They Call Me Chief: Warriors on Ice

By Don Marks format: trade paperback publication: October 2008 ISBN: 9781897289341

Price $27.95 Quantity This item is in stock and usually ships within 24 hours.

Coming Soon! Pre-order a copy now!

They Call Me Chief: Warriors on Ice tells the fascinating stories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit players who overcame tremendous obstacles to star in the National Hockey League. From the story of “Chief Running Deer on Skates” (Fred Sasakamoose), who emerged from the infamously tyrannical Indian Residential School System to become the first Indian to play in the NHL, to Reggie Leach (the Riverton Rifle), whose battle with the bottle is the only thing which kept him out of the Hockey Hall of Fame, They Call Me Chief chronicles the journeys of North America’s most famous “warriors on ice” as they battle poverty, racism, culture shock and other gauntlets to success. Most books about hockey find widespread interest and acceptance in Canada. At the same time, there is a disproportionate amount of attention paid to the social, political and economic situation of Canada’s First Nations. They Call Me Chief combines firsthand experience with well-documented research to create a truly unique and vital contribution to the Canadian historical record. For the first time, Canadian hockey fans have access to the fascinating and heartwarming tales drawn from the lives of Bryan Trottier, Reggie Leach, George Armstrong, Fred Sasakamoose, Ted Nolan, Stan Jonathan and many more. Stories which describe overcoming the obstacles of poverty, racism and dysfunction—insightful, engaging and moving content which motivates readers to empathize, understand and support the efforts of First Nations leaders to participate as equal citizens in North American society. Written by multi-award-winning film-maker and journalist Don Marks of Winnipeg, They Call Me Chief is a “user-friendly read” which combines a casual, natural, conversational style with extensive research gleaned from Marks lifetime of contact with Canada’s First Nations at all levels. The book is drawn from a highly-acclaimed, highly-rated and multi-award-winning television documentary of the same name. The production of the documentary required over a hundred hours of videotaped interviews which had to be condensed into a one-hour TV program. Some of the best and most interesting material had to be left out of the documentary. The book provides hockey fans and followers of First Nations issues with a complete account. Plus, “If you saw the movie, you should read the book, because the book is always better than the movie.” With a foreword by National Grand Chief Phil Fontaine, They Call Me Chief is the “authorized” biography, the official account, of Indians in the NHL, as well as the history and present state of Canada’s national sport in relation to Canada’s First Nations. They Call Me Chief provides readers with an insight to the culture, history, lifestyle and issues of Canada’s First Nations people without the “political correctness” that activists, academics, bureaucrats and politicians rely on to preach, lecture and generally “turns off” or creates disinterest amongst readers.

Includes DVD documentary.

If you are coming into one of our stores, we suggest that you confirm that the book you want is in stock by emailing the location nearest you: Grant Park, Polo Park, Saskatoon, or by phoning the location nearest you.

0 comments on this item