Buffalo Dreamer

By: Violet Duncan

Narrated by: Ashley Callingbull

Length: 2 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history

Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom’s family lives. But this year is turning out to be an eye-opening one. First, Summer has begun to have vivid dreams in which she's running away from one of the many real-life residential schools that tore Native children from their families and tried to erase their Native identities. Not long after that, she learns that unmarked children’s graves have been discovered at the school her grandpa attended as a child. Now more folks are speaking up about their harrowing experiences at these places, including her grandfather.

Summer cherishes her heritage and is heartbroken about all her grandfather was forced to give up and miss out on. When the town holds a rally, she’s proud to take part to acknowledge the painful past and speak of her hopes for the future, and anxious to find someone who can fill her in on the source of her unsettling dreams.

This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing a glossary of words from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Violet Duncan (P)2024 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“Drawing inspiration from her own family’s experiences, Duncan (Kehewin Cree/Taino) tells the story of an Indigenous girl who confronts hard truths one summer. . . . Duncan shines a light on a devastating aspect of Indigenous history, never sugarcoating the topic yet leaving readers with hope. Her writing is seamless, tight, and immersive, making stellar use of sensory descriptions, and she braids important truths into her captivating narrative: ‘We are the living proof of our ancestors’ resilience and the strong spirit of our people.’ Compelling yet heartbreaking—and essential reading for all young people.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Past and present converge in Duncan's novel about an extended Canadian Cree family spending vacation time together. . . . This story of maturation and involvement in community will appeal to readers interested in the past and in present-day social action.” —Booklist

“Summer is earnest, thoughtful, and unfailingly kind . . . the perfect narrator to introduce a heavy topic that is underexplored in literature for youth. For readers unfamiliar with the schools, enough context is given to understand the immense evil of a system that ripped Indigenous children away from their families to essentially abuse them into being acceptably ‘standard.’ Duncan’s powerful afterward offers a brief description of how her own family survived the harrowing experience of the residential school system, ending the book with a poignant sense of intimacy.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Plains Cree and Taino author Duncan juxtaposes Summer’s intense dreams with the low-conflict nature of her everyday life, which includes detailed descriptions of Native traditions such as picking sweetgrass, making for a brief look into Indigenous customs and history.” —Publishers Weekly

When we tell our own stories.

I love how the author weaved generational understanding and connections. This story reflects the power in telling our own stories. From honoring Buffalo Dreamer, respecting the survivors, the organizing while involving the youth, upholding the power of resistance, and showing the love and our fight for our families was all apart of this story and is what I’m all about. This is necessary in sharing the history of Boarding school with our youth.

Beautiful Story

This short story covers a lot of ground. The issue of residential schools is explored while the reader experiences the rich culture, community and family of indigenous people. Beautifully and lovingly written.