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| Linda Legarde Grover |
The Mozhay Point tribal government has started making plans for a new road leading to the state park, becoming a popular destination for non-tribal members. The prospect of development also holds the promise of a lucrative cell tower. More visitors to the reservation will also increase traffic to the casino. But the plans run through Sweetgrass, a land allotment that belongs to Margie Rabineau, 70, the long-time partner of a departed Tribal council member. Margie has made it clear that she does not want to give up the allotment. Breaching human will and self-determination, the ancestors have other plans. Closely held secrets reveal the intricate webs of places, memories, friendships, and betrayals.
In A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids, Linda Legarde Grover tells the stories of Indigenous women, their ties to the land, family, and each other. Grover’s prose reflects her affinity for poetry. While she is sparing and prudent with words, she narrates the tangled and variegated relationships within the community, inviting discernment. What does holding onto the allotment mean to Margie and her descendants? Grover explains the thorny issues associated with development, who will benefit, and who will potentially be harmed. From my reading, the author makes no attempt to take a side. What is clear is the Indigenous worldview of oneness and the comforting promise of healing and repair.
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