Purple Destiny

Reviewed by Nancy Ross, Instructor

As a literacy instructor, I am constantly on the lookout for reading material that is relevant to the lives of my students and is written at an appropriate level. In particular, I enjoy finding materials that speak to and about students of First Nations descent. Purple Destiny does this, particularly for younger adults. It is about a young man from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, and is written and published by First Nations people.

Purple Destiny tells the story of Finch's path from a soul destroying life in the city full of abuse, selling drugs and being controlled by the "power claws," to his return to the Rez, where his only remaining family member, Uncle Henry, welcomes him and helps him heal. Finch joins a rock band, and he finds that he has talent and good ideas. He also realizes that he has the strength not to fall back into the life of the "drug rats." However, his friends and band mates are already involved. When Finch is arrested for drugs that are planted in his house by one of them, he decides to help the police discover who actually controls the drug trade. Says Finch, "I must break through and set the drug dreamer's trap, or die trying. I am a young warrior. I am speaking to my own grieving heart." At the same time, he is trying to help a young woman who was dumped in an alley and left for dead at the hands of her abuser. Her path of healing helps to strengthen Finch's resolve to find the power behind the drug trade. As the story takes us to that inevitable and happy conclusion, it is, in Finch's words, "a good red day."

The style of writing in Purple Destiny is similar to that of many of my students. I found the style of punctuation, grammar and spelling, as well as some of the slang and street talk, although appropriate to the story, a bit challenging. However, this story is meaningful and emotionally and spiritually satisfying. Many of my students enjoyed the story. It was written for them, and it seems to speak to a path of healing and cultural awakening.