Cover

Dedication

To the students at Pelican Falls First Nations High School:

Visiting your school over the years, I’ve noticed you face many things going to school away from home, some good and some bad, but you face them all with courage.

I started this book thinking it might be cool if you could read something that represented our backgrounds and some of the realities you face.

Ando-bawaajigek—seek your dreams!

Epigraph

“We don’t want to create two worlds, but walk together in one world—relating to each other as having our own uniqueness that we mutually respect.”

—SENATOR MURRAY SINCLAIR

Anishinaabe Terms and Pronunciation Guide

Anama’edaa (ah-numb-ah-yay-TAH): Let us pray

Anishinaabe (a-nish-in-NAH-bay): Ojibwe or Indigenous

Bagonegiizhigok (bug-oh-nay-KEESH-ig-oak): Hole in the day

Baakinan (buck-in-NONE): Open it!

Binesi (bin-NEH-see): Thunderbird

Eniwek igo kiga’onji-pimaadiz ndiwe’igan (AY-knee-wake EE-go key-gohn-jih-pee-MAH-tizz in-tay-WAY-gun): Through my drum you will live just that much more

Kookom (COOK-em): Grandmother

Mishi-pizhiw (mi-SHIP-i-shoe): A supernatural being in Anishinaabe culture

Nameg (nah-MAYK): Sturgeon (plural)

Ni-noonde-pimaadiz (nih-known-day-pee-MAH-tizz): I want to live

Onizhishin Anishinaabe Aking (oh-NISH-ish-in ah-nish-in-NAW-bay AH-king): Anishinaabe country is beautiful

Onjine (OWN-jin-nay): The way you behave will come back to you

Patai’itiwin (put-TIE-it-tee-win): The way you behave will come back to your children

Waawaate (WAH-wah-tay): The northern lights

CHAPTER 1

It was the best of Bugz, it was the worst of Bugz. She created life, she destroyed worlds. She appeared invincible, she knew only defeat. She was Indigenous, she didn’t belong. She moved with absolute confidence, she couldn’t shake the tiny voice inside: It’s no big deal, it’s the end of the world. In many ways, Bugz was just like everybody else…until she went online into the Floraverse. There, Bugz’s every move was watched by the entire world, who either loved her or hated her.

Hidden by total darkness, Bugz pressed her body close to a cedar tree, edging nearer to danger. She rarely hid in the virtual world of the ’Verse. Apart from her celebrity, there was her look: she wore a custom skin with an athletic physique packed into a black, neon-pink, and Day-Glo-green outfit. The ensemble borrowed from the body armor of science-fiction superheroes and the embroidered designs of a pow-wow dancer. Floral patterns that paid homage to the beadwork of her Anishinaabe Ancestors accented her bodysuit. Her midriff was exposed in a way that would’ve raised eyebrows among the aunties back on the Rez. Those older women preached modesty, but anytime Bugz’s mom heard those so-called teachings that singled out women’s bodies, she’d always stick up for her daughter and say, “That’s just the colonization talking.”