This House is Not a Home

After a hunting trip one fall, a family in the far reaches of so-called Canada’s north return to nothing but an empty space where their home once stood. Finding themselves suddenly homeless, they have no choice but to assimilate into settler-colonial society in a mining town that has encroached on their freedom.

An intergenerational coming-of-age novel, This House Is Not a Home follows Kǫ̀, a Dene man who grew up entirely on the land before being taken to residential school. When he finally returns home, he struggles to connect with his family: his younger brother whom he has never met, his mother because he has lost his language, and an absent father whose disappearance he is too afraid to question.

The third book from acclaimed Dene, Cree and Metis writer Katłįà, This House Is Not a Home is a fictional story based on true events. Visceral and embodied, heartbreaking and spirited, this book presents a clear trajectory of how settlers dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their land — and how Indigenous communities, with dignity and resilience, continue to live and honour their culture, values, inherent knowledge systems, and Indigenous rights towards re-establishing sovereignty. Fierce and unflinching, this story is a call for land back.

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Hidayah Al-Kanz

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Atlantic Canada

average rating is 4 out of 5

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A Heartbreaking Read

This House Is Not a Home is an intergenerational coming-of-age story centered on Kǫ̀, a Dene man raised on the northern land before being sent to a residential school. When he returns years later, he finds it difficult to communicate with his mother and to connect with his younger brother, whom he’s never met. This book is a historical fiction story based on true events. It explores the conflicting feelings and struggles that many Indigenous people experienced as a result of injustices.

I believe the engaging narrative writing style used can be a very beneficial and enjoyable way for people to learn about Indigenous beliefs. This eye-opening read covered many heavy topics such as forced assimilation, colonial abuse, etc. Through those themes, an emphasis was placed on putting family first and remaining resilient. One thing that caught my attention was– as the title suggests– how tragic it is that family members had differing perspectives of what they consider “home”. Despite living together, the definition of home changed across generations.

I was glad to find the author kept this book clean both romance and profanity-wise. I noticed the way language is skillfully shaped in this book. Some dialogue, before Kǫ̀ went to residential school, is in his native language, yet after he returns, it decreases significantly and is primarily in English. It illustrates for readers, in real-time, what he was going through as well as the difficulty of trying to relearn one’s native tongue. This book highlighted many horrors Dene People faced that the average reader may not know. For example, the trauma Elders endured being uprooted to nursing homes cannot be forgotten. I love that this book subtly teaches readers about Indigenous languages. However, I would have appreciated it if there were clearer pronunciation and translation guides included throughout.

This book presents the anguish and sorrow, but also the incredible resiliency of Indigenous People in a heartbreaking yet beautiful way. This must-read is perfect for snowy evenings.

I recommend this book.