A running theme of the book is Mailhot’s experience with settler colonialism, in which people take land that is inhabited by indigenous people for their own.What did you learn from this memoir about the ongoing crisis of violence against indigenous women and girls? Or about assaults on indigenous communities more generally? “Native women walk alone from the dances of our youth into homes they don’t know for the chance to be away,” Mailhot writes.What characterizes a squaw, in Mailhot’s view? Mailhot refers to herself many times as “squaw”- an English term used to describe a Native American woman or wife, often in a derogatory or offensive manner.How does Mailhot’s connection with her ancestors inform her understanding of her own life? “I think I have the blood memory of my neurotic ancestors and their vices,” writes Mailhot.As an indigenous woman, how does Mailhot describe life in a predominantly white world? In what ways does her identity give her power? Or fuel her insecurities?.What’s the connection with this passage and the title of her novel? Early in the book, Mailhot tells the story of the first medicine healer in her culture, whose name was “Heart Berry Boy,” or O’dimin.WARNING: Spoiler alert on questions further down Mailhot will answer reader questions on the PBS NewsHour broadcast at the end of the month. You can also submit your own questions for Terese Marie Mailhot on our Google form. Learn more about the book club here.īelow are questions to help guide your discussions as you read the book over the next month. Our January 2020 pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club is Terese Marie Mailhot’s “Heart Berries.” Become a member of the Now Read This book club by joining our Facebook group, or by signing up to our newsletter.
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