A journey through loss, love, and dreams: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

A Review by Shannon MacLeod

In Bad Cree, Jessica Johns masterfully explores the profound depths of loss, love, and family connection through a narrative rich with the intricate tapestry of relationships and the haunting power of dreams.

Our protagonist, Mackenzie, hasn't returned to her home community in Alberta since the deaths of her kokum (grandmother in Cree) and her sister three years earlier. Seeking to escape the pain, she relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she leads a solitary life, working at a grocery store and living far from her family, having left the mourning behind. However, her attempt to evade the past is disrupted when strange dreams, which seem more like memories, begin to invade her sleep.

Returning to Alberta, Mackenzie reconnects with her family and identity, but the dreams persist and intensify. With her family's support, she embarks on a journey to banish them, which in turn requires her to confront her past decisions and their impact on her loved ones.

Johns seamlessly weaves Indigenous traditions, spirituality, and storytelling throughout the book—the narrative pulses with a constant theme of strong women. When Mackenzie faces troubles, advice often leads her to call her mother or an auntie, underscoring the reliance on the wisdom of the strong women and Elders in her family.

Johns' prose is exceptional, with vivid imagery that transports the reader. Whether transitioning from waking life to dream sequences, setting scenes, or describing the local watering hole, her writing places the reader right there: “We slip onto the vinyl bench, its cracked skin catching on our clothes as we make space for each other.” (Page 167) 

As someone who has had the privilege of close engagement with Indigenous cultures, particularly through my connection to the Mi'kmaq communities in New Brunswick, I find Johns' portrayal of dialogue authentic and resonant. She skillfully breathes life into her Indigenous characters with remarkable authenticity.

A refreshing element in Bad Cree is the inclusion of Joli, a character who uses they/them pronouns. At first, I did a double take to understand the pronoun usage, but as a fierce ally of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I was thrilled to see this representation.

Johns' storytelling is both vivid and authentic, offering readers a profound window into the heart and soul of her characters. Through her eloquent prose, she captures the essence of cultural heritage and personal identity, making Bad Cree a story to be read and an experience to be felt.

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About the Author

Jessica Johns is a nehiyaw aunty with English-Irish ancestry and a member of Sucker Creek First Nation in Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta. She is an interdisciplinary artist and award-winning writer whose debut novel, Bad Cree, was released in January 2023.

Her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have been published in Cosmonauts Avenue, Glass Buffalo, CV2, SAD Magazine, Red Rising Magazine, Poetry is Dead, Bad Nudes, Grain, The Fiddlehead, Canadian Art, C Magazine, Brick, Reissue, Maisonneuve, The Globe and Mail, Best Canadian Essays 2019, among others.

About the Reviewer

Shannon MacLeod is a Senior Community Engagement Advisor for Horizon Health Network. Originally from Sussex Corner, Shannon has called Miramichi home since 2012.

Book Details

• Published by Anchor on Dec. 5, 2023

• ISBN 9780593467947

• 2024 Selection by Canada Reads (CBC)

• 2023 Amazon Canada First Novel Award Shortlist