Canada Reads 2014: Wab Kinew and Joseph Boyden on The Orenda
Prefer to watch this interview? Video highlights have been posted below the article.
After four days of fierce debating, Wab Kinew has emerged as the champion book defender of Canada Reads 2014. His passionate endorsement of Joseph Boyden's The Orenda helped elevate the book to its new status as the one novel that could change our nation.
Now Kinew and Boyden come together in Studio Q to chat with Q and Canada Reads host Jian Ghomeshi about Canada's annual battle of the books, the grassroots support they got from #TeamOrenda, and why they think a work of fiction set in the 17th century may really inspire social change in modern Canada.
Throughout the show, Kinew touted the power of the The Orenda with several memorable statements -- "reconciliation must not be a second chance at assimilation" -- questions -- "do we own the land, or does the land own us? -- and a memorable spoken word tribute.
The Orenda wins People's Choice
Following the finale, CBC Books asked the audience which of the five Canada Reads contenders should have won the 2014 battle of the books.
Jian revealed the People's Choice winner on today's show, and it looks like the general public is in sync with the panelists! The Orenda is also the People's Choice winner for Canada Reads 2014.
Full interview and highlights
Full interview:
On violence in The Orenda:
On reconciliation: