Metlakatla
Metlakatla by Ken Tomilson, published by Luke Warmwater Press in February 2023, is a work of fiction that delves into the historical encounters between Indigenous peoples and European settlers in what is now British Columbia. This edition spans 582 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Ts’uwaas, a young man who faces the challenges of a changing world as he navigates his tribe’s evolving dynamics and his personal relationships amid the arrival of outsiders.
Readers will find a richly detailed portrayal of a time when the original inhabitants interacted with new arrivals, exploring themes of love, identity, and cultural transformation. The story captures the complexities of Ts’uwaas’s experiences, including his love affair with a man from another village, set against the backdrop of a land cherished by both people and spirits. Metlakatla aims to entertain while fostering understanding of the historical context and the enduring spirit of its characters.
Official synopsis Publisher
Long before the outsiders came, there was a land where people and spirits lived. Not always in harmony, but the people and the spirits loved the mountains and the sea. The people made homes along the inlets, and the spirits came and went as they pleased.
Ts’uwaas met the cannibal spirits when he was fifteen, but even that ordeal failed to prepare him for what the future had in store. The life of his tribe had remained much the same for generations, but now there were strangers in the land, arriving from across the ocean in vast, wooden ships and with their own Great Spirit. Like many of his people, Ts’uwaas embraced these new people as friends, but as more and more came, it wasn’t clear if they were friends at all.
METLAKATLA is a fictional story based on the time when the original inhabitants of what is now called British Columbia first encountered the peoples of Europe. It follows the life of one young man as he navigates the rapidly-evolving world around him, living through the changing fortunes of his tribe, his land, his home, and his love affair with a man from another village.
A world now mostly lost is recreated in poignant detail in this tale of tragedy, endurance, and redemption that seeks to entertain and promote understanding towards a brighter future.
Proceeds from this work will be split evenly between Rainbow Refugee and Out On Screen.
FAQ
What is “Metlakatla” about?
Who is the author of “Metlakatla”?
When was “Metlakatla” published?
What is the ISBN for “Metlakatla”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
