"Book Called 'Landmark Anthology'"

OHSWEKEN - One has to think that author Thomas King is on a roll. He has been involved, if not responsible for, Canada's first two books released in 1990 by native authors.

First came his own title, Medicine River, which carried the Viking imprint. Released earlier in the year, it is the story of Will's return to Medicine River, a small Albertan town near a Blackfoot Reserve. Through the humorous narrative, we come to know Harlen Bigbear, his friends and the events that lead Will back to his people.

Although it is a first novel, reviewer Tony Hillerman called it "a lovely book. Thomas King is off to a wonderful start."

Next came McClelland and Stewart's recently released All My Relations: An Anthology of Contemporary Canadian Native Writing. King is the editor of this writing project and contributed the introduction and a short story.

Proclaimed a landmark anthology, All My Relations presents the work of 19 North American Indian writers. In addition to short stories, it also includes excerpts from novels and a scene from The Rez Sisters by award winning playwright Tomson Highway.

"For Native audiences, the twentieth-century phenomenon of native storytellers from different tribes sharing their stories in a common language - through the contemporary and non-traditional forms of written poetry, prose and drama - has helped to reinforce many of the beliefs that tribes have held individually, beliefs that tribes are now discovering they share mutually," says King's introduction.

All of the stories possess a universal quality. Some are told in an oral fashion. Others trace their foundations to oral literature. Some have a strong sense of community. Others are not bound by physical or racial boundaries.

Wallace Black Elk, a Lakota, once said: "You know straight across the board, hardly anyone knows what is Indian. The word Indian in itself really doesn't mean anything. That's how come nobody knows anything about Indians."

Through Mr. King's efforts, perhaps a step toward understanding and unity is being taken. All My Relations is a reminder that we are all brothers on this Mother Earth.

Thomas King is a native writer of Cherokee, Greek and German descent. He is a member of the Native Studies Department at the University of Lethbridge and is currently teaching American Studies at the University of Minnesota.

Medicine River and All My Relations: An Anthology of Contemporary Canadian Native Fiction are available in Brantford at Jamie's Choice Books, 125 Colborne St.

Our Town is an Expositor feature which provides a forum for news and views from some of the smaller centres in the region. Richard G. Green is a freelance writer who was born and lives on the Six Nations reserve.