Lisa Shatzky’s recently published collection of poetry honours the First Nations People who have suffered at the hands of the Canadian Government’s Residential School System. She and her friends presented a selection from her book, Do Not Call Me by My Name at The Gallery on Bowen Island.
She worked as a therapist for over 15 years with these people helping them with multi-generational trauma and listened to their stories of terrible loss and grief and was inspired by their resilience and incredible sense of spirit.
Accompanied by a wonderfully sensitive musician, Ruta Yawney on harp and flute, Lisa’s poetry was performed by herself, Don MacLean, Simon James, and Roger Grant to an enthralled audience.
Patrick Lane, a Governor General Award winning poet, has said that: “These are poems of unspeakable bravery. Out of this grieving comes a spiritual renewal and hope for all of us.”
Lisa tells us that: “These are terrible and sad poems, but they are also human and necessary. They speak the unspeakable. But somewhere in the ashes, there is grief that gives life…that transcends.”
If you wish to watch the poetry reading, you can either Download the video here [QuickTime - 188.78 MB] ( with Internet Explorer use right-click > save target as, on a Mac use control-click > save link as... ) or you can watch online after the break
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