Bone Black, one of the novels written by Canadian author Carol Rose GoldenEagle, has left many impressions on readers with stories about Indigenous women who go missing or are murdered. The author recounted her experience as a journalist of First Nations women as victims.

Wren StrongEagle, the main character in the story, has honest views on the conduct of the government, authorities, or police in administering justice and showing responsibility to Indigenous women. The Indigenous women’s community has always faced danger and is not adequately protected. There are many stories of women being looted, killed, kidnapped, or mysteriously disappeared. These stories should have been exposed more honestly and harshly, but there has been no practical solution from the government yet.

Wren is living an ideal and happy life when suddenly her life comes to a despair when her twin sister, Raven, mysteriously disappears one evening. Since then, Wren has always been immersed in grief and extreme anxiety for his sister when thinking about what might happen to her. Wren knows that when her sister goes missing, she must face the worst possible scenarios. She tries to overcome all her emotions to fight and find her twin sister. She is determined to get justice for her sister.

But the journey to find justice for Raven is arduous. At first, Wren sought help from the local police with her sister’s missing report, but she was denied the investigation, and the police were sure the case would be impossible. Wren felt helpless and stuck when the only hope he could count on was tragically extinguished. However, she soon realized that it was not only her who had to go through this pain but that many families in the Indigenous community were going through the same. Therefore, belief in the implementation of justice for girls in particular and the Indigenous women community in general needs to be realized. If no one speaks up, society and the law will forever cover these cases. Therefore, something rekindled in Wren, and she decided to fight for justice.

This is a very honest book that makes the reader have a different view of the responsibilities of the police and the government in Canada in protecting Ingedinous women and partly shows the problem of systemic racism and discrimination is the cause of evils for the Indigenous community such as kidnapping or murder. This book also shows another aspect of Wren’s inner self when he has to go through the pain of a missing loved one. Even in the end, the case of Raven’s disappearance has not been completely solved and makes the reader think a lot.

This is a very meaningful novel with profound messages that will help you gain new perspectives in the life of the Indigenous community, and you will be more sympathetic to the fate of Indigenous women. You should read this book to honour Indigenous people in National Indigenous History Month this June.