Robertson’s reconciliation roadmap makes for timely book club fodder

Advertisement

Advertise with us

The Free Press Book Club, McNally Robinson Booksellers are pleased to welcome back Winnipeg Swampy Cree author David A. Robertson to the next virtual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. to read from and discuss his new work of non-fiction 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/09/2025 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Free Press Book Club, McNally Robinson Booksellers are pleased to welcome back Winnipeg Swampy Cree author David A. Robertson to the next virtual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. to read from and discuss his new work of non-fiction 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS files
                                David A. Robertson will read from and discuss his new work of non-fiction 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS files

David A. Robertson will read from and discuss his new work of non-fiction 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing.

Published by McClelland & Stewart in May, 52 Ways to Reconcile features Robertson’s suggestions for simple but impactful actions Canadians of all walks of life can take towards healing the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in this country.

The solutions Robertson offers — one for every week of the year — are each presented in their own short, concise chapters, with a mix of themes ranging from practical to educational to inspirational, and with Robertson’s own experiences sprinkled throughout. Suggestions range from supporting an Indigenous musician to attending a powwow to starting an Indigenous book club, speaking out and more.

In his Free Press roundup review of a trio of books on reconciliation, Joel Boyce said “The idea of 52 Ways to Reconcile is to take one step towards reconciliation every week, with enough chapters to fill a full year, though… the engaging style makes it hard to stop after one short chapter,” adding “Every chapter includes both a heartfelt case for why a given task is worth doing, another little bit of the author’s personal journey in advancing reconciliation and a number of specific examples of where you can get started on any given week’s suggestion.”

This will be Robertson’s third visit to the Free Press Book Club, after discussing his memoir Black Water in November 2020 and his novel The Theory of Crows in January 2023.

With this month’s Free Press Book Club meeting falling on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Robertson’s practical book is timely, and will surely prove insightful.

Robertson will join Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson Booksellers event facilitator Daniel Bear and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar. Robertson will read from 52 Ways to Reconcile, discuss the book’s themes and suggestions and field questions from viewers and readers.

Copies of 52 Ways to Reconcile are available to purchase at McNally Robinson Booksellers; there’s no cost to join the book club or virtual discussion. Video of the meeting will be available for replay on the Free Press YouTube channel following the event.

To join the club and for more information on current and future book picks, visit Free Press Book Club.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban

Matthew Frank 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban

Matthew Frank 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

People riding e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles in Manitoba will have to strap on a helmet, stay off sidewalks and follow new age limits once new provincial rules for the devices take effect next year.

The vehicles, which also include electric skateboards, hoverboards and unicycles, will fall under The Highway Traffic Act starting in 2027, according to the province’s website. E-bikes are excluded from the new rules, according to the province’s frequently-asked-questions page.

All riders must be at least 16 years old and wear properly fitting helmets — that goes for passengers, too, the province said.

The proposed new legislation sets a speed limit of 25 km/h and would prohibit personal electric vehicles from sidewalks unless signs specifically allow sidewalk use. Riders would be using shared paths or roads with speed limits of 50 km/hr or less. They won’t be allowed to operate the vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs and they must use hand signals and obey traffic signs.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

Bombers ride Collaros’s arm to win over Stamps

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Bombers ride Collaros’s arm to win over Stamps

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Zach Collaros must’ve found the fountain of youth during his most recent absence.

Nobody has feared the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ passing attack all season, and yet, their veteran pivot aired it out early and often on Saturday night in a game they needed to win.

Led by Collaros and go-to target Dorian Singer, the Bombers prevailed 33-28 over the Calgary Stampeders in front of a sold-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium to heavily increase their odds of making the playoffs.

“That’s vintage Eight-Ball right there. You love to see it,” said receiver Nic Demski. “Especially the opportunity that we had and him coming back this week, it was just a picture-perfect story.”

Read
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

What's open, what's closed, what's up on Thanksgiving

Free Press staff 3 minute read Preview

What's open, what's closed, what's up on Thanksgiving

Free Press staff 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Here's a round-up of things to do and hours of business for services on Thanksgiving Day 2026.

Read
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

‘People count on this place’: Pembina Hwy. Giant Tiger latest location slated to close

By Matthew Frank 3 minute read Preview

‘People count on this place’: Pembina Hwy. Giant Tiger latest location slated to close

By Matthew Frank 3 minute read 4:34 PM CDT

Another Giant Tiger store in Winnipeg will shutter next year, leaving some area residents concerned about a lack of affordable groceries in the neighbourhood.

Red papers taped to the front doors of the Canadian retail chain’s location at Pembina Highway and Southpark Drive indicate it will close Feb. 27.

Doreen Yanchuk, a self-described bargain hunter, shook her head when she saw the signs Monday. The 67-year-old said she’s a regular customer at the location because it’s a five-minute drive from her home.

“They have very good sales here, which draws people to the shop because everything is expensive,” Yanchuk said.

Read
4:34 PM CDT

Bombers beat Stamps, claim season series

1 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Calgary Stampeders 33-28 on Saturday night in front of a sell-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium.

With the win, the Blue and Gold improve to 8-8 and bump up to fourth in the West Division standings. If the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-7) lose to the Montreal Alouettes (12-3) on Monday, the Bombers will move up to third.

With the loss, the Stampeders drop to 8-9 and fall to fifth place which has them currently on the outside of the playoff picture.

The Bombers now just need to finish the season with at least the same record as Calgary or Saskatchewan to qualify for the post-season since they own the tiebreaker over both West Division foes.

Puerto Vallarta boards up as Hurricane Simon hits Category 4 strength

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Puerto Vallarta boards up as Hurricane Simon hits Category 4 strength

The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Simon has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane as it barrels toward Mexico’s coast.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Saturday that Simon’s maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph (240 kph). A storm of that strength or greater is considered a major hurricane.

The center said it expected Simon “to be near or just inland” of Mexico's west-central coast on Sunday. The hurricane could bring as much as 10 to 20 inches (25-50 cm) of rain over parts of southwestern Mexico, with some areas in the states of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco receiving up to 30 inches (76 centimeters).

“This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the center warned in a bulletin that also urged residents to take immediate action to prepare as tropical-storm conditions were expected to arrive Saturday afternoon.

Read
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026