Jesse Wente on Thomas King and finding hope in a hard moment

For decades, Thomas King was considered to be one of the most prominent Indigenous authors and creators, so news that he has no Indigenous ancestry came as a shock to many people this week. Jesse Wente is a writer and Storyteller in Residence at Toronto Metropolitan University. Jesse worked closely with Thomas King on the screen adaptation of Thomas King's novel 'The Inconvenient Indian.' Jesse joins Elamin Abdelmahmoud to work through the complicated feelings of this latest news, and how he’s grappling with the fallout.

Jesse's reccos:

books

‘The Knowing’ by Tanya Talaga

‘Bad Indians Book Club’ by Patty Krawec

‘The Idea of an Entire Life’ by Billy Ray Belcourt

‘The Boy From Buzwah: A Life in Indian Education’ by Cecil King

‘Survival Ojibwe’ by Patricia Ningewance 

‘Danger Eagle’ written by Jesse Wente and illustrated by Shaikara David

film/tv

‘Saints and Warriors’ (coming soon to Crave)

‘The Knowing’ - documentary series based on Tanya Talaga's book (on CBC Gem)

‘Aki’ by Darlene Naponse

‘Uiksaringitara: Wrong Husband’ by Zacharias Kunuk (in limited release in theatres)

‘Meadowlarks’ by Tasha Hubbard - coming soon to theatres, it’s a drama adaptation of her documentary ‘Birth of a Family’ (available on NFB website)

‘Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man’ by Sinakson Trevor Solway