Warrior Girl Unearthed

“I’ve seen and heard the term human remains at least a hundred times today. But it registers differently now. The remains of a human being who lived and breathed…it’s my honor to introduce you to Warrior Girl.’” “I admire warriors…Those who are willing to do what others can’t or won’t do for the community…Warriors might lose a battle, but they keep their eyes on what truly matters–the final result…The Warrior Girl was willing to sacrifice herself for her community. So that others could live full lives…Sugar Island is always ready to welcome our warrior girls home, where they are loved.” Perry Firekeeper-Birch is the reluctant intern at the tribal museum, supervised by “kooky Cooper.” He teaches her that “Everything is connected…The past. The future. The beginning and ending. Answers are there even before the question. You’re supposed to go back to where you started. And if you step off the path, you better keep your eyes wide open.” “When she learns about stolen ancestral remains in other museums and private collections, Perry decides to return the ancestors to Sugar Island, like a reverse Indiana Jones…or an Indigenous Lara Croft” and embark on Project Bigiiwen Enji Zaagigooyin, “Come Home Where You Are Loved.” She is determined to do everything to “help which memories get preserved. Like storing seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place to keep them alive.” However, she learns that “working within the process, following the laws…matters…It’s not just about winning; it’s about how you conduct yourself and represent your community…the means justify the end. Doing the right thing for the right reason, with a good heart and clear intentions, matters.” “Ultimately, Warrior Girl Unearthed is about the need to control Indigenous bodies–both in the past and today.” A cultural and literary tour de force.