So, here we are at RaceFail 2 (thank you to skadi for bringing this to my attention).

Patricia Wrede has published a book that has been described as "Little House on the Prairie with mammoths". Sounds interesting, yes?

Except for the fact that she conveniently erased the existence of First Nations people from this continent.

I've spent a bit of time perusing the various discussions and there is much good being said. Should you wish to read, here is one of the discussions I've found fruitful. And the following is what I wrote in reply:

I'm a person of mixed raced, but I grew up completely unaware of this fact as it was shameful for people of my grandparents' generation to admit they were First Nations. I only discovered I was Métis through chance.

So, to discover that First Nations peoples have been erased, yet again, is shocking. In Canada, there has been much talk recently about how aboriginal peoples should "just get over it", but then something like this happens and demonstrates just how far that "just get over it" sentiment runs. I'm amazed at how people can be prosecuted for even suggesting the Holocaust didn't happen (and rightly so, I might add), and yet, a whole host of people thought it was okay to publish this book. Ms. Wrede wasn't working in isolation, and that really scares me.

I am, however, very glad that people like you are talking about this and saying "Hey, this is so wrong!". Thank you for that.

(Note: I realize, after reading this, that perhaps a better choice of words would have been "a whole host of people never thought to question that aspect of the book." What book might have come out of those questions? I wonder...)

And, so, I'm also going to link to something I wrote, because I believe that any author should be able to write about whatever they choose, even if it means obliterating a race. (I'm highlighting this because I have been erroneously called to task on what someone felt was my support of censorship, which is not the truth, considering what I have written here) It's horrific and shocking, in my opinion, but that is an author's right. What I find more disturbing is how others have attempted to justify this author's choice and how those arguments are couched in a disturbingly ignorant set of assumptions.

More thoughts about what it means to be a person of mixed race who has had her history stolen from her can be found here.

What I do suggest is: please, think before you steal someone's history. And think extra hard before you erase it. Think about how you would feel if your own family had been subjected to the sort of torment that First Nations people have undergone and should you still choose to write this sort of story, please consider why you must do so.

I believe racism must be examined, for it's a part of our collective history. So, examine it. Mine it. Look at how ugly humanity can be, and look at how beautiful it can be. Question your choices, and never forget that words have power.