Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon publishing book about the history of Turtle Island — get the first look now

Cree multidisciplinary artist Kent Monkman and media artist and writer Gisèle Gordon are publishing a book called The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island this November.

The book, which is split into two volumes, combines history, fiction and memoir to tell the story of Turtle Island from creation to present day. It is narrated by Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, a recurring character or alter-ego that is often featured in Monkman's art. 

• Kent Monkman's subversive art creates a counter-narrative of Indigenous experience

Monkman and Gordon have collaborated on projects together for the past three decades, including over a dozen short films that have screened at TIFF, Sundance and Berlin film festivals.

The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island will be released in two volumes. The first will be available on Nov. 7, 2023 the second on Nov. 28, 2023. You can read an excerpt from Vol. 1 below.

kayâs, a long time ago, there was only the dark fog and the one sound, a low hum that cycled through the universe. I was there, of course, but not in a way that you would understand. After some time, the forces of light and dark joined together to become the great goodness, Kisê-manitow, the Great Spirit, who created all things, including us, the oldest beings. Kisê-manitow sent out a thought into the universe, which became the first acâhkos, the first star. I was still elemental; you would think of my form as hydrogen, but I was so much more. The beginning of everything was here, including you.

My experience of time is different from yours. After a while, Kisê-manitow formed Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon, those that you see in the sky today, and also askiy, this planet you call earth. Kisê-manitow brought the elements — fire, water, air and earth — and from these were made the land we stand on, the rock, the mountains, valleys and plains, the oceans, lakes, and rivers.

My elder siblings, the sacred beings, were created next. Wîsahkêcâhk, I call him nistês, my elder brother, some of you call him trickster, but he is much, much more. piyêsiwak,5 the thunder beings, were there, and also my dear friend and sister/brother Mistâpêw, who some of you call Sasquatch. There were others there, including those who do not wish to be named, and those who should not be named.

That being was me. I am Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, and this is my story.

You haven't brought me tobacco, blankets, horses, not even a pack of chewing gum, so I cannot tell you the whole story. I cannot tell you about kôhkominâkêsîs, Grandmother Spider, or acâhkos iskwêw, Sky Woman, but I can reveal enough for you to understand my story. What I can tell you is that after my elder siblings, the âtayôhkanak, the spirit beings, came to be, there was one more legendary being created, one most people don't know about. That being was me. I am Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, and this is my story.

From The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol.1 by Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon ©2023. Published by Random House Canada.