"I ate you" and other stories

“I Ate You” and Other Stories is a collection of nine short stories. The work discusses themes such as love, loss, legacy, identity, violence, escape, justice, and survival. It explores cultural identity, the actions and consequences of ignorant youth, the legacy and wisdom of elders, the generational effects of violence and trauma, and the idea of a benevolent natural world. The collection was first inspired by my most precious memories of listening to elder stories. These nine pieces revolve around areas that hold traumatic historical experiences within both Saskatchewan and Alberta. Inspiration was sparked by stories of 1885’s Battle of Batoche, which took place close to my family’s land in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. Afterwards, tragic and seemingly unbelievable tales from families and towns living on the land were passed on to me throughout the yearly visits to Duck Lake. These traumatic and profound stories, along with news headlines, caused me to question: what if the natural world fought back? I wanted to provoke discussion on the youth of today throwing away their cultural identity and actively disrespecting their elders. Within the collection, these acts are considered acts of misbehaviour that rid the world of good, detach humanity from nature, and ultimately lead to the world’s destruction. For this reason, I wanted to highlight the importance of listening to our elders and the gifts of knowledge they pass on through spoken word. Additionally, this collection explores the serious consequences to misbehaving, such as punishments. More specifically, that these punishments come from the natural world. The goal is to depict nature fighting back so as to regain a sense of balance and connection with humanity.Arts, Faculty ofGraduat