Published by Broken Keys Publishing
Author: Jules Inishinapay (Tapas)
"The land remembers who we are, even when we forget"
Born into a family haunted by the legacy of residential schools, addiction, violence and poverty, Jules Tapas grew up believing survival was simply a way of life. In the Cree communitites along the James Bay coast, he witnessed the devastating impact of intergenerational trauma while enduring abuse, loss, and despair from an early age. Yet amidst the darkness, another path was quietly calling to him...
On the rivers, in the forests, and across the vast muskeg of northern Ontario, Jules learned from the land. Guided by Elders, Cree teachings, and the wisdom of his ancestors, he descivered a source of strength that no hardship could extinguish. Those lessons would become the foundation of a remarkable journey from a wounded child searching for hope to a respected Cree medicine man dedicated to healing others.
With extraordinary honesty and compassion, The Long Paddle Home tells a story of resilience, forgiveness, cultural renewal, overcoming trauma without surrendering to it, of reclaiming identity after generations of loss, and of finding one's way back to the Creator through the enduring wisdome of the land.
Powerful, inspiring, and unforgettable, this autobiography is both a testament to the strength of the Cree people and a universal story of hope, healing, and the courage to come home.