On February 9, 1906 a group of women who wanted to bring the love of books to Calgary held the first meeting of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club. Those women helped to bring the first library to Calgary (learn more here.)
Photo by S. Mattison
This February, club Historian Sandra E. invited members and friends of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club to an informal lunch commemorating that first meeting. The group met at the The Inn on Officer’s Garden (formerly the Officers’ Mess) of the historic Currie Barracks.
Among those who joined us were Dorothy L., who has been a member since 1955 and is currently an honorary member, three of our newest members, and two members who are currently on leave of absence. Fifteen of our current active members were also in attendance.
It was a lively afternoon – we still love talking about literature.
Our formal program resumes on March 5, 2024 when member Barbara R. presents on the works of Cherie Dimaline.
If you love books, talking about books, and want to be a part of Calgary’s history click this link to join us as a guest.
Shawna’s presentation was accompanied by a slideshow, with the first intriguing image being an aged black and white photo. Shawna explained it was taken on her family farm near Richdale, Alberta. We would soon find out its connection to her talk.
While she was suffering Covid’s lingering “brain fog,” Shawna discovered Marcie R. Rendon, an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) author from the White Earth Nation in Minnesota. Seeking “lighter” reading, Shawna became hooked on mysteries and read at least forty.
Shawna has an affinity for Ms. Rendon’s Cash Blackbear Series (2018- .) Shawna related to the author’s descriptions of farm settings in Minnesota and North Dakota, which seem not unlike Alberta’s. She also related to the 1970s timeframe. A creepy atmosphere, so important to mysteries, can be found in rural landscapes that include lonely and somewhat dilapidated farmhouses, burnt down buildings, and more.
Shawna read some selections which mirrored her own rural experiences – e.g. “She lifted four fingers off the steering wheel in a courtesy wave.” However, many of the Indigenous experiences Ms. Rendon writes about would be outside our knowledge and experience. As one example of the darkness to be discovered in the books, Shawna read a disturbing excerpt describing a child tasked with collecting eggs.
Cash, the 20-year-old Ojibwe protagonist, is sometimes led by visions, and is full of spirit and grit having survived a brutal foster care system. She has fought bigotry as an orphan working hard on a farm, as Indigenous, and as a young woman who is now a truck driver. Cash and the other fascinating, well-developed characters in the novels highlight many important issues Indigenous people deal with.
Shawna briefly summarized Ms. Rendon’s other works, including poetry, plays, short stories and children’s books. They touch on the same themes, but it is the Cash Blackbear series that will reach a wider audience, heightening people’s awareness of Indigenous experiences through an intriguing mystery.
Janet H.
Next week member Robin S. will present on author Jonathan Franzen.
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