Love Life Loss and a Little Bit of Hope: Poems from the Soul

“We should not have to change to fit into society the world should adapt to embrace our uniqueness.” -- Chief Stacey Laforme

Chief Stacey Laforme breathes life into every poem and story he shares, drawing from his own experiences. Rich with the essence of his soul, the poems in this book capture the moments and emotions that have shaped him. His desire is for readers to not just read, but to truly feel the humour and pain intertwined in these poems. Much like in Living in the Tall Grass, this latest poetry collection invites non-Indigenous people to see through the eyes of Indigenous people with topics of peace and humanity, as well as grief, trauma ... and hope.

Stacey Laforme was born into a life of alcoholism and abuse. At 15, he lived on the street, eventually finding a home with his grandmothers. He started his first job at 12 years old, eventually joining the Ironworkers Union. He attended college late in life. He ran and was elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe in December 2015. He is an honorary Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto, and he recently led a delegation to the UK, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. He was the first Giima (chief) to meet with the British Monarch in over 160 years.