as young women in her community celebrate this milestone with pride. Risling Baldy describes the importance of community support in navigating personal challenges, saying, “You are learning that you can make decisions… and that you’re going to be OK.”

Sisters Stephanie and Sara Sinclair collaborated on the book A Steady Brightness of Being, which houses collections of letters from Indigenous contributors. They seek to bridge cultural silences experienced within their own family histories. “We like to see these two books as invitations to begin sharing story,” Sara Sinclair explained, underscoring the responsibility that comes with storytelling.

Lastly, Smokii Sumac shares his poetry collection Born Sacred: Poems for Palestine. As he engaged with the Israel-Palestine conflict, Sumac documented his learning journey through poetry, reflecting on the painful realities faced by marginalized communities. He encourages others to educate themselves about Indigenous and Palestinian histories and to seek out voices from these communities across various platforms.

Each of these authors offers profound insights that resonate deeply, providing encouragement and wisdom as individuals prepare to embrace the new year. Their works not only reflect personal journeys but also serve as reminders of the importance of community, identity, and the ongoing fight for understanding and acceptance.